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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To hide a specific game’s ownership and activity from friends, mark it Private. Steam says this hides the game’s ownership, in-game status, playtime, and activity from other users. It is a visibility setting—not a documented way to erase the game’s underlying history.
How to make one Steam game private
Steam documents three places where you can mark a game private. In the Steam client, the game must be open while the client is online and connected to Steam.
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- From your Library: Right-click the game, open Manage, and choose the private-game option. You can also open the game’s details page with its gear icon, then choose Manage.
- From the game’s properties: Open Properties for the game and select Privacy.
- From your Steam profile: Open your profile’s games list and mark the selected game private.
- While buying a game: On the shopping cart page, mark the game private before completing the purchase.
Steam’s client layout and wording may vary by version. Look for the Private setting under Manage or Privacy. See Steam’s instructions for Private Games.
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Steam says a private game’s ownership, in-game status, playtime, and activity are hidden from other users. The game no longer appears on your Steam Community profile’s games list or in recently played games, and activity such as achievement unlocks and “Played for the first time” does not appear in friends’ Activity feeds. The game remains visible to you in your Library.
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Steam describes this as hiding information from other users. Its guidance does not say the setting deletes historical playtime, achievements, or other underlying activity records. Treat Private as a visibility control, not an erasure tool.
Choose the right Steam privacy control
| What you want | Steam control | Scope and effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hide one game’s ownership and activity from other users | Private | Applies to one game; hides its ownership and activity, including from friends’ Activity feeds, while keeping it in your Library. Steam Private Games |
| Remove a game from your own client list for organization | Hide this game | Organizes your Library view; Steam distinguishes this from making a game private. Steam Private Games |
| Limit visibility of your profile or its games more broadly | Privacy Settings | Applies at the profile level, with Public, Friends Only, and Private states and subcategories. Open Profile > Edit Profile > Privacy Settings; changes save automatically. Steam Profile Privacy Settings |
| Remove your Steam account | Request account deletion through Steam Support | Account-wide and permanent: Steam says the account and associated licenses, profile, wallet funds, inventory, gifts, and other information cannot be recovered. It is not a targeted way to hide one game. Steam account deletion |
Limits of Steam’s Private setting
- Other players in a match may still see your Steam ID. Steam says marking a game private does not hide your ID from other players on the same server when the game uses Steam matchmaking.
- An invited friend may see you in-game. If you invite a Steam friend into a private game, that friend can see your in-game status until you exit the game or disconnect from Steam, and may be able to join.
- You will not receive Steam Trading Cards for that game while it is private.
These exceptions and the Trading Card effect are described in Steam’s Private Games guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does removing or uninstalling a game delete its activity?
Steam’s official guidance reviewed here does not establish that uninstalling a game, hiding its Library entry, or removing a single game license clears historical playtime, achievements, or all activity records. Steam’s account deletion guidance covers permanent, account-wide removal rather than erasing the history of one title. If you need a record removed rather than hidden, ask Steam Support about your specific account; do not assume that changing a visibility setting deletes stored history.
Quick Recap
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- 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.
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- Versatile Controls: With built-in thumbsticks, trackpads, and touchscreen controls, you have full control over your gaming experience.
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