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Contents hide How to opt in to Steam Client Beta How to make games private on Steam How to make games private on Steam FAQs Can friends see hidden games on Steam? How do I view private games on Steam?

Valve’s latest client update is all about keeping your guilty video game pleasures a secret, so you may wonder: How to mark games private on Steam? Don’t worry; we’ve covered precisely what you’ll need below to guard your backlogged library from prying eyes.

With the Steam Winter Sale 2023 start date practically here, Valve’s new privacy feature couldn’t have come at a better time. So, if you’re planning to purchase a few unmentionable games (or if you already have some in your catalog), here’s what you have to do to mark it as private and avoid any unwanted judgment.

How to opt in to Steam Client Beta

Before you can mark games as private on Steam, you will first need to opt in to the Steam Client Beta by following these steps:

  1. Head to Steam Settings by pressing the Steam icon on the upper left corner.
  2. Select the Interface category from the pop-up menu.
  3. Press the drop-down menu next to Client Beta Participation and select Steam Beta Update.
  4. Wait for Steam to restart.
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This will allow you to use new features that Valve has yet to publicly release, so any future platform update tests should also be available as soon as the developers launch it.

How to make games private on Steam

Once you’ve opted in to the Steam Client Beta, here’s what you’ll need to do to mark your games as private:

  1. Head to your Steam library.
  2. Right-click the game you’d like to make private.
  3. Select Manage.
  4. Press the Mark as Private option.
  5. Click the Mark as Private button that appears on the pop-up message.
  6. Voila! Your chosen game is now marked as private and your ownership, in-game status, playtime, and activity won’t be seen by your friends or family.
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Alternatively, you can also mark a game as private before purchasing it by doing the following:

  1. Add the game you want to buy to your cart.
  2. Once it’s in your cart, click the drop-down menu that says “For my account” next to it.
  3. Select the “For my account: private” option.
  4. After you’ve purchased the game, it will automatically be marked as private.
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That covers all you need to know about how to mark games as private on Steam. If you want to know what other games are playable on Valve’s powerful handheld, check out our pages on The Finals Steam Deck compatibility, MW3 Steam Deck compatibility, and Lethal Company Steam Deck compatibility instead.

How to make games private on Steam FAQs

Can friends see hidden games on Steam?

Yes, your friends will still be able to see your recently played games and your library if they are only hidden. Conversely, making games private will make completely conceal your activity.

How do I view private games on Steam?

You can view private games on Steam by heading to your library. To view Hidden games, head to the View tab on the upper left side of the app and select the Hidden Games option.

About the Author

Nico Vergara

Nico Vergara is a Trends Writer for VideoGamer.com. When not writing about or playing RPGs, he spends time playing basketball, watching the latest movies, and brooding about his favorite sports teams.

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