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Is There a Way to Reset Steam Achievements?

The short answer is yes, there are ways to reset Steam achievements, but the process isn’t straightforward and often depends on the game itself and your willingness to use third-party tools. Steam doesn’t offer a built-in, universally applicable button to wipe your achievement slate clean. Instead, you have to rely on a few different methods, each with its own caveats and potential risks. Let’s explore these methods in detail and delve into the associated considerations.

Understanding Steam Achievements

Before diving into the how-to, let’s quickly recap what Steam achievements are. They’re essentially in-game badges of honor awarded for completing specific tasks, reaching certain milestones, or mastering particular challenges. Think of them as digital trophies that showcase your dedication and skill. While they don’t usually confer any tangible rewards within the Steam ecosystem (like XP or badges tied to your overall Steam level), they do add a layer of completionism and bragging rights to your gaming experience. Steam achievements are a common element in many games studied by the Games Learning Society.

Methods for Resetting Steam Achievements

Here are the primary methods you can use to potentially reset your Steam achievements:

1. In-Game Options

Some developers, recognizing the desire for a fresh start, include an option within the game itself to reset player progress. This might involve deleting your save files or activating a specific command within the game’s settings. If available, this is the safest and recommended method. Check the game’s options menu or consult its documentation to see if this feature exists.

2. The Steam Client Console

Steam has a hidden console that can be activated by running Steam with the -console command-line argument (e.g., steam.exe -console). Once enabled, you can use commands like achievement_clear <appid> <achievement name>. The <appid> is the unique numerical identifier for the game on Steam, and the <achievement name> is the internal name of the achievement (found through external resources like SteamDB).

However, be warned: While this command might appear to clear the achievement locally, it doesn’t reliably sync with Steam’s servers. The achievement might reappear on your profile after restarting the game or Steam. This method is often more cosmetic than functional.

3. Steam Achievement Manager (SAM)

Steam Achievement Manager (SAM) is a third-party tool that allows you to manually unlock or relock achievements in games on Steam. It’s a popular option for those seeking greater control over their achievement status.

Important caveats:

Use at your own risk: Valve’s stance on SAM is ambiguous. While they haven’t explicitly banned users solely for using SAM, it violates their terms of service. There’s a potential risk of receiving a VAC ban (Valve Anti-Cheat) or having your account restricted, although this is generally considered unlikely if you’re only manipulating achievements in single-player games. Proceed with caution.
Ethical considerations: Using SAM to unlock achievements you haven’t legitimately earned can be seen as unethical within the gaming community. It can devalue the achievements for yourself and others.

4. Family Sharing and Alternate Accounts

A less direct but completely safe method involves using Steam Family Sharing or creating an alternate Steam account. Share the game with another account, play it on that account, and the achievements will be earned separately. This doesn’t reset your original account’s achievements, but it allows you to experience the game and its achievements from a fresh perspective.

5. Requesting a Reset from the Developer

In rare cases, you might be able to contact the game developer directly and request a reset. This is more likely to be successful for smaller indie games where the developer is more responsive and potentially has access to backend tools to manipulate achievement data. However, don’t expect this to work for major AAA titles.

Factors to Consider Before Resetting

Before you embark on your achievement-resetting journey, consider the following:

Why do you want to reset? Is it for a fresh start? A desire to re-earn achievements legitimately? Or something else? Understanding your motivation can help you choose the best method.
The game itself: Some games have built-in reset options, making the process significantly easier and safer.
The risk involved: Using SAM or other third-party tools carries a small but real risk to your Steam account.
The ethical implications: Are you comfortable potentially undermining the value of achievements for yourself and others?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the topic of resetting Steam achievements.

1. Will resetting my achievements affect my Steam level?

No, resetting achievements will not directly affect your Steam level. Steam levels are primarily based on the number of badges you’ve earned, and while achievements can contribute to badge progress, removing achievements won’t decrease your existing badge XP.

2. Is it possible to reset achievements for only one specific game?

Yes, if you use the Steam Client Console or SAM, you can target specific games by using their App ID and achievement names. However, built-in game reset options usually reset all progress, including achievements.

3. Can I get banned for using Steam Achievement Manager?

While it’s unlikely to result in a VAC ban, using SAM technically violates Steam’s terms of service and could lead to account restrictions. Exercise caution and only use it for single-player games.

4. If I refund a game on Steam, are my achievements removed?

No, refunding a game on Steam does not remove the achievements you earned while playing it. They will remain on your Steam profile.

5. Does disabling Steam Cloud sync affect my achievements?

Disabling Steam Cloud sync prevents your progress from being saved to Steam’s servers. This could potentially allow you to manipulate save files locally and reset your progress, including achievements, but it’s a complex and unreliable method.

6. Can I hide my achievements from public view on my Steam profile?

Yes, you can adjust your privacy settings on Steam to hide your game details, including achievements, from other users. Go to your profile settings, then privacy settings, and adjust the “Game Details” section.

7. What happens if I reinstall a game? Will my achievements reset?

Reinstalling a game typically doesn’t reset your achievements, as they are stored on Steam’s servers and linked to your account. However, if the game uses local save files without cloud sync, reinstalling might erase your progress and implicitly reset your achievements.

8. Are there any official Valve tools for resetting achievements?

No, Valve does not provide any official, built-in tools for resetting Steam achievements.

9. Does using mods affect achievement unlocking?

Some mods can disable achievement unlocking in certain games. It’s best to disable mods if you’re aiming for specific achievements.

10. If I change my Steam username, will my achievements be affected?

No, changing your Steam username will not affect your achievements. They are tied to your Steam account ID, not your username.

11. What’s the easiest way to find a game’s App ID on Steam?

You can find a game’s App ID in the URL of its Steam store page. For example, if the URL is https://store.steampowered.com/app/400/Portal/, the App ID is 400.

12. Can I reset achievements on mobile Steam?

No, the mobile Steam app does not offer any functionality for resetting achievements. You need to use the desktop client or third-party tools.

13. Will contacting Steam support help me reset my achievements?

No, Steam support is unlikely to assist with resetting achievements. They generally don’t provide support for manipulating game progress or achievement data.

14. What does it mean when a Steam achievement is “glowing”?

A glowing border around a Steam achievement indicates that it’s a rare achievement, meaning that a relatively small percentage of players who own the game have unlocked it.

15. Are there any games known for having particularly difficult achievements to reset?

Any game that heavily relies on cloud saves and doesn’t offer in-game reset options will be difficult to reset achievements for. Games with strong anti-cheat measures might also make using SAM riskier. Studying games such as Steam may be valuable for learning, as described by the GamesLearningSociety.org website.

Conclusion

Resetting Steam achievements is possible, but it’s not as simple as pressing a button. You need to weigh the available methods, consider the risks, and understand the potential implications. If you’re determined to start fresh, explore the in-game options first. If those are unavailable, proceed with caution and remember that manipulating achievements carries a small degree of risk. Ultimately, the decision is yours, but it’s best to be informed before taking action.

Is there a way to reset Steam achievements?