How to Organize Your Steam Library: Complete Management Guide
Table of Contents
A well-organized Steam library transforms gaming from overwhelming to enjoyable. With hundreds of games, finding what you want to play becomes a challenge without proper organization. Steam provides powerful tools—collections, tags, filters, and categories—that most users underutilize.
This comprehensive guide teaches you how to organize your Steam library effectively, create smart collections, use dynamic filters, implement tagging systems, and maintain organization over time.
Understanding Steam Library Organization Tools
Steam offers several organization features:
Collections:
Your primary organization tool. Collections are custom groups of games you create based on any criteria.
How Collections Work:
Create unlimited collections
Games can appear in multiple collections
Collections sync across devices
Support both manual and dynamic rules
Visible in library sidebar
Types of Collections:
Manual Collections:
You manually add/remove games
Best for curated lists
Complete control
Requires maintenance
Dynamic Collections:
Automatically populated based on rules
Updates automatically
Based on tags, features, playtime, etc.
No manual maintenance needed
Tags:
Steam's built-in metadata system
Official Steam Tags:
Assigned by developers and community
Genre tags (RPG, Strategy, FPS)
Feature tags (Multiplayer, Co-op, VR)
Theme tags (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror)
Personal Tags:
Create custom tags for your library
Organize by any criteria
Not visible to others
Useful for dynamic collections
Filters:
Temporary views of your library
Available Filters:
Playtime (Never Played, <1 hour, etc.)
Recent activity
Game features (Controller support, Cloud saves)
Platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)
VR support
Multiplayer capabilities
Categories (Legacy System):
Older organization method, still functional but less powerful than collections. Categories were Steam's original organization tool before collections were introduced.
Creating an Effective Collection Structure
Build a collection system that matches your gaming habits:
By Completion Status:
Essential Collections:
**Never Played** - Games with zero playtime - Priority targets for discovery - Dynamic rule: Playtime = 0 hours
**In Progress** - Currently playing - Manual collection (you decide when games enter/exit) - Limit to 3-5 games max to maintain focus
**Completed** - Finished games - Manual or based on achievements - Reference for recommending games
**Dropped/Not For Me** - Tried but didn't enjoy - Hide from main library view - Prevents re-purchasing similar games
**Replay Candidates** - Games worth revisiting - High-quality experiences - For when you want familiar comfort
By Session Length:
Match collections to available gaming time:
**Quick Sessions (15-30 minutes)** Games for short breaks: - Roguelikes (Slay the Spire, Hades) - Puzzle games - Quick multiplayer matches - Mobile-style games
**Medium Sessions (1-2 hours)** Evening gaming: - Story chapters - Campaign missions - Competitive ranked matches - Most single-player games
**Deep Dives (2+ hours)** Weekend gaming: - Open-world RPGs - Grand strategy games - MMOs - Long story sessions
By Mood/Genre:
**Relaxing Games** - Low-stress experiences - Farming simulators - Walking simulators - Cozy games
**Challenge Games** - Difficult platformers - Souls-likes - Hardcore strategy - Competitive multiplayer
**Story-Driven** - Narrative-focused - Visual novels - Adventure games - Cinematic experiences
**Mindless Fun** - Action games - Arcade-style - When you don't want to think hard - Pure entertainment
**Social/Multiplayer** - Games for friends - Co-op experiences - Competitive multiplayer - Party games
By Priority:
**Must Play Soon** - High-priority unplayed games - Temporary collection (games move out after playing) - Limited to 10-15 games max
**Wishlist Purchases** - Recently bought from wishlist - Games you were excited about - Play these before buying more
**Bundle Surprises** - Bundle games you didn't specifically want - Might be hidden gems - Lower priority but worth trying
**Backlog** - Games you'll "get to eventually" - Reality: many never get played - Keep this collection honest about what you'll actually play
Dynamic Collections and Advanced Rules
Automate your organization with dynamic collections:
Creating Dynamic Collections:
1. Right-click in library sidebar 2. Select "Add Collection" → "Create Dynamic Collection" 3. Choose rules from available criteria 4. Collections update automatically
Powerful Dynamic Collection Rules:
By Play Time:
Never Played (Playtime = 0)
Barely Touched (Playtime < 1 hour)
Significant Time (Playtime > 10 hours)
Deep Investment (Playtime > 50 hours)
By Last Played:
Played This Week
Played This Month
Not Played in 6+ Months (candidates for uninstall)
Not Played in 1+ Year (probably won't play)
By Features:
Controller Support (Full Controller Support = Yes)
Cloud Saves Enabled
Workshop Support
Trading Cards Available
Steam Achievements
By Platform:
Windows Only
Mac Compatible
Linux Compatible
Steam Deck Verified/Playable
By Store Tags:
Single-Player
Multiplayer
Co-op
Local Multiplayer
Online Co-Op
Split Screen
Combining Multiple Rules:
Create complex, specific collections:
**Example: "Quick Roguelike Sessions"** Rules: - Tag contains "Roguelike" - Average playtime < 30 minutes per session - Playtime > 0 (you've tried them) - User review score > 85%
**Example: "Unfinished Story Games"** Rules: - Tag contains "Story Rich" - Playtime > 2 hours (started) - Playtime < 20 hours (not finished) - Not played in last 30 days
**Example: "Weekend Deep Dives"** Rules: - Tag contains "Open World" OR "RPG" - Playtime < 50% of average completion time - Cloud Saves = Yes (play across devices)
Maintenance-Free Organization:
Dynamic collections automatically: - Add new purchases matching criteria - Remove games when criteria changes - Update as you play - Keep organization current without manual work
Hiding and Managing Unwanted Games
Not every game deserves prime library real estate:
Why Hide Games:
- Free weekend trials (no longer own) - Games you'll never play - DLC entries cluttering library - Duplicate editions (Standard + GOTY) - Games you regret purchasing - F2P games you tried once - Beta/demo versions
How to Hide Games:
**Method 1: Right-Click Hide** 1. Right-click game in library 2. Select "Manage" → "Hide this game" 3. Game removed from default library view 4. Still playable, just not visible
**Method 2: Create "Hidden" Collection** 1. Create collection named "Hidden" or "Archived" 2. Add unwanted games 3. Collapse collection in sidebar 4. Games technically visible but out of sight
Viewing Hidden Games:
- Library top-right → View → Hidden Games - Unhide by right-clicking and selecting "Remove from Hidden" - Hidden games don't appear in standard library - Still count toward total game count
Managing Free Games:
F2P Clutter:
Free-to-play games you tried once clutter your library
Solution:
Hide F2P games you won't play again
Create "F2P Testing" collection for active ones
Uninstall and hide games from free weekends
Beta and Test Versions:
Many games have separate beta entries
Best Practice:
Hide beta versions when you own full game
Keep only if actively testing
Remove old alpha/beta access games
DLC as Separate Entries:
Some games list DLC as individual library entries
Management:
Create "DLC" collection
Hide DLC entries (you can still use them)
Keeps library focused on actual games
Duplicate Editions:
When you own multiple versions:
Example:
Skyrim
Skyrim Legendary Edition
Skyrim Special Edition
Solution:
Keep only the version you play
Hide others
Prevents confusion about which to launch
Using Filters for Quick Access
Filters provide instant library views without creating collections:
Built-in Filter Options:
Playtime Filters:
Access via library top bar
Options:
All games
Never played
Less than 1 hour
1-10 hours
More than 10 hours
Quick Use Cases:
Finding unplayed games for discovery
Identifying barely-played games for refund consideration
Seeing heavily-played favorites
Feature Filters:
Controller Support:
Perfect for couch gaming
Full Controller Support: Native controller support
Partial Controller Support: Works but not optimal
No Controller Support: Keyboard/mouse only
Cloud Saves:
Important for multi-device gaming
Filter shows only cloud-save enabled games
Useful when switching between PC and Steam Deck
VR Support:
If you have VR headset
Shows VR-compatible games
Separates VR-only from VR-optional
Workshop Support:
Games with modding community
Indicates active mod scenes
Useful for finding games to customize
Platform Filters:
Windows/Mac/Linux:
See platform-specific availability
Useful for multi-OS users
Planning which games work on each device
Steam Deck:
Verified: Perfect compatibility
Playable: Works with tweaks
Unsupported: Won't work properly
Unknown: Not tested yet
Combining Filters:
Stack multiple filters:
**Example 1: "Couch Gaming Tonight"** - Controller Support: Full - Platform: Windows (or Steam Deck) - Playtime: > 0 (games you've started) - Cloud Saves: Yes
**Example 2: "Discovery Mode"** - Playtime: Never Played - User Reviews: Positive or higher - Sort by: Metacritic score
Saving Filter Combinations:
Filters don't save, but you can: - Create dynamic collections matching filter criteria - Bookmark common filter combinations mentally - Use collections for frequently-used filter sets
Maintaining Organization Over Time
Organization requires ongoing maintenance:
Monthly Maintenance Routine:
Review Unplayed Games (15 minutes):
Check "Never Played" collection
Move compelling games to "Must Play Soon"
Hide games you'll realistically never play
Remove wishlist items you've lost interest in
Update In-Progress Games (5 minutes):
Remove completed games from "In Progress"
Add newly-started games
Keep collection limited to 3-5 active games
Clean Up Collections (10 minutes):
Remove games from temporary collections
Update manual collections
Verify dynamic collections still work
Delete collections you no longer use
Quarterly Deep Clean:
Every 3 months, comprehensive review:
Evaluate Library Bloat:
Total unplayed games vs library size
Games purchased but never installed
Duplicate editions across platforms
Collection Restructure:
Are current collections still useful?
Do you need new collections for recent gaming habits?
Remove outdated collections
Hide Unwanted Games:
Games you'll never play
Completed games you won't replay
Technical failures or bad purchases
Post-Sale Maintenance:
After major Steam sales:
Immediate Actions:
Add new purchases to appropriate collections
Create "Recent Purchases" temporary collection
Update "Must Play Soon" priority list
Don't buy more until you've played some
New Game Workflow:
When adding games to library:
1. Immediate Sorting:
Add to genre/type collection
Tag appropriately
Set priority (Must Play vs Backlog)
2. Post-Purchase:
Install if you plan to play within 2 weeks
Otherwise, leave uninstalled
Add to wishlist follow-up if from wishlist
3. After First Session:
Move to "In Progress" if continuing
Hide if not enjoyable
Update priority based on impressions
Avoiding Re-Clutter:
Prevention Strategies:
Stop buying if 50+ unplayed games
Apply "one in, one out" rule
Complete games before buying similar ones
Be honest about what you'll actually play
Conclusion
An organized Steam library transforms your gaming experience from overwhelming to enjoyable. By leveraging collections, dynamic rules, filters, and hiding unwanted games, you create a personalized gaming hub that helps you find and play great games.
Key Takeaways:
Create collections matching your gaming habits (completion status, session length, mood)
Use dynamic collections for automatic, maintenance-free organization
Hide games you'll never play to reduce clutter
Leverage filters for quick library views
Maintain organization monthly to prevent chaos
Be honest about your backlog and playing habits
The best organization system is one you'll actually use. Start simple, add complexity as needed, and adjust based on your changing gaming preferences.
Ready to take control of your library? Use our [Steam Level Calculator](/calculator/level) to analyze your collection and [Library Comparison Tool](/compare_games) to find multiplayer games with friends!