Option 2: Disable automatic updates for individual Steam gamesĪ right-click on any game in the Steam library and the selection of properties opens the game's configuration page. The 'limit bandwidth to' option may sound useful as well but it impacts all downloads on Steam, not just automatic game updates. Steam will update games only in the selected period and not otherwise. It is possible to disable that in the Steam settings so that downloads continue while games are being played. Recent versions of Steam block automatic downloads of updates or game files when a game is started.
There are several reasons for wanting to be in control: While that is the desirable option for most users, as game updates may introduce bug fixes, new features, performance improvements, and other beneficial changes, some Steam users may prefer to be in control of the updating process. If there is a network connection when you start Steam or Steam is running, updates will be installed if available. Valve's Steam platform client will update any installed game or application automatically by default.
