Did You Know? Little-Known Steam Features That Can Improve Your Gaming

24 July 2025

If you’re a PC gamer, there’s a 99% chance you’re already using Steam. It’s the go-to platform for downloading, buying, and organizing your games. But here’s the thing — most of us only scratch the surface of what Steam can actually do.

Sure, you open Steam, hit 'Play', and off you go. But beneath that familiar interface lies a treasure trove of hidden features and tools that could seriously upgrade your overall gaming experience. Whether it’s smoother gameplay, better managing your library, or protecting your wallet — Steam has some surprises up its sleeve.

So, let’s dive deep and uncover some of those little-known Steam features that are just sitting there, waiting to make your gaming life easier and more enjoyable.

1. Steam’s Hidden Game Filter: Clean Up Your Library

Ever scroll through your cluttered game library wondering, “Wait, when did I install that?” You're not alone. As gamers, we tend to hoard games like digital squirrels. But there's a built-in tool that can help you organize that chaos — the Steam Hidden Games Feature.

You can right-click any game and choose “Manage” > “Hide this game.” Boom — it doesn’t delete it, but it removes it from the main library view. You can still access hidden games any time by filtering your library.

Perfect for stashing away those obscure indie games you bought during a sale and never touched. (We all have them!)

2. Bandwidth Savior: Steam’s Download Throttle

Ever been downloading a massive game update and your Netflix starts buffering like it’s 2008? Steam’s got a solution.

Head into your Settings > Downloads, and you’ll find an option to limit bandwidth. You can throttle Steam’s downloads to leave room for other apps to breathe. It’s great for households where you’re not the only one using the internet.

Plus, you can schedule downloads — set them to only happen during off-hours (like at 3 AM when you’re not gaming or streaming).

3. Remote Play Together: Couch Co-Op From Afar

Gaming with friends is better, but not all of us live down the street from each other. That’s where Remote Play Together shines.

This magical feature lets you play local multiplayer games online with your friends — even if they don't own the game. Yes, really.

Say you own a game like “Overcooked,” and your buddy doesn’t. Fire up the game, invite them through Steam’s overlay, and suddenly you’re both in-game like it's a real couch co-op. It’s seamless, and it uses Steam’s streaming tech to send your screen to their system.

4. Steam Input: One Controller to Rule Them All

Steam is incredibly flexible when it comes to controller support — way more than you might realize.

Using Steam Input, you can tweak, remap, and create custom profiles for almost any game. Whether you're rocking a PS5 DualSense, Xbox controller, or even an off-brand third-party pad, you can tailor controls per game.

Go to Big Picture Mode (don’t worry, it’s built into Steam) > Controller Settings. From there, you can customize every button, create macros, or download community layouts. It's like having your own personal command center.

5. Low Disk Space? Use Steam’s Library Folders

Running out of storage? You're not alone. Those AAA games chew up gigabytes like candy. But Steam doesn’t force you to install everything on one drive.

With Steam Library Folders, you can set up multiple install directories across various drives. Just pop into Settings > Storage and add a new folder wherever you like — external drive, SSD, anything.

Next time you install a game, choose the drive with the most space. Easy peasy, and no third-party apps required.

6. Family Sharing: Share Your Library With Trusted People

Steam’s Family Library Sharing feature is kind of a hidden gem — and it’s totally legit. It lets you share your game library with up to five accounts and ten devices.

Perfect if you have siblings, roommates, or a partner who wants to try out your collection without buying duplicates.

There are some caveats — only one person can play games from the shared library at a time, and not all games are sharable (mostly due to licensing). But it’s still a money-saver and a great way to game together without buying double copies.

7. The Controller-Friendly Big Picture Mode

If you game on your TV or use a controller more than a keyboard, Big Picture Mode is your best friend.

It revamps Steam’s interface into a console-like dashboard that looks slick and is optimized for sitting back on the couch. Navigation is smooth with a controller, and launching games or chatting with friends is super intuitive.

Now there’s even a more advanced version called Steam Deck UI, which brings the same interface from Valve's handheld device to your PC. It’s like turning your rig into a home console without the extra cost.

8. Game Notes and Custom Categories

Do you ever forget why you stopped playing that RPG mid-way through? Or which mods worked best in a game like Skyrim?

Steam lets you attach Notes and Categories to any game in your library. Right-click a game > Properties > Notes. Jot down anything — mod settings, strategies, or where you left off in the story. It’s saved across all devices, too!

With Custom Categories, you can create personalized folders like “Favorites,” “Currently Playing,” “To Finish” — whatever suits your style. Much better than scrolling endlessly.

9. FPS Counter & In-Game Overlays

How’s your frame rate holding up? You don’t need third-party software to find out. Steam has an in-game FPS counter built right in.

Head to Settings > In-Game > FPS Counter and choose where you want it to show. It’s minimal and doesn’t clutter your screen. Combine that with Steam’s overlay features (Shift + Tab while in-game), and you can chat, browse guides, or even use a web browser without exiting your game.

10. Steam Refunds: Try Before You Buy (In a Way)

Okay, this one’s not exactly a hidden feature, but many still don't realize how smooth the Steam refund system is.

Buy a game, play it for less than two hours, and request a refund within 14 days — you’ll likely get your money back, no questions asked.

It’s a safety net for those impulse purchases or "looked-better-in-the-trailer" games. You genuinely feel more secure experimenting with genres or indie experiments that you might usually ignore.

11. Cloud Saves Across Devices

Game saves lost in the void? Not anymore.

Steam automatically uses Cloud Saves for most modern titles, syncing your progress across PCs. If you’re switching to a new machine or just uninstalling something temporarily, your data’s still waiting for you.

You can even check your game's cloud status right from your Library. Look for the little cloud icon next to the game title. Peace of mind, delivered.

12. Stream Games to Any Device with Steam Remote Play

Imagine kicking back in bed with your laptop or phone and playing your high-end PC game. Steam makes this wishful thinking a reality with Remote Play.

It streams your games from your main gaming rig to another device — be it another PC, a Steam Link, or even your mobile phone. As long as both devices are on the same network (or you’ve got fast internet), it works like magic.

Make sure to install the Steam Link app on mobile or use the feature via your Steam client. It’s perfect for sneaky late-night gaming or turning an old laptop into a gaming terminal.

13. Game-Specific Launch Options

Want to tweak a game’s startup settings? Steam supports Launch Options, hidden under game properties.

Right-click on any title > Properties > General > Launch Options. You can input various parameters — like forcing windowed mode, skipping intro videos, or fixing resolution issues.

It's a power-user feature, but if you love modding or optimizing, it's a game-changer (pun intended).

14. Track Your Gaming Stats

Curious how much time you’re sinking into your games? Steam doesn’t just track total playtime — it can show achievements, session hours, and even gameplay milestones for certain titles.

Open a game’s detailed page, and you’ll see graphs and activity logs. It’s oddly satisfying — or terrifying — to see how many hours you’ve “invested.” If you're the data-loving type, this feature alone makes Steam feel like a social media feed for your gaming life.

15. Interactive Steam Guides from the Community

Stuck on a boss? Can't find that obscure item? There’s probably a Steam Guide for it — written by players for players.

Inside a game’s hub, click on the “Guides” tab, and you’ll find walkthroughs, tips, mod setups, and super niche tutorials. Even better — Steam lets you view these guides while you’re in-game using the overlay.

No more awkward alt-tabbing or juggling browser tabs!

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it — a bunch of neat little tools and features within Steam that most gamers either don’t use or don’t even know exist. Whether it’s organizing your games better, improving your performance, or just making co-op with friends easier, these tricks can seriously enhance your overall gaming experience.

Steam is way more than just a launcher — it’s like the Swiss Army knife of PC gaming. Go ahead, dig around those settings. Tweak things. Play around. You’ll be surprised at just how much control and customization is waiting for you.

Got a favorite hidden Steam feature we didn’t mention? Share it with us — the more we know, the better we game.