How do I get Steam on my old Mac?

Answered by Phillip Nicastro

To get Steam on your old Mac, you need to follow a few simple steps. Here’s a detailed guide to help you through the process:

1. Open your web browser and go to the official Steam website (https://store.steampowered.com/).

2. Once you’re on the website, locate the “Install Steam” button at the top-right corner of the page and click on it.

3. On the next page, you’ll see a “Install Steam Now” button. Click on it to start downloading the Steam installer.

4. After the download is complete, locate the “steam.dmg” file in your Downloads folder. You can easily access this folder by clicking on the Downloads button in the Safari toolbar or by navigating to your home directory and then to the Downloads folder.

5. Double-click on the “steam.dmg” file to open it. A new Finder window will appear, displaying the contents of the installer.

6. In the Finder window, you’ll see the Steam icon. Simply click and hold on the Steam icon, then drag it to the Applications folder shortcut located in the left sidebar of the Finder window. This will copy the Steam application to your Applications folder.

7. Once the copying process is complete, you can close the Finder window.

8. Now, navigate to your Applications folder. You can do this by either clicking on the Go menu in the Finder and selecting Applications or by accessing your home directory and then clicking on the Applications folder.

9. In the Applications folder, locate the Steam application and double-click on it to launch Steam for the first time.

10. Steam will now start initializing and updating itself. This might take a few minutes, depending on your internet connection speed.

11. Once the updating process is complete, you’ll be prompted to either log in to your existing Steam account or create a new one. Choose the option that suits you, and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

12. After logging in or creating a new account, you’ll have access to the Steam platform on your old Mac. From here, you can browse and purchase games, join communities, and enjoy various features offered by Steam.

It’s important to note that the performance of Steam and the games you play on your old Mac will depend on its hardware specifications. If your Mac is quite old and lacks sufficient power, you may experience some limitations or performance issues.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install Steam on your old Mac and enjoy gaming on the platform. Remember to keep your Mac updated with the latest software versions to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.