A Steam demo is a separate app in your Library, linked to the full game. Installing or uninstalling it is straightforward, but whether your progress survives removal or carries into the full game depends on that game’s developer. A save might be stored on your computer, synced through Steam Cloud, or both; demo-to-full-game transfer is supported only when the developer has set it up.
How Steam demos work
Steamworks treats a demo as a separate app with its own App ID associated with the full game’s App ID. A demo may be offered from the full game’s store page or from a separate demo page. It therefore appears as its own Library entry rather than simply being a temporary mode inside the full game. Valve’s Steamworks documentation also says developers can share installed content between the demo and full game, but that arrangement is optional.
How to install and launch a demo
- Open the game’s Steam store page, or its separate demo listing, and choose the available demo install or download control. The exact label can vary in the Steam client.
- Wait for the demo to install. Find its separate entry in your Library and launch it from there.
If you cannot find a demo, the developer may not currently offer one for that game. A developer can also deactivate a demo: existing Library owners will still see it and can uninstall it, but will no longer be able to launch it, according to Steamworks.
Will your demo save carry over to the full game?
Possibly, but it is not automatic across all Steam games. The developer can configure the demo to use the full game’s Steam Cloud storage so players can continue from a demo save after buying the full game. Valve describes that as an available configuration, not a universal Steam feature. Even if the save is available to both apps, the full game must be able to read the demo’s save format.
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Check the game’s store page for its Steam Cloud indicator, then look for developer documentation or a support/community post that specifically confirms demo-save transfer. Steam Cloud support alone does not establish which files are synced or whether demo progress is compatible with the full game; developers choose what to store and how to store it. Steam’s Remote Storage page can show cloud files for supported games, but does not prove that a particular demo save will load in the full game.
What happens to a save when you uninstall a demo?
Uninstalling the demo removes its installed game files, but save handling varies by game. A save may remain on your computer, be stored in Steam Cloud, or exist in both places. Steam does not guarantee that uninstalling a demo will preserve or delete every game’s save. The developer determines the save location and whether uninstalling removes it.
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Before removing a demo, check the game’s own instructions for its save location and cloud behavior. If you can identify an important local save, copy it somewhere safe before deleting files. Steam Support notes that third-party save locations vary; DocumentsMy Games is one common location for saves not stored in Steam Cloud, not a universal path. Steam’s backup guidance recommends checking the game’s community or developer for the correct location.
Check Steam Cloud before removing a demo
- Look for the game’s Steam Cloud indicator on its store page and confirm with the developer which saves it covers.
- If Steam Cloud is enabled, let Steam finish syncing before uninstalling or changing files. Offline Mode delays syncing and can contribute to conflicts.
- If Steam shows a conflict, compare the displayed file timestamps with when you last played before choosing which copy to keep. Steam cannot automatically determine which unsynchronized version you want.
- Make a separate copy of a known important local save before deleting files or making broad changes to your Steam installation.
Steam Support lists these default locations for Steam Cloud data: Windows C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata, macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata, and Linux ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata. These are locations for cloud data, not universal locations for every game’s local save. Steam Cloud troubleshooting explains sync conflicts and warns that Steam may not be able to recover lost cloud data.
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Uninstalling one demo is not the same as uninstalling Steam
Removing a demo from your Library is different from uninstalling the Steam client. Valve’s Windows instructions for removing the client warn that installed game content is removed too. If you are uninstalling Steam itself and want to retain installed game files, Valve recommends moving the steamapps folder outside the Steam directory first. That client-uninstall guidance should not be treated as a description of what happens when you remove one demo. Steam’s Windows uninstall instructions cover the broader operation.
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Quick decision guide
| Question | What Steam establishes | What to verify for your game |
|---|---|---|
| Is the demo separate from the full game? | Yes. Steamworks documents demos as separate App IDs associated with the full game. | Find the demo’s own Library entry or store listing. |
| Will demo progress transfer? | It can, if the developer configures shared full-game Steam Cloud storage. | Confirm transfer support and save-format compatibility with the developer. |
| Will uninstalling preserve the save? | Steam does not set one rule for all games; developers determine save handling. | Check the game’s save-location and uninstall guidance, and back up a known local save. |
| Does Steam Cloud cover every save? | No. Cloud use and the files included are customizable by each developer. | Check the game’s Steam Cloud listing and developer information. |
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