How to hide unwanted games in your Steam library

How to hide unwanted games in your Steam library

A long-awaited addition to the Steam client helps you organize your games list by removing unwanted entries.

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Tired of all the clutter in your Steam library of games? A recent update to the Steam client adds the long-awaited option of hiding the titles you no longer want.

For example, as a longtime user of the service, I've accumulated quite a lot of games -- some of which I don't intend to play again. Heck, I even have a couple I accidentally purchased for the wrong platform; I certainly don't want those in my list.

Here's how to remove unwanted titles from your Steam library (with the option to restore them later, of course).

Step 1: Make sure you have the latest version of Steam. If you haven't run the client in a while, it should auto-update. The latest version, as of this writing, is dated August 13.

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Step 2: Click Library, scroll through your list of games, then find one you want to hide. Right-click it and choose Set Categories.

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Step 3: Now tick the box next to "Hide this game in my library." Then click OK. Presto! The game disappears from your list.

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Never to return? Nope, you can restore a hidden game -- it's just not obvious how to do so. While still in Library view, find the search bar (near the upper-left corner), then click the Games link at the right edge of it. In the drop-down menu that appears, click Hidden. Now repeat steps two and three, above, except this time you'll be unchecking the "Hide" option.