How to download entire steam library quickly?

T

topslop1

2[H]4U
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Apr 15, 2002
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Is there a one or two click option to download my entire steam library? This is exhausting after a fresh format to try and go through 60+ titles and cache each one and wait for it to download and then do another one etc etc etc.

How do you 250+ game library folks do this?

There HAS to be a way to 1 click download them all at once?
 
I have my library backed up on an external drive, so I can easily transfer games between my desktop and laptop without having to re-download every time I format.
 
topslop1 said:
Is there a one or two click option to download my entire steam library? This is exhausting after a fresh format to try and go through 60+ titles and cache each one and wait for it to download and then do another one etc etc etc.

How do you 250+ game library folks do this?

There HAS to be a way to 1 click download them all at once?
Click to expand...

If you want to redownload the entire library, simply move your library, and allow steam to automatically install the games.

If you want to verify each cache, and fix/update each title, that is different, and time consuming. I would only suggest verifying cache with games you are having an issue with.
 
Last edited:
Add the 60 games to your Favorites List. Shift-click the first game on that list and the last game on that list to select all the games. Right click and select "Install".
 
topslop1 said:
Is there a one or two click option to download my entire steam library? This is exhausting after a fresh format to try and go through 60+ titles and cache each one and wait for it to download and then do another one etc etc etc.

How do you 250+ game library folks do this?

There HAS to be a way to 1 click download them all at once?
Click to expand...

honestly your best bet is to go over to Gabe's house with an external
 
I have 2 2tb drives dedicated to steam.. once I add games or a bunch get updates I update the secondary copy... It hasnt failed me yet in 5 reinstalls of the OS/steam

Matter of fact I just had to do a reinstall just 3 days ago. Only thing that happens is A:) I messed up and forgot to backup my saved games area.. and then B:) It will reinstall what the game needs to run.
Real easy. Ive yet had to do a total reinstall which is good cause I have over 250 games
 
You can select multiple titles and then install. It'll prep and queues each one. Just highlight more than more and install
 
Just install them as you play them and not worry about it? Or just do it 1 at a time. it takes like a half hour, sure, but gotta do it.
 
Lets say you loose your internet for whatever reason you wished you backed them up. I mean will Steam always have the games on their server sometimes they take them off for whatever reason are they going to have that same game you payed .99 cent for 10 years ago?
 
Comixbooks said:
Lets say you loose your internet for whatever reason you wished you backed them up. I mean will Steam always have the games on their server sometimes they take them off for whatever reason are they going to have that same game you payed .99 cent for 10 years ago?
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Even when a game go off steam now they are still available in your library for download.. I think that is a good sign :)
 
Thuleman said:
Download the title you want to play and don't worry about the rest. It's unlikely that you actually need all 250+ games, ever.
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xLokiX said:
You "need" 60 games installed, I seriously doubt that.
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You see... this is one of the reasons I barely post on these forums. A lot of people telling that what the OP is trying to do is somehow wrong and illogical instead of addressing the problem at hand.

Who do you guys think you are to tell him what he should or shouldn't do? Answer the damned question or don't pollute the forums with useless opinions just because you people don't know the answer. I had to scroll over all this nonsense to find the answer I was looking for. Imagine someone googling this years from now and missing the answer to this problem because you guys couldn't keep quiet.

H-street said:
You can select multiple titles and then install. It'll prep and queues each one. Just highlight more than more and install
Click to expand...

And here it is. Glad to know this option exists. Batch installing my games is something I wanted to do the last time I formated my PC but I didn't know it was possible. Just tried it and it works.
 
Dangman said:
Add the 60 games to your Favorites List. Shift-click the first game on that list and the last game on that list to select all the games. Right click and select "Install".
Click to expand...

Thank you very much - this appears to be working without any kind of issue.
 
TheNuker said:
Imagine someone googling this years from now and missing the answer to this problem because you guys couldn't keep quiet.
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Oh God forbid. The humanity!

Newsflash: This is a discussion forum, not Steam tech support. No warranties are expressed or implied. And anyone that isn't aware that shift-click is the way to multi select things pretty much universally in Windows should probably take a computer basics course rather than expecting to be spoon fed everything.
 
DPI said:
Oh God forbid. The humanity!

Newsflash: This is a discussion forum, not Steam tech support. No warranties are expressed or implied. And anyone that isn't aware that shift-click is the way to multi select things pretty much universally in Windows should probably take a computer basics course rather than expecting to be spoon fed everything.
Click to expand...

I know how to shift click it's the favorites thing that really let it do as intended.
 
topslop1 said:
I know how to shift click it's the favorites thing that really let it do as intended.
Click to expand...

The favorites thing is unnecessary. Highlight all games in your library, right click, install. The favorites thing is a redundant step.

7qLpF8p.png
 
styckx said:
The favorites thing is unnecessary. Highlight all games in your library, right click, install. The favorites thing is a redundant step.

7qLpF8p.png
Click to expand...

Nice trick. Can make things easier if you have to install a bunch of games while you're gone for the day. Personally I'd have a hard time imagining needing 60 games though. Obviously you'd install them all eventually, but I'd install the few I play the most and then gradually install the rest. But if you frequently play 60 games, then I see your point. :p
 
There are lots of reasons to want all your games installed. I keep one computer as an HTPC I don't know who or when someone might show up and want to do some local coop or what game they might want to play. I would just as soon have all of the games at the very least downloaded so that we would only be looking at an install. For games under 1GB a download isn't bad but for larger games you could be waiting a decent while. Another example would be if you are more mobile and might not have good internet at a hotel or whatever. Also if you have a low quality connection. You might just want to let them all stream in slowly over night.
 
rudy said:
Also if you have a low quality connection. You might just want to let them all stream in slowly over night.
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Exactly this. I'm around 1.7 MBPS on average. If I paid more for my service, it would be the same speed. I'm locked into a bad connection through time warner cable as they are the only provider in upperstate NY.

My idea is download everything possible overnight or non peak (want to play) hours. Have it available.

Not everyone can download a game in 3-8 minutes so it is necessary to plan ahead.

Sure, I won't play all 60, but if I hit 10 in a month and dabble around it's worth it.
 
topslop1 said:
Exactly this. I'm around 1.7 MBPS on average. If I paid more for my service, it would be the same speed. I'm locked into a bad connection through time warner cable as they are the only provider in upperstate NY.

My idea is download everything possible overnight or non peak (want to play) hours. Have it available.

Not everyone can download a game in 3-8 minutes so it is necessary to plan ahead.

Sure, I won't play all 60, but if I hit 10 in a month and dabble around it's worth it.
Click to expand...


don't worry about defending yourself, I have a library of 400+ games and a 2Tb hard drive dedicated to having as many games installed at once, I think I have something like 250 games installed right now just from steam (not counting Origin, uplay, GOG, and good old physical disk copies)..
 
H-street said:
don't worry about defending yourself, I have a library of 400+ games and a 2Tb hard drive dedicated to having as many games installed at once, I think I have something like 250 games installed right now just from steam (not counting Origin, uplay, GOG, and good old physical disk copies)..
Click to expand...

Amen to that. Sometimes when I look around here I think we're in Russia. Sometimes... ;)
 
Its threads like this that remind me how much I hate people. Gonna have to side with DPI on this one.
 
Why even re-download them when you re-install Windows.

All you have to do is copy your steam library to a different drive.

Then just run the steam client from that drive and it will set up your registry settings for that drive.

You may need to go into the steam settings to change your download and install locations, but that is it.

I haven't had to redownload any steam games in years.
 
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