Steam Screenshot Location: Where They’re Saved

Steam screenshots are saved in your Steam userdata folder, typically at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your Steam ID>\760\remote\<app ID>\screenshots. You can also view them in the Steam client under View > Screenshots, which shows the folder path for each game.

Default Steam Screenshot Folder

By default, Steam stores screenshots in a subfolder of your Steam installation directory. The exact path is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\760\remote\<AppID>\screenshots

Here, <SteamID> is your unique numeric account identifier, and <AppID> is the numeric ID of the game (for example, 570 for Dota 2, 730 for CS:GO). This path works for games that use Steam’s built-in screenshot feature (default key F12).

How to Find Your Steam Screenshot Folder

Instead of manually navigating to the default path, you can use Steam’s built-in tools:

• Open Steam and go to View > Screenshots (or Steam > Settings > In-Game and click “Screenshot Folderâ€�).
• Select the game from the dropdown at the top. The list shows all your screenshots for that game.
• Click “Show on Diskâ€� (or “Open Folderâ€�) to open the exact folder in Windows Explorer.

This is the most reliable method because it automatically fills in your Steam ID and the app ID.

Steam Screenshot File Format and Names

Screenshots are saved as .jpg files by default. The file name follows a pattern like 20250101123456_1.jpg (timestamp and sequence number). If you change the format in Steam settings, you can also get PNG files, which are larger but lossless. The default JPG quality is 90%, which is good for most uses.

How to Change the Screenshot Folder or Format

You can change where screenshots are saved and their format:

1. Go to Steam > Settings > In-Game.
2. Under “Screenshot Folderâ€�, click Change and pick a new location (e.g., D:\Screenshots\Steam).
3. Under “Save an uncompressed copyâ€�, check the box to also save a PNG copy (this is stored in a subfolder named original).
4. Click OK. The new location applies to future screenshots.

Note: Changing the folder does not move existing screenshots; you’ll need to move them manually if desired.

Common Problems and Fixes

Sometimes screenshots aren’t where you expect them. Here are common issues:

• Screenshots missing after reinstall: If you reinstalled Steam or moved your game library, the userdata folder may be in a different drive. Use the “Show on Diskâ€� method to locate the current path.
• Can’t find SteamID: Your SteamID is a 17-digit number. You can find it by going to your Steam profile and looking at the URL (e.g., steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198000000000).
• Screenshots not saving at all: Check if you have enough disk space, and make sure you’re pressing the correct key (default F12). You can change the key in Settings > In-Game.
• Cloud sync issues: If you have “Save screenshots to Steam Cloudâ€� enabled (Settings > In-Game), screenshots may be uploaded and not stored locally until you view them. Disable cloud sync to keep only local copies.

Where Are Screenshots Stored on Mac or Linux?

On macOS, the default path is ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/<SteamID>/760/remote/<AppID>/screenshots. On Linux, it’s usually ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<SteamID>/760/remote/<AppID>/screenshots. The same “Show on Diskâ€� method works on all platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the screenshot key?

Go to Steam > Settings > In-Game and look for “Screenshot shortcut keys�. You can set it to any key combination, like F12, F5, or Ctrl+Shift+S.

Can I recover deleted Steam screenshots?

If you deleted a screenshot from the folder, it may be recoverable if you have a backup or if it was synced to the cloud. Check your Steam profile’s screenshot section – if it’s there, you can download it again. Otherwise, use file recovery software, but there’s no guarantee.

Why are my screenshots not showing in the Steam overlay?

Make sure the Steam overlay is enabled for the game (right-click the game in your library, go to Properties, and check “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game�). Also, check that you’re using the correct key.

How do I take a screenshot without the Steam overlay?

You can use the game’s own screenshot feature (if it has one) or use Windows’ built-in screenshot tools (Win+Shift+S for Snip & Sketch, or Win+PrtScn for full-screen). These will save to your default Pictures folder, not Steam’s folder.

Are Steam screenshots compressed?

Yes, the default JPG format is compressed. To save a lossless copy, enable “Save an uncompressed copyâ€� in Settings > In-Game. This will save a PNG in a subfolder called original inside the screenshot folder.

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