So I’ve run into something really frustrating lately and I’m wondering if others are seeing the same thing.

I have multiple portable devices (Steam Deck and a Windows handheld), and whenever I install a game on one of them, Steam automatically starts installing that same game on the other device—even if it’s across town, not on the same network, and I didn’t ask for it. It’s like Steam is syncing install state across all devices logged into the same account, and there’s no way to turn it off.

This isn’t about remote installs via the mobile app or website—that’s a great feature *when it’s optional*. What I’m talking about is **forced installs**. I install a game on Device A, and Device B just starts downloading it without any prompt or permission. That’s not okay, especially for devices with limited storage.

I’ve tried looking for solutions and all I’ve found are workarounds like:
- Disabling internet
- Signing out of Steam
- Turning off auto-start
- Disabling cloud saves

None of these are practical. I shouldn’t have to cripple my device just to stop it from downloading something I didn’t ask for.

What Steam really needs is a simple UI fix:
**When you click “Install,” give us a dropdown that says “Install to this device only.”**
Just like we get the option to stream a game from another PC or play it locally, we should have the same control over where installs happen.

Maybe I’m missing something here? I’ve searched the forums and Google, but haven’t found any real answers. If anyone has figured out how to stop this behavior, I’d love to hear it. Otherwise, I think it’s time Valve gave us more control over our installs.

Anyone else dealing with this?