Valve has expanded its optional framerate data collection to the full Steam desktop client. The change arrived with the stable Steam Client update on November 11, 2026. Desktop users now see a prompt asking whether they want to share anonymized FPS readings while playing games.

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The feature was previously focused mainly on Steam Deck and other SteamOS devices, with desktop participation limited to the Steam Client Beta. The November 11 update brings the same opt-in prompt to everyone on the stable desktop client. Players can accept or decline the request, and they can change their choice at any time.

How the data works:

  • It is completely optional. You do not need to share data to use Steam or view existing performance charts.
  • Readings are stored without any connection to your Steam account. Valve only associates them with the type of hardware you are using.
  • The data helps Valve learn about game compatibility and improve Steam. It also supports average framerate displays already available for Steam Deck games.

On Steam Deck store pages, players can already check average framerates under Steam Deck Compatibility > Learn more. These figures come from opted-in Deck owners and include a histogram showing how often different FPS values occur. Valve has described the Deck charts as a stepping stone toward similar performance information on more devices. Desktop collection is part of that longer-term plan, though Valve has not yet released public FPS averages for regular Windows or Linux PCs.

Managing your preference:

  • Open Steam and go to your account settings.
  • Select Data & Browsing.
  • Find Anonymous Game Framerate Data and turn it on or off.

You can also decline the prompt when it appears in your library. Viewing the existing Steam Deck framerate charts does not require you to contribute your own data. The setting only controls whether your sessions help build the anonymized pool that Valve uses for compatibility insights and future performance tools.

For players, the practical impact right now is limited to the prompt itself. The bigger benefit remains the clearer performance context already available for Steam Deck titles, which shows real average framerates instead of relying only on Verified, Playable, or Unsupported badges. Desktop users who opt in are simply helping expand that same dataset for broader hardware in the future.