How to install steam skins

As iconic as Steam is as a storefront and service, customizing everything to suit your preferences is always at the top of every gamer’s bucket list. Luckily, you can change Steam’s appearance at any time, and the process is fairly simple once you know what you’re doing. Here’s how you can install and change your Steam skin to support your favorite franchise or just get some new colors around.

Related: The best steam skins

How to install steam skins

If you want to easily change your Steam skin, try Steam Customizer. The website has a program that you can download that makes installing the skins as easy as selecting it and hitting download. Just link your Steam account and everything will be set up for you automatically. However, the app has not been updated for a long time, so it no longer works fully and does not switch everything to the full skin as advertised. If you want things to be set up correctly, you’ll have to do it manually.

To manually install a skin, first find and download a skin you like. Next, open Task Manager by pressing CTRL, SHIFT, and Esc. Right-click Steam and select Open File Location. Locate the Skins folder and extract the skin .zip file into that folder. If you don’t see a Skins folder, create one.

Now open Steam and open the Steam menu in the top left corner of the screen. Click Settings and go to Interface. Under “Choose the skin you want Steam to use” is a drop-down menu with all the skins you extracted to that folder. Select it, restart Steam and the new look will take effect. You can use this menu to switch between all of your installed skins at any time.