[Tested] Best Ways How to Install DLC on Steam? Beginner’s Guide 2022

Game Downloadable Content (DLC) is now a reality that we must all accept. Steam generally works well with downloadable content because it manages it in the same manner as the initial installation, but it occasionally hangs or fails to install properly.

In this article, we’ll show you how to install DLC on Steam and what to do if your purchased DLC doesn’t install properly.

The Importance of Downloadable Content

Once upon a time, a game was just a game. You paid your money and received your game. It was a complete package that was ready to play all the way through. Then came DLC, or downloadable content, which shook up the gaming industry. Even a decade or so later, DLC remains a contentious issue, and the industry is solely to blame.

On the one hand, DLC is beneficial because it allows developers to add new features, maps, and content to existing games while also fixing bugs. Most people don’t mind paying for DLC if it adds genuinely new content. I don’t mind paying for DLC that adds real content if it seems worthwhile.

Some developers, on the other hand, use DLC as a cash cow to nickel and dime players without adding any real value to the game. They either release a game before it is truly finished in order to sell the missing content as paid DLC, or they use DLC to divide those who pay extra from those who are unwilling to pay to be season pass holders.

In any case, DLC is now a part of gaming, and we must accept it. DLC appears to be here to stay in the gaming industry.

DLC Installation in Steam

As previously stated, DLC is managed in the same manner as base game purchases. DLC can be purchased directly from the Steam store or from the game’s page under the DLC banner. Once purchased, the game page should appear in your Steam Library. I prefer to make purchases from the library. You can get DLS from the Steam Library by doing the following:

1. Launch Steam and navigate to the Library.
2. Choose the game from which you want the DLC and then click on Store Page.
3. Go to the Store page and find the DLC you want to buy under Content for this game. The purchasing procedure is identical to that of a base game.
4. Now, on the receipt page, click on Install content.
5. Return to your library, and the DLC should be listed in the center under DLC.
6. Once downloaded, the DLC pane should show Installed.

If you don’t see it installed yet, it could be downloading.

Choose Library from the top menu, followed by Downloads. Your DLC should be downloading there.

This may take some time depending on your connection or the size of the DLC, but there is a progress indicator in the downloads window. Once downloaded, its status should change in the game window’s DLC pane.

1. The game properties window also allows you to view installed DLC.
2. In your Steam library, right-click the game and select Properties.
3. In the popup window, select the DLC tab to see what was just installed.

Installing DLC in Steam Using a Product Key

1. If it isn’t already open, launch the Steam client and select Add a game.
2. Next, select Activate a Product on Steam.
3. In the window that appears, click Next.
4. To install it, enter the product key and click Next.

DLC Troubleshooting in Steam

Steam is a dependable platform that rarely fails, but it does occasionally refuse to cooperate when using DLC in Steam. When you buy a new game or DLC and are eager to play it, something usually goes wrong. If this occurs, you can do a couple of things to ‘encourage’ Steam to load it.

However, some downloadable content does not automatically download. Some games require third-party apps, such as Uplay or the game’s website, to authorize DLC.

Some smaller game studios will request that Steam email you a code that you must enter into your account on the game’s website before the DLC will be authorized. As the first step in troubleshooting a problem, ensure that the DLC you purchased does not have this type of setup.

If the above troubleshooting steps do not resolve the issue, here are some other ways to troubleshoot DLC in Steam:

• Check that Steam is not currently downloading the DLC.
• Restart Steam and allow it to download the DLC.
• Allow an hour or two in case the Steam servers are down.
• Right-click the game in your Library, go to Properties, then the Local Files tab, and then Verify Game File Integrity.
• Log out of Steam and then log back in.
• Restart (reboot) your computer.
• Verify that the game isn’t having problems loading DLC. For information, visit the Community Hub or News.

All of these methods have been successful in the past for many users to address DLC delays or issues. Sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting for the servers to catch up. Checking the game developer’s forum can sometimes tell you whether or not you have a game problem.

If you liked this DLC in Steam article, you might also like How to Appear Invisible/Offline in Steam.

Do you have any other tricks or tips for people looking to install DLC on Steam? Or how to troubleshoot if things don’t go as planned? If you do, please share your DLC experiences in the comments section below!