Steam ID Formats Explained: SteamID vs SteamID64 vs SteamID3

Why Does Steam Have So Many ID Formats?

Steam has been around since 2003, and its account identifier system has evolved significantly over the years. What started as a simple STEAM_X:Y:Z format grew into multiple representations — each with a different purpose, length, and era of use.

Today, you may encounter four distinct Steam ID formats across game servers, Steam profiles, developer tools, and community sites. This guide explains each one clearly.

All Steam ID Formats at a Glance

SteamID64 — The Standard Format

SteamID64 is the most important and widely used format. It's a 64-bit integer that uniquely identifies every Steam account. You'll see it in Steam profile URLs, third-party tools, and the Steam Web API.

The number 7656119 at the start is always the same — it's part of the 64-bit encoding. The remaining digits encode your account's universe, type, instance, and account number.

SteamID (Legacy Format)

The original Steam ID format uses the pattern STEAM_X:Y:Z, where:

• X is the universe (0 or 1 — both mean the public Steam universe in practice)
• Y is the authentication bit (0 or 1)
• Z is the account number (the actual unique identifier)

You'll often see both STEAM_0:Y:Z and STEAM_1:Y:Z for the same account. This was a historical inconsistency — early versions of Steam used STEAM_0 even for the public universe (which is technically universe 1). Modern tools may show either, but they refer to the same account.

This format is still used by older game servers running Counter-Strike, Team Fortress 2, and other Source engine games.

SteamID3 — The Modern Compact Format

SteamID3 is a newer, more descriptive format introduced alongside Steam's expanded account system. It looks like this:

The letter prefix indicates the account type. Common types include:

• U — Individual user account (the most common type)
• G — Game server account
• A — Anonymous game server
• M — Multiseat account

SteamID3 is used internally by Steam and appears in some modern games and tools that need to distinguish between different Steam entity types.

SteamID32 — The Raw Account Number

SteamID32 is simply the raw 32-bit account number — the Z part of the legacy SteamID, or the last number in the SteamID3. It's the shortest representation:

SteamID32 on its own is less useful because it lacks context (universe and type), but it's still referenced in older APIs and some game server configurations.

Custom URL / Vanity URL

A custom URL is a human-readable alias you can set for your Steam profile. It's not a true ID — it's just a friendly name that resolves to your real account:

Custom URLs can be changed or removed, while your SteamID64 is permanent. You can resolve a custom URL to all numeric formats using our Steam ID converter tool.

How SteamID64 Is Calculated

SteamID64 is derived from the legacy SteamID components using a fixed offset:

The constant 76561197960265728 is the "base" for universe 1. This is why all SteamID64s start with 7656119 — the base value dominates the upper digits.

Which Format Should You Use?

For most purposes, SteamID64 is the right choice. It's unambiguous, easy to recognise, and supported everywhere. Here's a quick reference:

How to Convert Between Steam ID Formats

You don't need to do the maths manually. Our tool converts between all formats instantly:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are STEAM_0 and STEAM_1 the same person?

Yes. The universe prefix 0 and 1 both refer to the public Steam universe. This was an inconsistency in early Steam implementations. Modern tools normalise these — STEAM_0:0:26039975 and STEAM_1:0:26039975 are the same account.

Does changing my username change my Steam ID?

No. Your Steam username (display name) is cosmetic and can be changed freely. Your SteamID64, SteamID, and SteamID3 are all permanent and tied to your account, not your name.

Why does my SteamID64 always start with 76561198?

All regular user accounts created after a certain point start with 76561198. Very early accounts (created before 2011 approximately) start with 76561197. Both are valid SteamID64 values.

Can two accounts have the same Steam ID?

No. Steam IDs are globally unique. Even if an account is deleted, its ID is never reassigned. This makes Steam IDs reliable for permanent records like ban lists.

Summary

Steam has four main numeric ID formats — SteamID64, SteamID (legacy), SteamID3, and SteamID32 — plus optional custom URLs. For almost all modern use cases, SteamID64 is the format you want: it's a 17-digit number starting with 7656119.

All four formats refer to the same underlying account and are mathematically interchangeable. Convert between them instantly with our free tool.