Where Does Steam Save Screenshots?

Steam, the popular gaming platform developed by Valve Corporation, offers a range of features for gamers, one of which is the ability to capture and save screenshots. This feature is incredibly useful for players wanting to share in-game moments or simply document their progress. However, many users often find themselves wondering where exactly these screenshots are saved. Locating them is surprisingly straightforward once you understand Steam’s directory system.

Taking Screenshots in Steam

Before finding out where the screenshots are saved, it’s important to understand how they are taken. By default, Steam allows users to capture screenshots with the press of the F12 key. This key can be customized within the Steam client settings. After a screenshot is captured, Steam provides a notification, letting you know it was successful.

Accessing Your Steam Screenshots

Once you’ve taken your screenshots, they do not automatically appear in your Photo Library or typical picture folders. Steam saves these files in its own directory. There are two main ways to access them: through the Steam client or directly via your computer’s file system.

Method 1: Using the Steam Client

• Open the Steam client on your computer.
• Navigate to the top menu and click on the View option.
• From the dropdown menu, select Screenshots to open the Screenshot Manager.
• In the Screenshot Manager, you can view all the screenshots you’ve taken, manage them, and directly open the storage location by clicking on Show on Disk.

This method is convenient for users who prefer navigating through the software interface. The Screenshot Manager also allows users to share, delete, or upload their images to the Steam Cloud.

Method 2: Accessing Through File System

If you’re unable to find your screenshots through Steam, or if you prefer accessing them directly, you’ll need to navigate to Steam’s installation directory on your computer. This method is slightly more involved, but once you understand the file path, it becomes second nature. The default file location varies by operating system.

For Windows Users

• Open the File Explorer.
• Navigate to the main Steam directory. The default path is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam.
• Inside the Steam folder, find and open the directory named userdata.
• In the userdata folder, you’ll find multiple numbered folders. These correspond to user profiles. If you have only one Steam account logged in, there should only be one folder.
• Inside your user folder, navigate to 760, and then remote.
• Within the remote folder are more numbered folders. These match the AppID of the game you took screenshots in. For instance, the AppID for Dota 2 is 570. You can look up AppIDs online if you’re unsure.
• Find the respective game folder, and then navigate to screenshots. Here you will see all your screenshots for that particular game.

For Mac Users

• Open Finder.
• In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Go and then select Library. Note: If Library is not visible, hold the Option key when clicking Go.
• Navigate to Application Support, then Steam.
• Follow the same directory path as Windows: userdata -> [Your Profile] -> 760 -> remote -> [AppID] -> screenshots.

For Linux Users

• Open a file manager.
• Navigate to: ~/.local/share/Steam/.
• Enter the directory tree: userdata -> [Your Profile] -> 760 -> remote -> [AppID] -> screenshots.

Managing Screenshots

Within these directories, you can copy, move, or edit your screenshots as you would with any other image file. The Steam client provides basic functionality for sharing or uploading to its cloud service, which can save disk space and allow access across different devices. However, for significant edits or organizational needs, accessing the files directly is recommended.

Changing Screenshot Storage Location

If you’re running low on space or want to manage storage differently, you might consider changing the screenshot save location. Unfortunately, Steam doesn’t offer a direct way to change the screenshot folder location through the client settings. A workaround involves creating a symbolic link. This more advanced method diverts files to a location of your choice.

Creating a Symbolic Link (Windows Example)

• Create a new folder where you want your screenshots to be saved.
• Delete the original screenshots folder in the Steam directory.
• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Use the command: mklink /D [Original Screenshot Path] [New Folder Path].
• This command creates a link between the original path and your new folder, effectively changing the storage location.

Note: This method requires some familiarity with command-line interfaces and understanding of file paths. The process is similar on macOS and Linux but involves using the terminal and slightly different commands.

Locating AppIDs

If you’re unsure about which numbered folder corresponds to which game, you can easily find AppIDs through the Steam store page URL of the game. Each game’s ID is located within the URL itself. It also can be found on community and third-party sites dedicated to game resources. Knowing the AppIDs is handy if you frequently switch between games and regularly access these folders.

Understanding where Steam saves screenshots and how to access them allows you to manage your media effectively. It enables sharing moments and leveraging the Steam community features that enhance the gaming experience.