Understanding where Steam installs games on your Ubuntu system can be helpful in managing your game files, troubleshooting issues, and optimizing your gaming experience. This article will guide you through the various locations where Steam might install games on Ubuntu, depending on the version of Steam and the installation method used.
By default, Steam installs games on Ubuntu in the ~/.local/share/Steam directory. However, depending on the version of Steam and the installation method used, games may also be stored in ~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common, a custom directory of your choice, or in Wine or Flatpak directories. To find the exact location of your Steam installation directory, you can use the find command in the terminal.
Default Steam Installation Directory
By default, when Steam is installed, it creates a directory in the home folder of the current user. The games you download and install from Steam are typically stored in this directory. Here is the default path:
~/.local/share/Steam
In this path, the tilde (~) represents the home directory of the current user, and the .local/share/Steam is the directory where Steam stores its data, including the installed games.
Newer Steam Versions
In newer versions of Steam, games are often stored in a different directory. The path to this directory is:
~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common
In some systems, ~/.steam/steam may be a symbolic link to ~/.local/share/Steam.
Custom Steam Installation Directory
If you prefer not to store Steam games in your home directory, you can create a directory elsewhere, such as on a separate partition. Here’s an example of how to do this:
- Create a new directory, for example,
/opt/SteamFiles. - Give it the appropriate ownership and access rights.
- Create a symbolic link from
~/.steamto this new directory.
This method allows for easy sharing of games between multiple Linux installations on the same PC.
Wine Installation Directory
If you are using Wine to run Steam, the directory structure may be different. Wine may not show folder names starting with a “.”, so you may need to navigate to the correct drive letter for your Ubuntu file system (e.g., Z:) and then find the Steam directory within your /home directory.
Flatpak Installation Directory
If you installed the Flatpak version of Steam, the directory can be found at:
~/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.steam
How to Find the Steam Directory
If you are unsure where your Steam directory is located, you can use the find command in the terminal. Here’s how to do it:
cd /
sudo find -name steamIn this command, cd / changes the current directory to the root directory, and sudo find -name steam searches for any directories named “steam” on your system.
Conclusion
In summary, Steam games can be installed in various locations on Ubuntu, including ~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common, ~/.local/share/Steam, /opt/SteamFiles, /home/${USER}/Steam, Wine directories, or the Flatpak directory. The specific location depends on the version of Steam and the installation method used. By understanding where these files are stored, you can better manage your game files and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
To change the default installation directory for Steam games on Ubuntu, you can create a new directory in the desired location (e.g., /opt/SteamFiles), give it appropriate ownership and access rights, and then create a symbolic link from ~/.steam to this new directory. This allows you to store your Steam games in a different location.
If you are unsure where your Steam directory is located, you can use the find command in the terminal. Open a terminal and enter the command cd / to change the current directory to the root directory. Then, enter sudo find -name steam to search for any directories named "steam" on your system. The command will display the path to the Steam directory.
Yes, you can install Steam games on a separate partition. To do this, create a new directory on the desired partition (e.g., /mnt/games/Steam), give it appropriate ownership and access rights, and then create a symbolic link from ~/.steam to this new directory. This allows you to store your Steam games on a different partition.
If you are using Wine to run Steam on Ubuntu, the directory structure may be different. Wine may not show folder names starting with a ".", so you may need to navigate to the correct drive letter for your Ubuntu file system (e.g., Z:) and then find the Steam directory within your /home directory.
If you installed the Flatpak version of Steam, the directory can be found at ~/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.steam. This is where the Flatpak version of Steam stores its data, including the installed games.
Yes, you can share Steam games between multiple Linux installations on the same PC. One way to do this is by creating a custom installation directory for Steam games (e.g., /opt/SteamFiles) and then creating a symbolic link from ~/.steam to this directory. This allows all Linux installations to access and play the same set of Steam games.
