Learn how to install and use the Steam Common Redistributables.

Learn how to install and use the Steam Common Redistributables.
  • The Steam Common Redistributables have been causing some confusion among gamers as to what they are and what they do.
  • To utilise them, first log in to your Steamworks App Admin panel, then select the Install option.
  • If you want to prevent them from appearing in the middle of your games, right-click on them and select Manage.

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Valve Corporation created Steam, a cloud-based game distribution service also known as a gaming library. Customers can download and play their purchased games on any device they like, as well as on many PCs at the same time.

Have you ever wondered what the word Steamworks Common Redistributables meant or where it came from in your Steam library? If that's the case, you're not alone.

Follow along as we teach you how to use them and why you shouldn't delete them after learning more about what they do for you. Follow along with us!

What are the functions of Steam Common Redistributables?

Specific components, such as DirectX, Microsoft Visual C++, and the.NET Framework, must be installed on your computer for games to run properly. Furthermore, a number of games require certain components in order to function properly on your computer.

It wasn't long ago that while downloading and installing games, consumers were forced to execute installers for these components (known as redistributables).

This, as you might expect, resulted in duplication of effort and increased burdens for both developers and end-users.


Every game developer was required to include installers for all of these components throughout the development of their product, and consumers were forced to run these installers at each stage of the installation process when installing multiple of them.

With the advent of Steamworks Common Redistributables, however, anytime a game that requires them is installed for the first time on a PC, all of the essential and shared features will be installed.

As a result, the redistributables are nothing more than a collection of one-time-install software that apps need in order to work properly. Valve creates and maintains the install scripts for them, ensuring that they are always up to date.

DirectX 9, Microsoft Visual C++,.NET Framework, XNA, OpenAL, and PhysX are among the tools included in this set of Steamworks Common Redistributables, which are accessible for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

What is the best way to use Steam Common Redistributables?

1. Log in to the Steamworks App's Admin page.

  1. If you're a developer, you'll need to log into your Steamworks App Admin page to enable the common redistributables.
  2. Then select the Installation tab, then Redistributables.
  3. Then publish your changes by checking the checkboxes for the redistributables that your game or app requires.

It's crucial to note that altering or otherwise meddling with the Steamworks Common Redistributables files isn't necessary. Steam automatically optimises and refreshes them, saving you storage space in the process.

The common redistributables folder should not be deleted. It contains files that are essential for games to function properly; if you don't have them, your games may fail to launch or crash completely.

2. Remove the Steam Common Redistributables from your computer.

1.Right-click the Steamworks Common Redistributables folder in your Steam Library and select Manage.


2.You will now be presented with the option to conceal the game, which you must select in order to do so.


Should I remove Steam Common Redistributables from my computer?

No, the Steamworks Common Redistributables should not be removed from your machine. Any game you download will crash during the initialization step unless you have those files. When you download a new one, they, on the other hand, allow you to save space and time.

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When you download a new game, it will look through the common redistributables files for the components it needs to integrate with its files in order for it to work properly. It's possible that deleting these files will cause you problems later on.

Even if you delete the common redistributables files, it will continue to try to download them from Steam in the background so that it can work. As a result, you won't be able to delete the files entirely from your computer.


Steam has prioritised optimising its files, as well as any later upgrades, for all games that run on Windows-based computers.

You won't have to worry about running out of space or updating them manually. To say the least, the presence of this omnipresent redistributables folder can be inconvenient. Steam would first hide the folder, and everything would continue to work normally.

However, following a recent upgrade, they began displaying this folder, to the chagrin of many. There is, however, a way to make the folder invisible so that it does not appear in your Steam library.

You should now know what Steam Common Redistributables are and why they're so important for any games you buy on the platform.

Remember that the folder exists to help you save space and time, so you don't have to erase it entirely. You can choose to hide it or leave it running in the background.

You'll be pleasantly delighted to learn that ancient games may be played on Windows 11. Make sure to read the linked article to find out how you can do it as well.

Our piece on how to put a Windows 11 skin on your Steam app has been helpful to users, so you might want to read it as well.

Alternatively, if you're having problems with Steam, we've put up a guide on how to fix Steam not logging in to Friends on Windows 11.

We hope that our tutorial was of assistance to you in the end. Let us know what you think in the comments area below. Thank you for taking the time to read this!