Debloating TF2: How to Delete Unnecessary Files and Save Hard Drive Space

If you played TF2 for long enough, you probably realised that your TF2 folder is much larger than before. In this guide I'll show you how to delete unneccesary files and decrappify the game, optimizing physical space and loading times without impacting the game.

Deleting TGA Screenshots

Navigate to
Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Team Fortress 2/tf/screenshots

This folder contains huge uncompressed "TGA" copies of screenshots you have ever made. They are about 3-25 MB depending on your screen and in-game resolution. It may not seem like a lot, but if you make a lot of screenshots they will add up to a gigantic size.

Because the screenshots are also saved in "userdata" set of folders in JPG format (which often has a significantly smaller file size than TGA) you can safely delete this folder.

If you want to maintain screenshots with no loss of quality you can convert them from TGA to PNG, making them 4-8 times smaller.

Deleting Downloads Folder

If you play a lot of community servers, you probably know that certain maps, textures and models are automatically downloaded before you join the match. These files are located at:
Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Team Fortress2/tf/download
You can safely delete this folder. If you know the custom maps' names, you may want to delete some of them, but keep the rest. If the server requires files that you deleted, it will download it back.

Deleting Workshop Downloads

You can also delete maps you've downloaded from Workshop. For that you need to go to:
Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/workshop/content/440
There will be multiple folders named after the ID of a map. Open a folder to check the map name if you want to leave some maps undeleted. Although you can delete the entire set of folders without any errors. To avoid the maps being downloaded again, go to their respective Steam Workshop page and press "Unsubscribe".

Deleting Useless Base Files

Team Fortress 2 is not a perfectly optimized game. There are a lot of leftovers in the game. You can delete some base files without any major loss. These files include:

Half-Life 2 Voice Acting

Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Team Fortress 2/hl2
Leftovers from Half-Life 2 that are never used in the game. Can be deleted fully without any consequences.

Unused maps

Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Team Fortress 2/tf/maps
Some maps cannot be found in Casual, nor Competitve. They can be safely deleted. The unused maps are:

• All of the maps with arena_ prefix
  
• pl_cactuscanyon
  
• rd_asteroid

WARNING: These maps can still be found on community servers, which will kick you out if you don't have the maps.

Map/Mode Video Previews

Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Team Fortress 2/tf/media
You can delete all of the videos without any in-game gliches.

Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to like the guide if you enjoyed it!

[orangejuicesmileyface]

ok

[dabmasterars]

orangejuicesmileyface, you can't, you can only delete parts of the .vpk archives, which will break more than just hats.

[orangejuicesmileyface]

can you delete hat models without issue? i don't really care about hats and i don't mind not seeing them

[★Maciuś★]

This guide helped me free up a lot of space on my disk. Thanks a lot, very helpful.

[dabmasterars]

Macius, depends on if you need it or not. i, personally, like to rewatch demos from some of my map playtests, but if you don't want it, it is absolutely safe to delete.

[★Maciuś★]

What about the demos folder located at Steam > Steamapps > common > Team Fortress 2 > tf > demos?

It's full of junk files weighing about 50 GB. Can I delete it?

[purlime]

yea the games file size is insane and the other drive i just got working broke now so im back with my 476gb

[Dreamer]

yes! you should update it, so it can help more people, also get more attention too.

[dabmasterars]

it seems like this guide i uploaded in 2021 started getting attention for some reason. i might update it soon to list some more things i found

[k]

Nice guide but removing arena_* maps is not good idea tbh
You can still play em alone with bots or on comm servers