SteamTools is a free lookup tool that turns a Steam App ID into the manifest and Lua script pair used by SteamTools. It's a faster alternative to chasing the file in Discords or third-party hosting.

How do I use the files?

Download the ZIP, then copy the .lua and key.vdf into your SteamTools install root (same folder as the SteamTools / Watt Toolkit executable). Fully quit and reopen SteamTools — the game should appear in your library. For classic appmanifest_*.acf + depotcache/scripts layouts, see /manifest-files.

Yes. The generator is free to use — no account, no payment, and no API key. Third-party ads help cover hosting costs; downloads stay direct with no link shorteners. If you want to support the project further, share App IDs in our Discord.

Where do I find my App ID?

Open the game's Steam store page — the App ID is the number in the URL. For example, Portal 2's URL is store.steampowered.com/app/620, so the App ID is 620. We have a step-by-step guide on the /how-to-find-app-id page.

We only link to public Steam CDN endpoints. We never see your Steam account, and we never ask for credentials. As with any unofficial tool, the manifest files only unlock already-purchased library content.

Why does SteamTools need a Lua script?

Lua scripts tell SteamTools how to validate the manifest against Steam's servers and which branch to prefer when multiple are available (e.g. public, beta, experimental). They are part of the standard SteamTools workflow.

Why is the downloaded ZIP empty?

Three common causes. (1) The AppID is in the Steam catalogue but is not in the ManifestHub3 cache yet — the page should show a 'not in our download database yet' notice and a Discord request link; if you see a download button instead, file a bug. (2) The SteamTools desktop client is filtering the file — check the SteamTools log directory. (3) Your browser or a local security tool is stripping the response; try a different browser or curl the URL directly.

Free Steam Tools

Generate Steam manifest & Lua for any App ID.

Type a name or App ID, get the .acf + .lua files you need for SteamTools. Free, no signup.

Open data on GitHub → ManifestHub3

Try one of these:

Portal400 Cyberpunk 20771091500 Elden Ring1245620 Stardew Valley413150 Tekken 81778820

Steam API connected·No signup required·How it works·Powered by SteamTools.games

Built for the SteamTools community

Everything you need to grab a working manifest and Lua pair, without trawling Discords or shady link shorteners.

Live Steam lookup

Type a game name or App ID and we query Steam's public storefront APIs directly. Warm cache hits are snappy; cold lookups wait on Steam.

Live Steam search

Same engine Steam uses to power the storefront — covers 100k+ apps, DLCs, soundtracks, and tools.

Manifest + Lua pair

Every result returns a Lua script and key.vdf in SteamTools naming — drop both into the SteamTools install root and restart.

No shady redirects

Direct CDN URLs only — we never bounce downloads through link shorteners or pop-up ad networks.

From App ID to playing in four steps

Built around the SteamTools (Watt Toolkit) workflow: generate Lua + key.vdf, place them in the client install root, restart.

Search or paste an App ID

Type a game name to filter Steam's catalog, or paste a numeric App ID for an exact match.

Generate the pair

We return a manifest file and a matching Lua script named for the App ID and branch you selected.

Place in SteamTools root

Copy the .lua and key.vdf into the SteamTools install root (same folder as the executable). Restart SteamTools fully.

Restart SteamTools

The game appears in your library the next time SteamTools refreshes — same flow as every other SteamTools manifest.

Full how-it-works guide What is a Steam manifest?

Install SteamTools first

You need the SteamTools desktop client to use the files this site generates. Windows, macOS, and Linux builds are on the install guide.

Install guide

Popular games on Steam right now

Tap any tile to drop its App ID into the generator above. The list refreshes against Steam's featured carousel every five minutes.

Cyberpunk 2077Generate

Red Dead Redemption 2Generate

271590

Grand Theft Auto VGenerate

400

PortalGenerate

730

Counter-Strike 2Generate

Refreshing from Steam…

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the things the SteamTools community asks most.

See all FAQs

What's new

Recent updates

Milestones that change how you generate manifests, call the API, or navigate the docs — not every internal commit.

View full changelog

Jul 15, 2026Product
Games catalog hub + Install guide
New /games index links curated App IDs into per-game pages for crawlable discovery. Dedicated /install covers Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop client setup. Static pages share the full site header for consistent navigation.
Jul 8, 2026SEO
Per-game pages for popular App IDs
Each curated title now has an /app/undefined landing with Steam metadata, download actions, and VideoGame structured data. Popular IDs are listed in the sitemap so search engines can find them without random crawl.