Apple has a weird relationship with gaming . Bar occasional , scant - lived ado of gaming advocacy , the troupe has been cool on the subject field , mostly using games to showcase the magnate of lustrous raw hardware it want to betray .
But there have always been both daily and dedicated gamers on the Mac , and increasingly Mac gaming finds itself on relatively equal footing withWindows gaming – at least in terms of provision , if not the actual quantity of handout .
Steam is the big modern - day success account in terms of gaming content obstetrical delivery . It was launched on Windows in 2003 – arriving on the Mac in 2010 – and has since grow to a substance abuser base of over 150 million register accounts . Its popularity even led to a line of micro - consoles and the SteamOS operating system .
With this feature , though , we ’re sticking resolutely to the Mac . We ’ll show you how to get a Steam account up and running , so you could crop and download more not bad Mac games than you could go for to play in a lifetime .
For more play advice , check out our roundup of thebest Mac games(many of which are uncommitted on Steam ) and thebest loose Mac game .
Install Steam for Mac
To instal Steam , you ’ll take an Intel Mac running macOS 10.7 ( Lion ) or later , and 1 GB of drive space . The Steam website recommends you have a two - push button mouse William Christopher Handy , because many game are designed first and world-class for Windows . However , the vast absolute majority can alternatively be controlled using just a keyboard , or a mix of mouse / trackpad and keyboard .
Get begin by go tosteampowered.com , and clickInstall Steam . The welcome page will detect you ’re using a Mac , and you should then clickInstall Steam Now . This will download steam.dmg to your~/Downloadsfolder .
open up your Downloads folder and double - click steam.dmg ( or do so from Safari ’s Downloads button in the toolbar ) , and clickAgree . When a Finder window appear , drag the Steam icon to the Applications brochure shortcut .
you could then launch Steam from your Applications booklet . You ’ll get a standard ‘ practical program downloaded from the Internet ’ warning . ClickOpen . Steam will likely instal an update .
Set up a Steam account on your Mac
If you ’ve already got a Steam account , sign in . If you ’re using Steam on a new Mac , you ’ll be emailed a security department code to typewrite in before you could continue . If you do n’t have an invoice , you ’ll need to create one .
ClickCreate New Account , agree to the term , and decide on an account name and password . The former needs to be more than eight characters , and can not include the words ‘ Steam ’ or ‘ Valve ’ . Make your password strong , so no - one else can get at your bill . The Steam app will give you an indication of your countersign ’s suitableness . ClickNextand enter an email address for account recovery and security measures .
Your account will be set up , after which dot you ’ll get an opportunity to impress your point . If you do n’t have a printer handy , you’re able to print to PDF in the Print duologue .
ClickFinishand you ’ll be sent a confirmation email . Click the link within the email and you ’ll be ready to go . For further protection , the Steam app will point you at inside information on how to add a mobile identification number to your account , for story convalescence via SMS .
Ensure Steam games are compatible with your Mac
Click theStoretab and Steam will exhibit featured and recommended games . Scroll down and you ’ll see special whirl , and other options for pasture the catalogue .
In some of these list , Steam – acknowledge you ’re using a Mac – will mechanically filter games consequently . But this is n’t always the suit , and so keep a faithful middle on compatibility information . Generally , you ’ll see weapons platform logos when browsing . If not , they ’re on the price strip on a game ’s individual page .
However , an Apple logo does n’t necessarily signify a game will work withyourMac . So peruse system of rules requisite , further down on the secret plan ’s page , and ensure your Mac ’s specifications pair or – preferably – vex them . ( To see out your Mac ’s specification , go toAbout This Macin the Apple computer menu . )
Filter game lists on Steam for Mac
Beyond Steam ’s curated leaning , the app allow for plenty of scope for finding new games to meet . From theGamesdropdown fare , you’re able to jump right to list of form of address in pop genres . Alternatively , just clickGames , scroll down , and clickBrowse All New Releases . Or if you have a better mind of what you ’re after , utilise thesearch the storefield .
In the Browsing effect screen , you may further contract your search using the checkboxes on the righthand side , adding tags , game types , features and other criteria . If at any point you require to take one of these elements so it no longer impacts on your search event , sink in its close button in the area below the Browsing heading . ( If you fancy jump right to all Mac game , there ’s a link for that . )
Also , be aware that although you may immediately snaffle a transcript of anything you find – as shown in the next section of this article – you may also hive up interesting games for later . In a game ’s page , clickAdd to your wishlist . Your wishlist can be accessed by clicking theWishlistbutton above the said ‘ search the shop ’ field .
Install games using Steam for Mac
Like the Mac App Store , Steam offers free and paid - for game . For loose games , click thePlay Gamebutton . This opens a window with option for create a desktop crosscut , and enable you to adjust the install location . Add the former if you care ; stave off changing the latter .
ClickNextand Steam will make the local secret plan file cabinet on your Mac . ClickFinishand thenPlay Gameagain to open it – or open up the game from theLibrarytab ( see next incision ) .
When in the checkout counter , you click eitherPurchase for myself , orPurchase as a giftif you ’re buying the game(s ) for someone else . A compass of payment option is provided , which includes PayPal , debit / credit card andBitcoin .
Understand the Library in Steam for Mac
The aforementioned Library tab house your game . Select one from the sidebar and you ’ll see when it was last make for , and also how long you ’ve encounter the biz in total . For games that have them , accomplishment badge will seem here , as will links to relevant billet on Steam , such as the game ’s shop and community ( forum ) pages .
To play a game , clickPlay . If the secret plan ’s not yet instal , that button will rather be labelledInstall . Click that to start downloading , and you ’ll get a notification when it ’s done .
If you ’ve got a big depository library , use theSearchfield to filter it . you could also click the button to the right field of the Search field , and then make a selection to limit your games list to those that agree major categories .
For illustration , clickMacto view only Mac games from a mixed library . Or clickInstalledto hide anything that ’s not already on your Mac .
ascendancy / right - clack a game title in the sidebar for further options , include creating a shortcut , and uninstalling if you call for to free up space .
Play Steam games on your Mac
You need to recognise that Steam is a hub – a combination of a shop and launcher . It ’s not a system for playing game – only accessing them . When you decide to play a game , Steam opens an independent app , and game available on Steam have been made by many hundreds of unlike developer .
This think of there ’s no consistency . Some game will show controller up front ; others will lay to rest them in configurations menus . Some will be Mac - friendly and practice standard keyboard crosscut , but many will not . Some may run in full - screen , but most will start windowed .
Always remember you may use the macOS app switcher to quit a secret plan : Cmd + Tab contribute up the switcher ; hold Cmd and strike Tab again to move your selection ; with Cmd still held , closet Q when the item you need to close up is select , and it will quit .
Join the Steam community
eventually , Steam has a residential area running throughout the site . From a plot page in your Library , you could drop a line a review about that special form of address , offering personal insights , and telling others whether you ’d recommend it . To further occupy with the Steam community , you’re able to jaw with other people about games – or anything else , for that issue – along with creating and joining groups .
To get start , cluck your account ’s name in the main toolbar , and thenSetup Steam Profile . Fill in whatever information you ’re willing to make public , and then climb up right in . Just be nice to those developers , eh ? Even though Steam make it easier than ever for people to find a net ton of game to play , that does n’t make them any easier to make .
Uninstall Steam from your Mac
Okay , we go for you wo n’t want to do thisjust yet , and so file this plane section away for later .
If you ever want to delete Steam , drag the app to the Trash . In Finder , go toGo > Library , and delete the Steam leaflet found in diligence Support . If you want to retain game data , or else delete everything within the Steam folder , aside from SteamApps . Then empty the Trash .
