Downloading steam games from another computer/faster line

steam.md

Framing the issue

With almost no bandwith at home, I needed a way to download DOOM that didn't involve blocking the home internet line for two days.

Approach

Using steamcmd you can use any computer to download steam games.

Downloading

1. Install it
2. Open it and loging with your username and password: login username password
3. Set the operating system and 32/64 bits of the game. For example I downloaded DOOM from a mac for a 64bit Windows

• @sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows
• @sSteamCmdForcePlatformBitness 64

4. Choose a folder name: force_install_dir ./DOOM
5. Go to https://steamdb.info/ and find the APPID of the game you want to download.
6. Download: app_update 379720 validate
7. This will generate a folder called DOOM with the game inside and one extra folder: steamapps where an appmanifest_xxx.vcf file will be created. Open the vcf file and rename your parent folder name to the value of installdir.

Installing the game back at your gaming rig.

1. Close steam.
2. Find your steam folder
3. copy the game where the other games are. Usually the steamapps\common folder. Leave the name of the folder unchanged
4. From the game you've just copied, move the appmanifest file with the other manifests in the steamapps folder.
5. Open steam and you should see your game as installed in your library.
6. You can verify that your game is ok following these instructions.