On Windows, open the Steam menu in the upper-left corner of the desktop client and select Settings. On macOS, choose Preferences from the same menu. In the Steam mobile app, tap the three-bar menu in the lower-right corner, then tap Settings near the bottom.
Open Steam settings on a computer
- Windows: In the Steam desktop client, click Steam in the upper-left corner, then choose Settings. Steam Support describes the menu as being at the very upper left of Steam on Windows. Steam Support’s language instructions show this menu location.
- macOS: Click Steam in the menu bar above the app, then choose Preferences. The menu item has a different name on macOS.
Open settings in the Steam mobile app
- Tap the three-bar menu in the lower-right corner of the app.
- Tap Settings, near the bottom of the menu.
Find a particular setting
The desktop client groups options by feature. For example, to set a download speed limit, open Steam → Settings → Downloads, as shown in Valve’s download speed instructions. Overlay controls are under Steam → Settings → In-game, and game recording options are under Steam → Settings → Game Recording. Valve’s Steam Community Overlay and Steam Game Recording pages describe those sections.
Steam Deck: settings in Desktop Mode
To switch from Gaming Mode to Desktop Mode, press STEAM → Power → Switch to Desktop. In Desktop Mode, use the desktop client’s platform-specific Steam menu path above. Valve’s Steam Deck and Steam Machine Desktop FAQ documents the switch to Desktop Mode; it does not establish a route to the general client Settings menu in Gaming Mode.
Which settings menu do you need?
The paths above open Steam’s client settings. They are distinct from Store Preferences and from the settings menu inside an individual game.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 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 #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Rank #2
- 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
#1 Best Overall
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
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