You can unlink your Steam account from Epic Games by navigating to the “Connections” section of your Epic Games account settings and disconnecting the linked Steam profile.
Ever found yourself wanting to separate your gaming worlds? Maybe you connected Steam to your Epic Games account a while back and now want a clean break. It’s a pretty common situation, and thankfully, it’s not too difficult to achieve. This guide will show you exactly how to unlink steam account from epic games in a few simple steps.
How to Unlink Steam Account From Epic Games
It’s pretty common these days to have multiple accounts across different gaming platforms. You might have a Steam account where you’ve collected tons of games and an Epic Games account where you’ve grabbed some freebies or played Fortnite. Sometimes, these accounts get linked, and you might need to break that connection. Maybe you want to keep things separate, or perhaps you’re having issues. Whatever the reason, unlinking your Steam account from Epic Games is totally possible. It just takes a few steps, and we’re going to walk you through them. Let’s get started!
Why Would You Want to Unlink Your Accounts?
Before we jump into the ‘how-to,’ let’s think about why you might even want to do this. There are a few common reasons:
- Account Confusion: Sometimes, having linked accounts can make it tricky to keep track of where you bought a game or what account you’re using. Unlinking them can help you avoid this confusion.
- Privacy Concerns: You might just want to keep your gaming profiles separate. Perhaps you have a Steam account for one type of game and an Epic Games account for something else. Keeping them unlinked gives you more control over your privacy.
- Troubleshooting Issues: Occasionally, a link between accounts can cause problems with game launches or in-game features. Unlinking might be a fix in such cases.
- Changing Accounts: You might have accidentally linked the wrong Steam account, or you want to connect a different one. Unlinking the old account is a necessary first step.
Understanding The Epic Games Account Linking System
Epic Games uses a system that lets you connect your account with other platforms like Steam. This is handy for things like using the same in-game account on different devices or getting cross-platform progress. However, this connection is not always permanent or desired, and that’s where unlinking becomes important. Knowing how the system works will help you understand the steps to unlink.
Types of Account Links
It is important to understand that you are not actually linking your Steam account directly to Epic Games. Instead, you’re authorizing Epic Games to access certain information from your Steam account when needed, usually to verify game ownership or connect your game profile. So when we talk about ‘unlinking’ we are really talking about revoking that authorization from the Epic Games side.
Also, note that the link usually happens when you first launch a game purchased through Epic that requires Steam to function. Think of titles where the game lives in your Epic library but uses Steam as its platform. When you play that game for the first time, Epic usually asks you to link accounts.
Steps to Unlink Your Steam Account From Epic Games
Okay, let’s get to the actual process. The unlinking process is straightforward, but it’s crucial to follow each step carefully. Here is the proper way to remove the connection from your Epic Games account to your Steam account:
Step 1: Logging Into Your Epic Games Account
First things first, you’ll need to be logged into your Epic Games account on a web browser. You can’t do this through the Epic Games launcher application itself. Here’s how:
- Open a web browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
- Go to the official Epic Games website: www.epicgames.com
- Click on the ‘Sign In’ button, usually in the upper-right corner of the page.
- Enter the email address and password associated with your Epic Games account.
- Click ‘Sign In’ to access your account.
Step 2: Navigating to the Account Settings
Once you’re logged in, the next step is to get to your account settings. This is where you can manage all sorts of things, including your connected accounts. Here’s the process:
- Look for your account name or avatar in the upper-right corner of the page.
- Click on it to open a dropdown menu.
- Select “Account” from the dropdown menu. This will take you to your general account settings.
Step 3: Locating Connected Accounts
On the account settings page, you need to find where the connected accounts are listed. Epic might change the layout of this page from time to time, but here’s what you’re generally looking for:
On the left-hand sidebar, you will generally see different account related options, so find the following:
- Click the ‘Connections’ section from the menu bar
- Usually, a sub-tab will be available that reads ‘Accounts’. Select ‘Accounts’.
This is where all of your linked accounts with other platforms will show up, including your Steam account.
Step 4: Unlinking Your Steam Account
Now, you’ve reached the crucial part of the process. Here’s how to disconnect the two accounts:
You’ll see a list of linked accounts. Look for the Steam account that you want to unlink. There are a few things you can generally expect to see, so look out for the following:
- Look for a button that says “Remove” or “Disconnect” or it might have an “X” symbol associated with your Steam account.
- Click the “Remove” or “Disconnect” button or the X symbol next to the Steam account listing.
- A confirmation pop-up might appear asking you to verify the unlinking action. Click “Confirm” or the equivalent button to finalize unlinking.
Once you’ve confirmed, your Steam account should be unlinked from your Epic Games account. The Steam listing should disappear from the connected accounts section.
What to Do If You Encounter Problems
Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as we expect. If you run into issues while unlinking your Steam and Epic Games accounts, here’s what you can do:
Problem 1: Missing “Remove” or “Disconnect” Button
If you can’t find the “Remove” or “Disconnect” button next to your Steam account, it might indicate a different linking system. If that’s the case:
- Double-check that you’re on the correct Epic Games account.
- Try refreshing the page. A loading glitch can sometimes cause interface elements to not appear correctly.
- Make sure you’re not trying to remove the link from within the Epic Games Launcher. This action must be done through a web browser.
Problem 2: Error Messages
Sometimes, Epic Games might give you an error message when you try to unlink. Here are some steps you can take to resolve that:
- Check the error message: Read the message carefully. It often provides a hint about what’s wrong.
- Try again later: Sometimes, the problem is temporary server issues, so you may want to try again after a short time.
- Contact Epic Games Support: If the error persists, contacting Epic Games support will be the best next step. They might be able to see the problem on their end and guide you to a solution.
Problem 3: Unlinking Didn’t Seem to Work
If you go through the motions, and the Steam account still appears linked on Epic Games, try these steps:
- Refresh the page: Sometimes, a refresh will update the page information and reflect the change you made.
- Sign out and sign back in: Try signing out of your Epic Games account completely and then sign back in again. This often forces the system to refresh your account details.
- Use a different web browser: Sometimes, browser issues can cause problems. Try a different browser to see if the disconnection registers there.
What Happens After Unlinking
So, you’ve successfully unlinked your accounts – great job! Now, let’s discuss what to expect after disconnecting your Steam from your Epic Games account:
Game Access
Unlinking does not remove or take any games away from your Epic library. If you bought the games on Epic Games, and they need Steam to run, this might be an issue. What usually happens is that when you launch the game through Epic Games, it will then prompt you to link the two accounts again.
Cross-Platform Progression
If you played a game that supports cross-progression, unlinking the accounts might mean you can’t continue that progress if you play on the other platform. This is because both platforms will now consider you as a new user again. There are usually ways to recover your data with cloud saving features, but the process will likely require you to link your accounts again.
Future Linking
You can relink your accounts again later if you want to. However, you may need to go through the initial linking process again, such as logging into Steam within the game launcher. This is very easy to do again, so you should not worry about accidentally deleting any information from your account.
Tips for Managing Your Accounts
To avoid future issues and to keep your gaming life tidy, here are some useful tips for managing your Steam and Epic Games accounts:
Double-Check Before Linking
Before linking your accounts, especially with a new game, make sure that you are using the correct accounts for both Steam and Epic. Take a moment to review which accounts are already logged into the systems and which emails they are linked to.
Password Security
Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts. This helps to protect them from any unauthorized access, making it safer overall. Consider using a password manager to help you create and remember strong passwords.
Keep Your Email Addresses Up-to-Date
Make sure the email addresses linked to your Epic and Steam accounts are current and accessible. If you change emails, ensure that you update them on both accounts, so that you do not have issues with verification or account security. This helps with both recovery and verification.
Regularly Review Connected Accounts
Periodically, take some time to review which accounts are connected to your gaming accounts. If you see anything suspicious, unlink immediately and change your password. This is a general security practice that will help protect your account over time.
Unlinking your Steam account from Epic Games is a straightforward process. Just be mindful of what it means for accessing your games and any progression you have made. Following the steps provided and understanding the reasons behind this action will help you manage your gaming accounts efficiently. Remember, you can always re-link accounts when and if needed. The aim is to create an environment that feels most comfortable and secure for you.
How To Unlink Steam Account Epic Games Tutorial
Final Thoughts
To unlink your Steam account from Epic Games, you must navigate to the Connections settings within your Epic Games account. Find the linked Steam profile and select the option to disconnect. Confirm this action, and your accounts will be unlinked.
Remember that unlinking might impact cross-platform progression for some games. Therefore carefully think before you decide to proceed with how to unlink steam account from epic games.
