To reset Steam achievements, download Steam Achievement Manager (SAM), run SAM.Picker.exe, select your game, click the padlock icon to lock all badges, and press the store button to save your changes. The entire reset takes less than 2 minutes and removes the unlocks from your public Steam profile immediately.
Steam doesn’t offer a built-in reset button in its desktop client, so third-party software talks to the Steam client API directly. Because this modifies profile data, the official Steam client must stay open and signed into your account while you run the tool.
The biggest mistake players make is running this tool while the target game is actively open. Doing so can cause local save file conflicts, and if the title uses Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) protected servers, running unauthorized memory tools alongside the game binary can trigger an account ban.
Using Steam Achievement Manager
- Close your target game completely, but leave your regular Steam desktop app open and logged in.
- Download the latest release of Steam Achievement Manager from its official GitHub repository, extract the zip archive into a new desktop folder, and double-click
SAM.Picker.exe. - Locate your game from the list that appears, or paste the title’s numeric AppID into the top search bar if your library is hidden.
- Double-click the game’s icon to launch
SAM.Game.exein a secondary window displaying all your unlocked milestones. - Click the small lock icon (Reset all achievements) located near the top-left corner of the toolbar to uncheck every badge on screen. Tip: If you only want to clear a single bugged achievement, uncheck just that one box instead of pressing the master lock icon.
- Click the antenna or store icon in the upper-right corner that reads “Store” to commit your changes directly to the Steam server.
If a game relies on developer-managed online servers or external accounts, this process won’t reset progress stored on their proprietary databases.
How Long It Takes
Clearing your unlocks is usually immediate, though network lag can introduce brief delays.
| Situation | How long | What changes it | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single achievement reset | 30 to 45 seconds | AppID search speed | Gray checkmark disappearing |
| Full library game wipe | 1 to 2 minutes | Number of achievements | Store icon progress bar |
| Offline mode attempt | Failed immediately | Lack of Steam server connection | Tool error code |
If your profile doesn’t show the locked status after 5 minutes, log out of your Steam desktop client, log back in, and reload your showcase.
How to Tell When It’s Done
Open your personal community profile on the Steam client and navigate to the game’s badge showcase. Your locked icons should display grayed out, and your completion percentage will drop immediately according to Valve’s Steam Community profile tracker.
The definitive test is the game library shelf: if the recent achievements counter drops to zero, the change successfully synced across Valve’s master database. Note that this varies by model and title—check the label on server-based titles, as external database pings can override client stats within minutes.
Mistakes That Ruin It
- Leaving the game open during the reset: This causes the local process to overwrite your reset data instantly with current session memory. Always shut down the game executable before opening SAM.
- Using the tool on VAC-secured multiplayer servers: Anticheat modules can flag background injectors as malicious unauthorized software and issue permanent VAC strikes. Never launch achievement tools while connected to online multiplayer lobbies.
- Clearing stats on cloud-synced titles without wiping saves: The game reads your local 100% save file on next boot and automatically re-awards every badge at once. Delete or move your local save files if you want to earn them naturally again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Get Banned on Steam for Resetting Achievements?
No, Valve doesn’t ban users simply for modifying or clearing their achievement milestones in single-player titles. However, running any external tool alongside a game connected to Valve Anti-Cheat servers can trigger an automated, permanent account penalty.
What Happens If a Game Awards Achievements from an Old Save?
The game checks your progress upon loading and unlocks the badges again within seconds. If you want a fresh run, disable Steam Cloud saves temporarily and delete the local save directory stored on your computer before starting.
Why Do My Achievements Reappear After Restarting the Game?
This happens when a game’s internal telemetry syncs back up with the local client. If X is an offline game, clear your local save; if Y is an online title, external company servers manage your records and will permanently override your changes.
Is It Safe to Reset Achievements in Multiplayer Games?
No, it’s generally not safe or effective for live-service multiplayer games. Games with dedicated matchmaking track statistics on private company servers, making client-side resets useless and potentially raising flags for suspicious account modifications.
Who This Tool Is Not For?
This method isn’t for players who want to clear competitive ranks, competitive seasonal badges, or titles requiring third-party launchers. It can’t reset games tied to secondary services like Ubisoft Connect, EA app, or Rockstar Games Launcher.
