Steam
FreeValve
- Category
- Games
- Version
- 2.10.91.91
- Manifest checked
- 2026-10-23
- Size
- ~2 MB
- Licence terms
- Client is free · games are bought separately
- Supported OS
- Windows 11 · 10
- Install method
- Automatic install supported
- Developer
- Valve
- Downloads via this site
This links to Valve’s own download source. AfterFormat neither stores nor modifies installer files.
What it is
A PC game platform run by Valve. Buying, downloading and launching games all happen in one place, and because games are tied to the account, signing in after a reformat brings your library straight back. The client is free; games are bought individually.
When to pick this
If you play PC games, this is usually the first thing to install. To collect free giveaways as well, keep the Epic Games launcher alongside it.
Details
Purchases stay on the account
Reformatting does not lose games. Sign in and the library is there — reinstall only what you want.
Install location
Games are large and fill the default C: drive quickly. Add another drive as a library folder in the settings to install there instead.
Cloud saves
Some games store saves on the account, but support varies per game. Back up progress you care about separately.
After a reformat
To avoid downloading games again
Copy Steam\steamapps before formatting, or leave it alone if your library is on D:. On the new install, add that folder under Settings → Storage and the games show as installed. The "Getting your games back after a reformat" guide covers each launcher.
Saves
Steam Cloud games come back on sign-in. Games without cloud saves keep them under Documents\My Games or %APPDATA%; those need saving separately.
Steam Guard
The reformatted PC counts as new, so you enter a code from the phone app or email once.
Distribution
- winget ID
- Valve.Steam
- Redistribution policy
- Official source link only
- Manifest checked
- 2026-10-23
- Official site
- https://store.steampowered.com/
The date the version and installer URL were checked in winget. This is separate from a usage-terms review or an installation test.
Original winget manifest