How to Change the Name of a Game on Steam: A Step-by-Step Guide

Changing the name of a game on Steam can be a useful endeavor for personalization, especially if you have made modifications to a game or simply want to keep your library organized in a way that makes sense to you. This guide will help you through the process step-by-step. Please note that official games cannot be renamed through the Steam client; however, you can rename games that you add as non-Steam games. Let’s dive into the process!

What You’ll Need

Before we go through the steps, ensure you have:

• A computer with Steam installed.
• Basic understanding of file navigation on your PC (Windows).
• An advanced text editor such as Notepad++ or Sublime Text.

Step 1: Exit Steam

First, you will need to exit the Steam client completely. To do this, right-click on the Steam icon in the system tray (the area near the clock on your taskbar) and select “Exit.” This step is crucial to ensure that Steam does not overwrite any changes you make.

Step 2: Navigate to the Appinfo.vdf File

The next step is to locate the appinfo.vdf file, which is where Steam stores its app data. This file is found in the appcache folder inside the Steam installation directory.

• The default path is usually C:\Program Files\Steam\appcache\appinfo.vdf.
• If you installed Steam in a different location, make sure you adjust the path accordingly.

Step 3: Open the appinfo.vdf File

Once you have located the appinfo.vdf file, open it with your advanced text editor. Right-click on the file, select “Open with,” and choose your text editor. Once opened, be sure to have a backup of the file before making any changes. Copy the original content into a separate text document so you can restore it later if needed.

Step 4: Find the Game Name Entry

In your text editor, press Ctrl + F to open the find dialogue and search for the game title you wish to rename. This section contains a block of code that describes the game’s information, including its title, app ID, and other specific data.

Here is an example of what the entry might look like:

plaintext
"AppID" "12345"
"Name" "Old Game Name"

Step 5: Change the Game Name

Once you have located the section that contains your desired game’s title, you can change the name. Simply replace the existing name with your new one, making sure to keep the syntax intact.

For instance, if you want to change “Old Game Name” to “New Game Name,” it would look like this:

plaintext
"Name" "New Game Name"

Step 6: Save Your Changes

After you’ve made your changes to the appinfo.vdf file, save the file and close the text editor. If prompted to confirm the save, do so. Make sure the file type remains unchanged as appinfo.vdf.

Step 7: Restart Steam

Now that you have edited the file, start the Steam client again. If everything was done correctly, you should see the new game name reflecting in your library, where you previously had the original name.

Optional Step: Renaming Non-Steam Games

If you’re looking to rename a non-Steam game you’ve added instead, follow these steps:

1. Launch Steam and click on the “Games” tab at the top left.
2. Select “Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.”
3. Locate the game you wish to add in the list and select it.
4. After adding it to your library, right-click the game in your library.
5. Choose “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
6. In the “General” tab, you’ll see a field labeled “Name.” Change the name as desired.

Important Notes

Changing the name of a game via the appinfo.vdf is not a feature officially supported by Steam and should be done with caution. Ensure you back up files and be aware that any updates from Steam may overwrite your changes. Moreover, official game names cannot be renamed through Steam; this process only applies to non-Steam games.

In conclusion, with these steps, you can change the name of a non-Steam game or customize your game’s name in your library, making navigation much easier and more personalized. Happy gaming!