How to uninstall a FREE steam game, and keep it in your future library?

[2realist4u]

When I uninstall a FREE game, it still shows up in my library. Does this mean I'll have it forever, even if the developer removes it from Steam (like I would a paid game)?

If not, how to I ensure I'll keep it forever? The following is based on research I've done (but I haven't found anything official that verifies):
1) Rt-Click FREE Game > Manage > HIDE; Uninstall it and it will remain there.
2) Create and add the game to a custom CATEGORY (e.g. "FREE Games to Keep in Library)
3) If you want FREE titles to stick around in your client, the best thing you can do is FAVORITE it.
4) Purchase DLC for the game [however: A) Not all games have DLC B) I've read quite a few posts stating they have purchased DLC, but the FREE game has still vanished]

I appreciate any help on this!

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Filter for Free 2 Play in your library.

[HikariLight]

Once a game has been added to your library, it will always be there even if you uninstalled it.
The only way for a game to be removed is if the game was removed from Steam due to legal reasons or the developers decided to revoke the license for some reason.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by 2realist4u:

When I uninstall a FREE game, it still shows up in my library. Does this mean I'll have it forever, even if the developer removes it from Steam (like I would a paid game)?

Basically, yes. There may be rare exceptions, but if it gets to the point of removing the game from libraries, then the game will most likely be unplayable anyway.

[Ben Lubar]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Originally posted by 2realist4u:

When I uninstall a FREE game, it still shows up in my library. Does this mean I'll have it forever, even if the developer removes it from Steam (like I would a paid game)?

Basically, yes. There may be rare exceptions, but if it gets to the point of removing the game from libraries, then the game will most likely be unplayable anyway.

Here is a list of free games that are not kept in your library list when you uninstall them: https://steamdb.info/sub/0/

Note that for games like TF2, if you spend money in the game, it stays visible in your library list when uninstalled.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Uninstalling a free game does not remove it from your library.

I have free to play games that have been delisted and they are still in my library.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Ben Lubar:

Here is a list of free games that are not kept in your library list when you uninstall them: https://steamdb.info/sub/0/

The list is small, contains most Tools rather than games themselves but using the filter for Tags in the library "Free 2 Play" will show you all free games on the account.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/795100/Friday_the_13th_Killer_Puzzle/

Friday the 13th Kiiller Puzzle Game

[2realist4u]

Originally posted by Ben Lubar:

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

... Here is a list of free games that are not kept in your library list when you uninstall them: https://steamdb.info/sub/0/ ...

That's quite interesting; so it seems that it is based on the publisher / developer's settings. Based on your link, I assume any free game from these publishers will not be kept in library?

[2realist4u]

Originally posted by C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

Uninstalling a free game does not remove it from your library.

I have free to play games that have been delisted and they are still in my library.

This is really good to know. I'm guessing that all the research that told me otherwise -- is likely old info that has changed.

[Ben Lubar]

Originally posted by 2realist4u:

That's quite interesting; so it seems that it is based on the publisher / developer's settings. Based on your link, I assume any free game from these publishers will not be kept in library?

Any free game released within the past 10 years or any free game that has the option to accept payment will use the actual license grant system that buying a game does. It's specifically Alien Swarm and a few free indie titles that got added to Steam very early on that act weird and disappear when you uninstall them because they're granted to every Steam account and they don't have a "free on demand" package.

[KADC]

I have the opposite problem: I just added three free games to my library but they don't show up there, I don't remember their names so I can't launch them from their store pages, and they don't show up in recommendations (which is where I found them in the first place) because they're already "in my library" (though not visibly so).

Any suggestions how to see free games added to my library but never installed?

Update: The solution was to check GOG Galaxy which apparently does a better job of keeping track of my Steam library than Steam does.

[Ben Lubar]

Originally posted by KADC:

I have the opposite problem: I just added three free games to my library but they don't show up there, I don't remember their names so I can't launch them from their store pages, and they don't show up in recommendations (which is where I found them in the first place) because they're already "in my library" (though not visibly so).

Any suggestions how to see free games added to my library but never installed?

Do they show up here? https://store.steampowered.com/account/licenses/

[KADC]

Originally posted by Ben Lubar:

Originally posted by KADC:

I have the opposite problem: I just added three free games to my library but they don't show up there, I don't remember their names so I can't launch them from their store pages, and they don't show up in recommendations (which is where I found them in the first place) because they're already "in my library" (though not visibly so).

Any suggestions how to see free games added to my library but never installed?

Do they show up here? https://store.steampowered.com/account/licenses/

Yes, thank you. Not the most direct means to access them but at least I can see the names so I can go to the store pages to get them.