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The folder containing the game is different from the folders containing saves, Workshop mods, screenshots, and Steam’s installation data. This guide shows how to find each one on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Open a Steam game’s installation folder from Steam
This is the most reliable method because it works even when the game is installed on a secondary drive or has a folder name that does not match its store title.
- Open Steam.
- Select Library.
- Right-click the game whose files you want to find.
- Select Properties.
- Choose Installed Files in the left pane.
- Click Browse… beside Size of installation.
File Explorer opens directly in that game’s installation directory. This is the folder you normally need when installing a game-specific mod, locating an executable, adding configuration files, or inspecting the installed files.
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Some Steam client versions also provide this route:
- Right-click the game in Library.
- Choose Manage.
- Select Browse Local Files.
If you see older instructions that say Properties > Local Files > Browse Local Files, they refer to an earlier Steam interface. In the current client, the tab is generally called Installed Files and the button is Browse….
Default Steam game location in Windows
When Steam uses its default installation and library locations, game files are normally stored under:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonFor a particular game, the path looks like this:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonGame NameThe Steam client itself is normally installed in:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamThese are defaults, not fixed requirements. For example, a game installed in another Steam library could be located at:
D:SteamLibrarysteamappscommonGame NameA game may be on a different drive from the Steam client. Do not assume that finding Steam.exe tells you where every game is installed.
Find every Steam library on your computer
If the game is not in the default folder, check Steam’s library list:
- Open Steam.
- Select Steam in the top-left corner.
- Open Settings.
- Select Storage.
The Storage page shows the drives and library locations Steam knows about, along with the games installed in each library. Select a library to view its contents. This is also where you can add a library: click the + button at the top of the Storage page and choose a drive or folder.
A library usually has this structure:
D:SteamLibrarysteamappscommonThe common folder contains the installed game directories. The parent steamapps folder is not the game folder itself. It also contains installation manifests, download information, and Workshop data.
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Use File Explorer to open the folder manually
When you already know the library path, you can open it directly:
- Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
- Click the address bar.
- Enter the following default path:
C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteamappscommon- Press Enter.
If Windows reports that the location cannot be found, do not create a new folder there automatically. The Steam client or library may be installed elsewhere. Check Steam > Settings > Storage first.
You can also search for a game folder from File Explorer. Searching from This PC checks more locations than searching from Home or from a single folder, but it can take considerably longer. If you have several drives, checking the Steam library paths listed in Steam is usually faster and more accurate.
Why the folder name may not match the game title
The directory under steamappscommon does not always use the exact name shown in your Steam Library or on the store page. A developer may use an abbreviation, an internal project name, or a previous title.
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The Browse… button avoids this problem. If you need to identify the folder manually, Steam stores an app manifest in the library’s steamapps folder. A typical manifest looks like this:
D:SteamLibrarysteamappsappmanifest_APPID.acfOpen the relevant manifest with a text editor and look for the installdir value:
"installdir" "Stardew Valley"That value identifies the directory under steamappscommon. Steam app IDs can also appear in shortcut URLs such as:
steam://rungameid/413150The number is the app ID and corresponds to the numeric part of the manifest filename.
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Game files are not the same as save files
If you are trying to back up progress, do not limit your search to the installation directory. A game’s executable and assets may be in steamappscommon, while its saves are stored elsewhere.
Common save locations include:
| Location | Typical use |
|---|---|
C:Users<UserName>Documents |
Documents-based game saves and configuration files |
C:Users<UserName>DocumentsMy Games |
A common location used by third-party games |
C:Users<UserName>Saved Games |
Games that use Windows’ Saved Games folder |
C:Users<UserName>AppDataLocal |
Per-user local data |
C:Users<UserName>AppDataLocalLow |
Data used by some games and engines |
C:Users<UserName>AppDataRoaming |
Per-user settings and saves that roam with a profile |
Steamuserdata |
Some Steam user and game data |
The exact location depends on the developer. Steam Cloud also does not guarantee that every save is available as a normal file in the game directory, nor should it be treated as your only backup before reinstalling Windows or changing computers.
Show the hidden AppData folder
AppData is hidden by default. In Windows 11:
- Open File Explorer.
- Select View.
- Choose Show.
- Enable Hidden items.
You can then browse to:
C:Users<UserName>AppDataThe same user-profile location can also be reached by entering %AppData% in File Explorer’s address bar, although that opens the Roaming folder directly. Use the full path or the parent user folder when you need to inspect Local and LocalLow as well.
Find Workshop mods and Steam screenshots
Workshop content
Steam Workshop files are stored separately from the installed game. The usual structure is:
SteamLibrarysteamappsworkshopcontentAppIDInside the app ID folder, Workshop items use numeric Workshop item IDs rather than readable names. The game’s installation folder may contain files loaded by a mod, but subscribed Workshop downloads normally reside in the separate Workshop location.
Screenshots
Steam screenshots are also separate from steamappscommon. A commonly used path is:
Steamuserdata<SteamID>760remote<AppID>screenshotsThe easier method is to use Steam’s interface:
- Open View > Screenshots, or View > Recordings & Screenshots, depending on your client version.
- Select the game.
- Use the option to open the screenshot folder or show the files on disk.
Move a Steam game without breaking its library entry
Do not normally drag a game folder to another drive in File Explorer. Steam tracks the library and installation location, and manually moving only the folder can make Steam display Install instead of Play.
Use Steam’s supported move process:
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage.
- Select the library containing the game.
- Select the game.
- Click Move.
- Choose another Steam library and confirm.
A per-game option may also be available at Library > right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Move install folder.
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To move the entire Steam installation, Steam’s official procedure is different: exit Steam, open the existing Steam folder, delete everything except steamapps, userdata, and steam.exe, move the remaining Steam folder, and start Steam from its new location. Steam may update briefly. Verify the installed games afterward.
Steam says the game is uninstalled even though the files exist
If the button says Install rather than Play, Steam currently does not recognize the game as installed. The files may still be present.
Try these steps:
- Reconnect the drive containing the library, especially if it is an external SSD or removable drive.
- Check whether Windows assigned the drive a different letter.
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage and confirm that the library is listed.
- If the library is missing, add or locate the existing library from the Storage page.
- Choose Install for the game and select the library that already contains its files.
Steam may discover the existing data and verify it instead of downloading the complete game again. A missing or damaged library registration can cause this problem even when the game folder remains intact.
Avoid forcibly closing Steam while it is writing to a drive, as this can corrupt library or installation information. If an external-drive library repeatedly disappears, Steam recommends installing Steam and games on an internal drive.
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To check whether official files are missing or damaged:
- Open Library.
- Right-click the game and select Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
Steam scans the installation and redownloads missing or damaged official files. Back up modified files first if the game is modded: verification can replace or remove files that differ from the official installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Back up more than the game folder
Copying only:
SteamLibrarysteamappscommonGame Nameis not a complete Steam backup. Steam may also need the matching appmanifest_APPID.acf file and the library registration to recognize the installation. Saves, Workshop content, screenshots, and configuration files may be stored in entirely different locations.
Steam’s built-in backup feature is intended for games that completely download, install, and patch through Steam. To use it, open Steam’s backup command, choose the games, click Browse… to select the backup destination, and continue through Steam’s backup windows. Games that rely on external launchers or other installation systems may not be fully supported by this feature.
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Windows 10 and Windows 11 note
The File Explorer steps in this guide apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025; after that date, Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10.
FAQ
Where is the Steam games folder in Windows?
The default folder is C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteamappscommon. However, Steam libraries can be installed on other drives, such as D:SteamLibrarysteamappscommon. Check Steam > Settings > Storage or use the game’s Properties > Installed Files > Browse… command.
How do I open a game’s files directly in Steam?
In Steam, open Library, right-click the game, choose Properties, select Installed Files, and click Browse… beside Size of installation.
Why can’t I find my game saves in the Steam folder?
Saves are often stored outside the installation directory, including DocumentsMy Games, Saved Games, AppDataLocal, AppDataLocalLow, AppDataRoaming, or Steamuserdata. The correct location varies by game.
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steamappscommon contains the installed game folders. The parent steamapps directory also contains app manifests, download data, and Workshop content, so it is not the same as the game-installation directory.
Why does Steam show Install when the game folder is still on my drive?
Steam may have lost the library registration, or the drive may be disconnected or assigned a different letter. Reconnect the drive, confirm the library under Steam > Settings > Storage, and try selecting Install into the existing library so Steam can discover and validate the files.
Where are Steam Workshop files stored?
They are normally under SteamLibrarysteamappsworkshopcontentAppID. The individual Workshop folders use numeric item IDs and are separate from the game’s installation folder.
The Bottom Line
For a specific game, the dependable route is Library > right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Browse…. For a manual search, inspect the libraries listed at Steam > Settings > Storage, then open each library’s steamappscommon folder. Keep in mind that saves, Workshop content, and screenshots are stored separately, and use Steam’s move and backup tools instead of manually dragging game folders between drives.
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