Steam Guides

Here we have put together some good links and step-by-step instructions for installing and using Steam.

A) Create a Steam account

Before you use or install Steam, you should create and activate a Steam account. You should memorize your user name and password or write them down. After creating the account, you will receive an e-mail in which you have to confirm the activation. Only then is the account fully functional.

1. visit the Steam website

2. click on “Log in” at the top of the page

3. now click on “Register”

4. store the necessary data

Steam requires a valid e-mail address. You must now enter this twice and check the box “I am not a robot”. It is possible that you will then receive a pop-up window in which you have to provide further proof that you are “not a robot”. Follow these instructions.

5. confirm further information and terms and conditions of Steam

In this step, you should read the Steam subscription agreement and confirm that you are over 13 years old. If you are under the age of 13, you should hand over the reins to your legal guardians and let them take all further steps.

Here is a link to external instructions:

B) Download and install Steam

You can then download and install Steam and log in with your account details.

1. visit the Steam website

2. click on “Install Steam”

3. click on “Install Steam” again on the next page

4. select a storage location and click on “Save”. Depending on your browser/browser settings, you can also run the file directly after downloading it.

5. after saving, execute the installation file SteamSetup.exe

To do this, double-click on the previously downloaded file in the file folder you specified. In the example, this was the “Downloads” folder. Then follow the installation instructions for the program.

An external guide to this:

C) Steam Guard – Activate two-factor authentication

To protect Steam from unauthorized use, you should operate Steam with 2-factor authentication – the Steam Guard. This means that when you log in for the first time, you receive a message on the selected medium to confirm that you are the rightful owner of the account.

If someone else tries to log in to your account, you will also receive a message and the unauthorized user would then have to enter a code that will arrive on your specified medium. The 2-factor authentication also comes into effect when you log into your Steam account from another device for the first time.

Here you will find instructions on how to set up the Steam Guard:

D) Top up Steam credit

To be able to purchase various content via Steam, you need a credit balance on your Steam account. This must be charged. There are various options for this, e.g:

– Steam top-up card

– Online top-up via one of the specified common payment methods

You can find instructions on how to top up online here:

E) Redeem and activate Steam key

“Steam content” purchased via an external provider as a “Steam key” must be activated in the local Steam application. You can see how this works in the following instructions.