How to Disable Automatic Updates for Steam Games: A Gamer’s Guide
Are you a passionate PC gamer who enjoys using Steam to play your favorite games? While automatic updates are essential for keeping your games up to date with the latest features and bug fixes, they can sometimes disrupt your gaming experience. In this guide, we’ll show you how to take control of your game updates on Steam, allowing you to disable automatic updates and manage them manually.
Why Disable Automatic Updates?
Automatic updates are generally convenient, but there are situations where you might want to disable them:
- Bandwidth Management: Automatic updates can consume a significant amount of bandwidth, especially if you have a limited data plan or a slow internet connection.
- Avoiding Interruptions: Updates can sometimes occur when you’re in the middle of an intense gaming session, causing interruptions and frustration.
- Mod Compatibility: If you use mods for your games, updates can sometimes break compatibility with these mods. Disabling automatic updates can prevent this issue.
Now that we understand the reasons, let’s delve into the steps to disable automatic updates for Steam games.
Step 1: Launch Steam and Log In
Begin by launching the Steam client on your computer and logging in to your Steam account.
Step 2: Access Steam Settings
Once you’re logged in, follow these steps:
- Click on the “Steam” tab at the top-left corner of the Steam client.
- From the dropdown menu, select “Settings”.
Step 3: Disable Automatic Updates
In the Settings window, you’ll find several tabs on the left-hand side. We’ll go through these tabs one by one.
Downloads Tab
- Select the “Downloads” tab from the list on the left.
- Under the “Download Restrictions” section, you’ll see an option that reads “Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for games which support it”. Uncheck this box.
This step prevents Steam from automatically downloading updates for your games.
Steam Library Folders Tab
- Next, select the “Steam Library Folders” tab from the left-hand menu.
- Under the “Content Libraries” section, you’ll find the same option: “Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for games which support it”. Uncheck this box as well.
This ensures that Steam won’t automatically download updates for your games.
Updates Tab
- Finally, navigate to the “Updates” tab in the Settings window.
- Under the “Automatic Updates” section, you’ll see an option that says “Keep my games up to date”. Uncheck this box.
By unchecking this box, you’re instructing Steam not to automatically update your games.
Save Your Changes
Once you’ve completed these steps, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the Settings window to save your changes.
Manually Update Your Games
Now that you’ve disabled automatic updates, it’s crucial to know how to update your games manually when you want to play the latest versions. Here’s how:
- Launch the Steam client.
- In your Steam Library, locate the game you want to update.
- Right-click on the game’s name.
- Select “Properties” from the dropdown menu.
- In the Properties window, select the “Updates” tab.
- Check the option that reads “Always keep this game up to date” to ensure your game stays updated.
Enabling this option will allow you to manually update the game when you choose to do so.
- Click “OK” to save your changes.
- To manually update the game, click the “Check for Updates” button in the Properties window.
This will check for any available updates and download them to your PC. Once downloaded, you can install them by clicking the “Install Updates” button.
And there you have it! You’ve successfully disabled automatic updates for your Steam games and learned how to update them manually.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter any issues while trying to disable automatic updates or if your games still update automatically despite your settings, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check the Game’s Properties: Open the Steam client and navigate to the Library tab. Right-click on the game you wish to disable automatic updates for and select Properties.
- Select the Updates Tab: In the Properties window, select the Updates tab.
- Choose “Only update this game when I launch it”: Under the Automatic Updates section, select the option that reads “Only update this game when I launch it”.
- Confirm and Verify: Click the “OK” button to confirm the changes and close the Properties window. To verify that the changes have been applied, right-click on the game again and select Properties. The Automatic Updates section should now display the “Only update this game when I launch it” option.
- Repeat for Other Games: Repeat the steps above for any other games you wish to disable automatic updates for.
By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you can enjoy more control over your Steam game updates and ensure they don’t disrupt your gaming experience. Happy gaming!
FAQs
Q1: Why would I want to disable automatic updates for my Steam games? Automatic updates can consume bandwidth, interrupt gaming sessions, and sometimes break mod compatibility. Disabling them gives you more control over when updates occur.
Q2: Can I disable automatic updates for all my Steam games at once? Steam provides options to disable automatic updates globally, but it’s recommended to manage updates on a per-game basis to avoid potential issues.
Q3: Will disabling automatic updates affect my game’s performance or security? It should not affect performance or security significantly, as updates often focus on bug fixes and improvements. However, it’s essential to manually update games periodically for the best experience.
Q4: How do I enable automatic updates for a specific game after disabling them? To enable automatic updates for a game, right-click on the game in your Steam Library, select “Properties,” go to the “Updates” tab, and check the “Always keep this game up to date” option.
Q5: Can I choose which updates to install when manually updating a game? No, manual updates will install all available updates for the game. Steam doesn’t provide an option to select specific updates.
Q6: Do these settings apply to all my Steam games, or do I need to configure them individually for each game? These settings need to be configured individually for each game. Steam allows you to customize update preferences on a per-game basis.
Q7: Will disabling automatic updates affect my ability to play multiplayer games? It depends on the game. Some multiplayer games require all players to be on the same version. Disabling automatic updates may temporarily limit your ability to play online until you manually update.
Q8: What should I do if a game requires an update to fix a critical bug or security issue? In such cases, it’s advisable to manually update the game to ensure you have the latest fixes and security patches.
Q9: Can I schedule specific times for game updates to avoid interruptions? Steam doesn’t provide a built-in scheduler for updates. You can only choose between automatic updates, manual updates, or disabling updates.
Q10: Is there a way to track when a game was last updated? Steam doesn’t display the update history for games within the client. You can check the game’s update history on the game’s store page or community forums.