If you're a PC gamer, then there's a very high chance that you use Steam as your primary game launcher. Steam has always been at the forefront of PC gaming, and it continually includes new features for the platform to keep gamers happy.

Unfortunately, a lot of these useful features are left in the settings menu and aren't toggled on by default. But if you're looking for ways to improve your experience on Steam, then you definitely need to turn on these settings.

8 Set up Steam Guard

A better way to secure your account

Having a strong password on any platform is really important to keep hackers at bay. But a password may not always be enough, so if you value having better security on Steam, then you should definitely use Steam Guard. Steam Guard acts as two-factor authentication for the platform, and anytime you want to access your Steam account on a new device it will send you a code or let you scan a QR code to prove that it's really you.

You can enable Steam Guard by going to Steam > Settings > Security > Manage Steam Guard Account Security. Now, when you log onto a new device, it will send you a code to confirm that it's you. If you want a more streamlined approach, then you can download the Steam mobile app on your phone, which will let you scan a QR code to authorize new logins.

7 Join Steam Beta

Get experimental updates

If you’re a long-time Steam user, and you want to stay up-to-date when new features come to the platform, then you should definitely sign up for Steam Beta access. Steam Beta will grant you features that are still in their testing phase.

Using the Steam Beta will give you early access to all the new features coming to Steam and also help improve the platform by providing feedback or reporting bugs. To enable it, go to Steam > Settings > Interface, click on the dropdown box for Client Beta participation and select the Steam Beta update.

6 Change your download restrictions

Download games whenever you want

It's always annoying when you want to play a game, but then have to wait a while for it to update first. Luckily, there is a setting that lets you play other games and use Steam functions while you wait for the update to finish. If you go to Steam > Downloads, you can toggle on the Allow downloads during gameplay setting.

However, if you're playing an online multiplayer game, like a competitive shooter, then this might not be a good setting for you to use, as it will slow down your internet. In this scenario, you should turn on the Schedule auto updates setting instead, which lets you set a time when you're not using your PC for Steam to update all your games. Then you won't have to wait for your games to update the next time you jump on to play.

5 Use local network transfers

For households with more than one gaming PC

If you have more than one gaming PC in your household, then you should use local network transfers instead of installing games on multiple different devices, especially if you have a Steam Deck. Modern games are usually quite large, and you may have to wait a while for a game to download if you don't have the fastest internet speeds.

Using local network transfer, you can easily and very quickly transfer your games to another device that's on the same network. This could be another gaming PC on the network, a laptop, or even a Steam Deck. To enable this, go to Steam > Downloads and toggle the Game File Transfer over Local Network setting.

4 Open Steam in Big Picture mode

A console experience for Steam users

Over the years, Steam has had to evolve to remain relevant for gamers who prefer playing on consoles. Enter big picture mode, featuring a more streamlined interface that is perfect for bigger monitors or TVs and can be used with a controller. You can turn on Big Picture mode by clicking on View > Big Picture mode.

But if you want a more streamlined approach, you can enable the setting which lets you start Steam in Big Picture mode. Just go to Steam > Settings > Interface to turn it on. Now you can scroll through your library using only your controller and if you want to go back to the normal Steam interface, simply press the home button on your controller.

3 Use Steam Link

For remote play and streaming

Steam link is another great feature included in the Steam Link app that uses your PC to stream your games to any device you're logged in on. Since you will be streaming your game from your PC, you will need to be connected to the internet on both devices.

On your main PC, go to Steam > Settings > Remote Play then click on Pair Steam Link and enter the code from your PC. After your devices are linked, you can play games from your phone, tablet, TV, or laptop without losing performance.

2 Change your Steam start page

You don't have to begin in the store

After opening Steam, users are typically greeted by the Steam marketplace and have to navigate from there to get to their library. But that doesn't have to be how you start your gaming session. By going to Steam > Settings > Interface you’ll be able to choose what page Steam starts on.

Click on the dropdown box, and you’ll see five different start pages to choose from: Store, Library, News, Friend Activity, and Community Home. If you're just interested in starting up Steam and playing games, then it's recommended to choose the Library option.

1 Share your Steam library

Who says you can't borrow video games anymore?

Remember the days when you could lend your games to your friends so that they could play them? Well, after games became digital and more games started being linked to accounts, that felt like a thing of the past. But with Steam family library sharing, you can do just that.

Using the family library sharing feature, you can share your entire library of games with friends and family and let them play it when you're not using it. For this to work, just go to Steam > Settings > Family and create a family group. After this, invite your Steam "family" members, and you will have access to a new library with all your shared games.

Personalize Steam the way you like it

There are some pretty great features on Steam that are turned off by default. While not all of these may be beneficial for you specifically, it's always a good idea to look through the settings menu to personalize things to best suit your PC and customize the way that you want to play.