Deleted games keep returning

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Help and Tips > Topic Details

This topic has been locked

lonadar Aug 4, 2020 @ 2:44pm

Deleted games keep returning

So I went through and uninstalled a bunch of games because I needed drive space. Then, since "Uninstall" wasn't enough, I went and manually deleted the folders from /Steamapps because...uninstalling is supposed to actually uninstall, right?

Every time I open Steam, 7 games appear in the "Downloads" and completely re-download and install. Every. Single. Time. I have to wait for it to be finished, then re-uninstall it, and re-delete it. I've tried Clearing the Download Cache. WHY DO THESE PROGRAMS REFUSE TO DIE?

< >

Showing 1-9 of 9 comments

Callahan420 Aug 4, 2020 @ 3:11pm

You can pause the downloads no need to wait for them to install.

Before you remove them from the download page right click on the game and select properties > updates then select only when I launch it in the drop down menu.

As an extra step go to Steam in the top left click settings > downloads > clear download cache

Last edited by Callahan420; Aug 4, 2020 @ 3:15pm

lonadar Aug 5, 2020 @ 5:22pm

Alright, they've stopped auto-downloading, though they still keep returning to the Downloads window. I've gone to each one, right-clicked, selected Uninstall, and after clearing all of them, I've cleared the Download Cache, but once Steam restarts, they're all back again, and despite all of them having auto-updates disabled, two are "scheduled" to update later.

Callahan420 Aug 5, 2020 @ 11:15pm

Did you clear the the download cache?

If not do this first then see what happens.

Last edited by Callahan420; Aug 5, 2020 @ 11:16pm

Satoru Aug 5, 2020 @ 11:51pm

The only time steam downloads games without your consent is if you use Gmod and then install game types that require assets from other source games like tf2

Last edited by Satoru; Aug 5, 2020 @ 11:51pm

lonadar Aug 9, 2020 @ 8:25am

Yes, I've cleared the download cache. (See sentence 3.) I've never heard of Gmod. It's not actively downloading the games anymore, but it shouldn't even be listing them if they aren't installed (and one of them is "scheduled" for an update on 8/16, though I have no idea why it picked that date).

Last edited by lonadar; Aug 9, 2020 @ 8:25am

lonadar Aug 9, 2020 @ 8:32am

Deleted all of the AppManifest files from the /steamapps folder. Seems it's finally forgotten them. REALLY wish Steam understood what "Uninstall" means. ...it leaves behind the app, all of the program data, and these AppManifest files. What, pray tell, does "Uninstall" ACTUALLY remove?

AntiqueGamer May 6 @ 2:34pm

It seems to be a problem I'm experiencing as well. So, I went and tried that method. Except now when you select UPDATES, you are greeted with three options:

Pause background downloads while I'm playing
Always allow background downloads
Never allow background downloads

And that's it, no: '' select only when I launch it in the drop down menu '' option whatsoever. In other words, none of the options mentioned above exist anymore. It is an issue that causes me enormous annoyance. UPDATE: Now that has all been moved to STEAM > SETTINGS > DOWNLOADS > and then the application.

Last edited by AntiqueGamer; May 6 @ 2:36pm

rawWwRrr May 6 @ 2:42pm

Originally posted by AntiqueGamer:
It seems to be a problem I'm experiencing as well. So, I went and tried that method. Except now when you select UPDATES, you are greeted with three options:

Pause background downloads while I'm playing
Always allow background downloads
Never allow background downloads

And that's it, no: '' select only when I launch it in the drop down menu '' option whatsoever. In other words, none of the options mentioned above exist anymore. It is an issue that causes me enormous annoyance. UPDATE: Now that has all been moved to STEAM > SETTINGS > DOWNLOADS > and then the application.

You're replying to a 5-yr-old thread and things have changes since then.