A private Steam profile still has a public address, and that address holds the SteamID. Open the profile link and read the 17 digits after /profiles/. If the link shows a name after /id/, resolve it with the SteamID Resolver or the Steam Web API. Privacy settings hide games and friends, not the ID. The other methods are in our complete guide to finding a Steam ID.
- Get the profile link. Open the profile from a friends list, a group, or a forum post, or ask the owner to send it.
- Look at the address in the browser.
- If it is
steamcommunity.com/profiles/followed by 17 digits, copy those digits. They are the SteamID64. - If it is
steamcommunity.com/id/followed by a name, paste the name into the SteamID Resolver to get the SteamID64.
What does a private profile hide? #
A private profile hides its summary, game details, friends list, and inventory from other users. Visitors see only a short notice that the profile is private. The address of the profile still works, and the ID inside it does not change. The privacy setting controls what the page shows. It does not control the address.
This is why a private profile does not stop you from identifying the account. It also means you learn nothing else. The ID does not unlock games, friends, or items.
How do I get the SteamID64 from a private profile link? #
Open the link and read the address. A link with /profiles/ and 17 digits already contains the SteamID64. A link with /id/ and a name contains a custom URL, and you must resolve it first.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198012345678 the ID is in the link
https://steamcommunity.com/id/examplename a custom URL, resolve it firstCopy the digits from the address bar. Do not retype them from a screenshot, because one wrong digit points to a different account.
How do I resolve a custom URL on a private profile? #
Paste the name into the SteamID Resolver, or call the ResolveVanityURL method of the Steam Web API. Both map the custom URL to a SteamID64 without reading the profile content, so a private profile does not block them.
The API needs a key. You can register one at steamcommunity.com/dev/apikey. Steam may refuse keys to limited accounts. Keep the key private.
curl "https://api.steampowered.com/ISteamUser/ResolveVanityURL/v0001/?key=YOUR_API_KEY&vanityurl=examplename"A match looks like this:
{"response": {"steamid": "76561198012345678", "success": 1}}A success value of 1 means a match. A value of 42 means no match, so check the spelling of the name. The method also takes an optional url_type parameter. The default 1 looks up individual profiles, and 2 looks up groups. The Valve documentation for ISteamUser lists all parameters. Python examples are in Steam Web API: resolve vanity URL.
How do I find the profile link if I only know a name? #
Look for places where Steam turns a name into a link: friends lists, group member lists, forum posts, comments, and Workshop pages. Each name there links to that user's profile address, even when the profile is private. If none of these places show the account, ask the owner for the link. A display name alone does not identify one account, as our guide to finding a Steam ID from a username explains.
Do I need a third-party lookup site? #
No. The profile link or the Steam Web API gives you the ID without one. A lookup never needs your Steam password. A site that asks for it is a phishing page. Use the SteamID Resolver or the API, and keep your login to yourself.
Example: a GTA RP admin receives a ban appeal from a player with a private profile. The appeal includes the link steamcommunity.com/id/driftking_rp. The admin pastes driftking_rp into the SteamID Resolver, gets the SteamID64, and searches the ban list for that ID. The private setting changes nothing in this process.
Common mistakes #
- Retyping the ID from a screenshot. One wrong digit points to another account. Copy it from the address bar.
- Resolving a group name as a person. Group addresses use
/groups/and needurl_type=2. With the default value the API returns 42. - Reading 42 as "the profile is private". The value 42 means the custom URL has no match, usually because of a typo or a changed name. Private profiles resolve normally.
- Expecting more data. The ID does not unlock games, friends, or the inventory of a private profile.
Frequently asked questions #
Does a private profile hide the SteamID? #
No. The ID is part of the profile address, and the privacy setting does not remove it.
Can I find the SteamID of a private profile without the link? #
Not from a display name alone. You need the profile link or the custom URL. Friends lists, group lists, and forum posts can lead you to the link.
Does ResolveVanityURL work for private profiles? #
Yes. It maps a custom URL to an ID and does not read the profile page, so privacy settings do not affect the result.
Can I see games or friends after I get the ID? #
No. The ID identifies the account. It does not unlock data that the owner has hidden.
Convert any ID or custom URL with the free SteamID Resolver. To find your own ID on a phone, read the mobile app guide.
Last updated: October 2026