You can’t move games you already own to another Steam account or merge the accounts. The licenses stay with the account that bought them. To play those games on a new computer, sign in to the original account; to give an eligible household member access, use Steam Families. Copying game files only moves the files, not ownership.
Can you transfer games or merge Steam accounts?
No. Steam says accounts cannot be merged and game subscriptions or CD keys cannot be reset or moved between accounts. Your purchases remain attached to the account that owns them. See Steam Support’s account and merging FAQ.
If you can still access the old account, keep using it to play those games. If you have lost access, use Steam’s account recovery process; creating another account does not move the purchases to it.
If you got a new computer, use the account that owns the games
Install Steam on the new computer and sign in to the account that bought the games. You can then download them again. If you want to avoid downloading everything, Steam also documents moving an existing installation and game files between computers. Either way, the license remains with the original account.
#1 Best Overall
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Move an existing Steam installation
Steam’s installation guide recommends backing up the steamapps folder when moving an installation. After moving the installation and files, start Steam and sign in to the existing account. Steam cautions against installing Steam on an external hard drive because it may cause performance issues.
Copy game files over your local network
Steam’s local network transfer feature can copy game installation and update files between Steam clients on the same LAN, including supported PCs and Steam Decks. Both clients need to be online, visible on the same network, and allowed by their transfer settings. The sending client must be idle, and the game must be released and up to date. Consult Steam’s local network game transfers FAQ for the requirements.
This is a way to reduce downloads, not to hand a game to another account. The transfer does not copy local saves or configuration files, and excludes Workshop, Steam Cloud, and shader files.
If someone else in your household wants to play
Steam Families can give eligible household members access to games in one another’s libraries without changing who owns them. Steam describes Families as intended for a household of up to six close family members. Ownership stays with the purchaser, and each member uses their own Steam account. See the Steam Families User Guide and FAQ.
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Rank #3
- 【Upgraded】We sells product with professionally upgraded to 2TB SSD. Original Seal is opened for upgrade ONLY.
- 【Stunning 7.4" HDR OLED & 90Hz Motion】 Experience striking contrast and brilliant clarity with the all-new 7.4-inch HDR OLED display. Designed from the ground up for gaming, it features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth motion and pure blacks. This handheld is capable of delivering an immersive visual experience, ensuring your Steam library looks better than ever with vibrant colors and amazing motion rendition.
- 【30-50% More Battery & Efficient Performance】 Play your favorites longer with up to 50% more battery life. By fitting a larger battery and a power-efficient OLED panel, this device provides extended gameplay sessions. It’s the perfect travel companion for long flights or commutes. The updated AMD APU ensures high-speed performance for AAA titles while maintaining incredible energy efficiency.
- 【3X Faster Downloads with Wi-Fi 6E】 Never wait for a game again. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, this Steam Deck OLED offers increased bandwidth and lower latency, delivering downloads up to 3 times faster than previous models. This ensures stable online play and rapid updates, making it the most reliable wireless gaming handheld for modern high-speed home networks.
- 【Responsive Touch & Enhanced Connectivity】 Enjoy a vastly improved touchscreen with higher fidelity and faster haptics. We’ve added a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to improve connections for multiple controllers. Whether using the built-in trackpads or the included external controller, this allows for precision play in everything from FPS to complex strategy games.
Not every game can be shared. Availability can depend on third-party account, key, or subscription requirements; regional restrictions; operating-system support; publisher exclusions; and whether the owner has marked a game private. Achievements belong to each individual account. Save behavior depends on the game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why gifting or selling the old account won’t solve it
Steam gifts are for new purchases, not for moving a game you already own. Steam says a game already in your library cannot be transferred as a gift. Buying or selling the account that owns the games is not a supported workaround: Steam prohibits account sales and warns that an account may be locked if a sale is detected. Read Steam Support’s Steam Gifts page and account security and ownership guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Rank #4
- 512 GB NVMe SSD: Fast storage for quicker game load times and space for larger game libraries.
- OLED Display: 1200x800 resolution with deep contrasts and vibrant colors for a captivating visual experience.
- Custom AMD APU: Power-efficient Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU for desktop-level gaming performance.
- Expandable Storage: Add more space with a microSD card slot, ensuring you can bring even more games with you.
- Versatile Controls: With built-in thumbsticks, trackpads, and touchscreen controls, you have full control over your gaming experience.
Choose the right option for your goal
| Your goal | What to do | What changes | What stays the same |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play your games on a replacement computer | Install Steam or move the installation, then sign in to the account that owns the games | Where the game files are stored | The owning account and licenses |
| Let an eligible household member play | Set up Steam Families, subject to member and game eligibility | Access to some games in family libraries | Ownership remains with the purchaser |
| Reduce downloads on a new PC or Steam Deck | Use local network game-file transfer when the requirements are met | Installation and update files on the device | Licenses, saves, configuration, Workshop, Steam Cloud, and shader files |
| Move an existing purchase to a different account | There is no supported transfer; keep using the account that owns it | Nothing | The purchase remains on its original account |
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