Appendix

Various knowledge that is relevant to using the FixedSteamFriendsUI patch.

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How to disable Steam's forced automatic updates

By default, the Steam client automatically and forcibly installs the latest version every time you launch it. You can disable this enslaving behavior and retake control of your computer by creating a special configuration file that disables the updater.

Step 1

Open a text editor, like notepad, with administrator privileges.

Step 2

In the text editor, enter the following 2 lines:

BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable
BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=disable

Step 3

Save the text document to the following path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.cfg

Do not save the text document with a different extension. The file name must be steam.cfg.

Step 4

Close the text editor, then open explorer and browse to the Steam install directory.

Step 5

Locate the steam.cfg file you just created. Right click on it and choose Properties.

Step 6

Under General > Attributes, check Read-only. Then click OK.

You are done.

Removal

To re-enable Steam's forced auto-update on launch, simply delete or rename the steam.cfg file.

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How to perform a forced in-place Steam update

If you ever need to reset the Steam client's program files to a clean state, you must perform a forced in-place update. This is the only way to install a specific version of the Steam client of your choice. Do not use the Steam installer; Valve likes taking away your freedoms and their Steam installer only installs the absolute latest Steam client, which is incompatible with the FixedSteamFriendsUI patch.

Step 1

Launch Steam and open the Steam library. In the menu bar, click on Help -> About Steam.

Step 2

Refer to the number in the Steam package versions line. This number is your installed version of the Steam client.

Step 3

Open this Steam guide in a web browser. Ctrl+F for the section titled "The Downgrade Table".

Step 4

Find the table entry whose Manifest version cell corresponds to the number you obtained in Step 2.

Step 5

Refer to the numbers in the Wayback Machine date column for that table entry. Three numbers are listed, one for each platform that Steam supports. Take note of the number for your platform.

Example:
Help -> About Steam says Steam package versions: 1685488080. Look for 1685488080 in the Downgrade Table. The Wayback Machine date number for 1685488080 on Windows is 20230531113527 (May 31 2023 client release). Use this number in the following steps.

Step 6

Open a text editor, like notepad.

Step 7

Copy & paste the command below into the text editor:

steam.exe -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl http://web.archive.org/web/ZZZif_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam

Step 8

Replace ZZZ with the Wayback Machine date number you obtained in Step 5.

Example:
Using 20230531113527 from the previous example, the edited command is:

steam.exe -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl http://web.archive.org/web/20230531113527if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam

Step 9

Exit Steam. Wait for all Steam windows to close.

Step 10

Open a command prompt right with administrator privileges.

To do this, open the start menu, search for cmd.exe, then right-click it and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 11

In the command prompt, cd to the Steam install directory.

Steam is typically installed at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam, so use this command:

cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam"

Copy it to the clipboard, then right click anywhere in the command prompt, choose Paste, and press Enter.

Step 12

Switch to the text editor. Select the entire command you created in Step 8 and copy it to the clipboard.

Step 13

Switch back to the command prompt. Right click anywhere in the command prompt, then choose Paste.

Step 14

Press Enter to launch Steam with the specified arguments.

Steam will now download & install the specific client version you selected in Steps 3-5. All of your personal data will be retained. When the update is finished, the Steam bootstrapper window will close. After that, you may now launch Steam normally.