Reinstall Steam Client files without losing games?

[Regime]

Is it possible to reinstall the Steam client without losing my Steam game content (Don't want to reinstall hundreds of GB of files)?

Having some issues uploading screenshots at the moment and I'd like Steam to redownload its system files.

Which files should I delete?

Thanks.

[Shadowcat*]

Well if you are going to reinstall steam, then you would want to copy all the files under steam apps common, which are the main directory files for the games you have installed. so which ever directory you have steam installed > Steam > Steam Apps > common > "this is where the games are"
After you have installed steam again, just paste all the games you copied into the common folder. Launch steam, go into libary and start installing, it should say allocating files or something like that and install them rather than redownloaded everything.

But please do note, some games like the free to play ones will have to be redownloaded for some odd reason. I had to redownload warframe.

[print(name)]

Originally posted by Kyle Crane:

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

[SimboliC mad boy]

Thanks,thats help me a lot!

[Synoptikos]

Originally posted by print(name):

Originally posted by Kyle Crane:

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

I know it's almost a year old post, but after spending hours trying to solve the no screenshots / no steam overlay issue, it was THIS post that fixed it all for me. Thanks and Happy New Year!

[Pandora]

I’m happy this old post can still do it’s work when it’s so old, plz answer my question, https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1744480967035056812/

[DOS]

Originally posted by print(name):

Originally posted by Kyle Crane:

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

This "reset" solved my problem with the friendlist/chat not showing the on steam! Thank you!!

[alexjohn2160]

This helped my problem of not being able to download a game in my library. Thanks!

[412123123]

My steam will also be before

[PISSPIRATE2012]

i didnt get any back-up (screenshots,games,savefiles etc.) i just download steam and install again, didnt lose anything, while installing steam says removing files but its doesnt, everything same

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Dynamo:

i didnt get any back-up (screenshots,games,savefiles etc.) i just download steam and install again, didnt lose anything, while installing steam says removing files but its doesnt, everything same

You lost the userdata files when it was deleted and recreated.

[Guts]

Originally posted by Regime:

Is it possible to reinstall the Steam client without losing my Steam game content (Don't want to reinstall hundreds of GB of files)?

Having some issues uploading screenshots at the moment and I'd like Steam to redownload its system files.

Which files should I delete?

Thanks.

for newer steam users, you can go to settings and under the downloads settings there is (content library) which you can select the previous SteamLibrary folder, you have to remove the newly made folder then choose the old one afterwards.

I am pretty sure this works for everyone

[ColMustard]

Originally posted by print(name):

Originally posted by Kyle Crane:

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

Thank you

[DeXtrovert cM]

Originally posted by print(name):

Originally posted by Kyle Crane:

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

dude, thank you so much

[Koвσι Iηѕαƒ]

Originally posted by print(name):

Originally posted by Kyle Crane:

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

Does this work with more than one library game folder?

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Koвσι Iηѕαƒ:

Originally posted by print(name):

If you're wondering about the same as OP's question: Just go to your Steam installation folder and delete everything exept steam.exe and the /steamapps/ folder. Then just double-click on Steam.exe and it will download all the neccesary files for the steam client. The steamapps folder is where all your games are installed by default and Steam will automatically recognize it upon relaunch.

Does this work with more than one library game folder?

Yes because you're not deleting anything from there.