That's an excellent find then, we won't be locked out of our libraries. Thank you very much for this!

Originally posted by lightwo:

Research done.

Setting WantsOfflineMode to "1" inside Steam > config > loginusers.vdf provides proper offline mode and doesn't even try to authenticate. It even works if the user has been logged out.

It's probably a good idea to make it read-only since accidentally using "Steam > Go Online..." will revert this, and making it read-only causes no bad side-effects.

Does doing this ahead of time or while actively online have any effects?

The countdown banner is just a timer, it's not going to instantly switch off Steam when it hits 0. Incompatibility with Win7 will come from a client update, not the timer.

Originally posted by bidulless:

hello

Good xd
Just forget to ask @Wiawyr what release he was using .....
july and april confirmed and may too so far
little drawback : april release, alt tab remove your status of game playing , just leave you online sometimes.

July 10th 2023.

Originally posted by bidulless:

Originally posted by Wiawyr:

Would like to add a slight refinement to these directions, as it was initially unclear for me but is working now. Under Program Files (x86) -> Steam, you literally need to rename the "package" folder to anything else, i.e.; "package2". Adding the "-nofriendsui" part is correct.

The way I have this working is being logged into Steam via my browser for chat. You cannot talk to anyone via the client itself in this manner, including joining group chats and sending direct messages. But with this setup, your status will correctly update itself for when you are playing games or not.

However, the package folder is also where you should have the tmp file, which makes me nervous about using this. Anyone's thoughts?

Hello

Been honest with you, i did not tested the chat myslef - just sent a message few seconds and waiting an answer - but renaming package to whatever you want is safe ( i created a empty folder package also just to remind me the real folder structure ). But chat in bigpicture mode won't work anymore and some other minor issues that need to be discovered.

I had to edit my message a bit, things changed from how I initially thought they were working. I've also done that with manually making a new package folder.

Originally posted by bidulless:

hello

one user got us the solution @Zach Fett
launch steam with -nofriendsui and package folder renamed to whatever you want till you are using steam.cfg blocking update.
There is a drawback; it does not work anymore with the bigpicture mode and some other minor disadvantage that need to be find like you do not see anymore what games your friends are playing , and another one on the same kind directly under steam ( right part of steam on any game as it show you disconnected )

Would like to add a slight refinement to these directions, as it was initially unclear for me but is working now. Under Program Files (x86) -> Steam, you literally need to rename the "package" folder to anything else, i.e.; "package2". Adding the "-nofriendsui" part is correct.

Getting a weird experience. If a friend messages me, the message window appears in the overlay of the active game and I can respond to it, as well as opening a new window entirely on the taskbar, but does not open a new tab on the browser. However, if I open a message tab on the browser to that person, it has the chat history present. The client itself does not seem to be able to open messages or join group chats correctly, although it can respond to messages received. Opening a group chat shows you alone in the room and nothing you say is actually sent, although it IS echoed in the chat window on the taskbar.

However, the package folder is also where you should have the tmp file, which makes me nervous about using this. Anyone's thoughts?