Signed in to multiple computers problem

[Ryuukaze]

If you install Blender from Steam and have it open on 1 computer, and try to play a game on another computer, Steam will complain that you're already logged into another computer.

This is obviously stupid for something free like Blender. If the devs can fix this, they should. As it stands, I'm removing Blender from my Steam installs and installing it manually again instead.

[madpoly]

solution is not to use blender via steam.

[The Renderer]

That's how Steam works, how would the Blender devs "fix" this?
You can probably start the Steam version directly from the exe so Steam doesn't even notice it is running. Not sure, though.

[FizzyElf]

Originally posted by Ryuukaze:

If you install Blender from Steam and have it open on 1 computer, and try to play a game on another computer, Steam will complain that you're already logged into another computer.

This is obviously stupid for something free like Blender. If the devs can fix this, they should. As it stands, I'm removing Blender from my Steam installs and installing it manually again instead.

You can fix it by downloading blender through steam and then adding the blender.exe provided as a "non-steam" game, steam does not track or care about games run under this tag and will allow you to run as many simultaneously as you wish along side 1 steam game. Free, payed, subscription, doesn't matter, if the game can run on it's own without phoning to steam you can use this work around.

[FizzyElf]

Also, blender would have to buy Valve for this issue to be their problem. Right now it is Steam's problem and complaining about it to blender is like complaining to Coca Cola that your Lipton Ice tea is too sweet, it won't help your situation what so ever.

[Ryuukaze]

Thanks for bumping this, guys. I'm hoping the devs will see it and do something about it if they can. I'd hate for this to harm adoption of Blender.

[Mark3]

Just run Blender from a shortcut to the Blender executable in your steam folder. It doesn't run through steam - Blender has no need for Steam, and you can run a game elsewhere.

[Ryuukaze]

Originally posted by Mark3:

Just run Blender from a shortcut to the Blender executable in your steam folder. It doesn't run through steam - Blender has no need for Steam, and you can run a game elsewhere.

I'm pretty sure I was running it from the shortcut created by Steam on my desktop. When I did so, there was a brief window that had an "open steam" button, and then Blender launched. Perhaps that's different than creating my own shortcut, and that would indeed solve the problem if so.

At this point, I've already just installed Blender from the website instead. This post is more of a heads-up to the developers of an experience that can be improved for many users.

[FizzyElf]

Originally posted by Ryuukaze:

Originally posted by Mark3:

Just run Blender from a shortcut to the Blender executable in your steam folder. It doesn't run through steam - Blender has no need for Steam, and you can run a game elsewhere.

I'm pretty sure I was running it from the shortcut created by Steam on my desktop. When I did so, there was a brief window that had an "open steam" button, and then Blender launched. Perhaps that's different than creating my own shortcut, and that would indeed solve the problem if so.

At this point, I've already just installed Blender from the website instead. This post is more of a heads-up to the developers of an experience that can be improved for many users.

Steam short cuts use a run ID that will phone home to steam (launch it if it is not already open) and tell steam to run the overlay and start the counter for play time.

[Mark3]

Yes - that's why I said to use a shortcut to the exe not via Steam. Blender.exe is not a steam shortcut. Steam is not involved. You can DL Blender from Blender.org and compare the contents. Understand that I mean a normal Windows Shortcut. Steam is not running.

[Caty1]

dude this is a steam thing blender cant do anything about this

[FatherAlucard]

If I know I am going to be running blender on one computer and wanting to play a game on another. I just run steam in offline mode on the computer that is running Blender. Works out that way.

[FizzyElf]

Originally posted by FatherAlucard:

If I know I am going to be running blender on one computer and wanting to play a game on another. I just run steam in offline mode on the computer that is running Blender. Works out that way.

True, then you don't even have to add the blender.exe as a non-steam game with a new library entry to keep the steam overlay running.

[butcho]

Why all the hassle running Blender with Steam? Never understood why people are so hellbent using a third party platform for an app that runs perfectly fine without it.

[FizzyElf]

Originally posted by butcho:

Why all the hassle running Blender with Steam? Never understood why people are so hellbent using a third party platform for an app that runs perfectly fine without it.

It's just to have an app harbor, steam itself doesn't change blender beyond using the steam auto update feature, in fact the app itself can be ripped from the steam file folder and placed elsewhere (another drive for example) as it has nothing tethering it to steam just like the web download version. The only benefit to steam is having the app harbor with every other app you've got on steam, creating a useful library and it autoupdates while you are doing stuff on steam or with the steam app open (though that can be the largest negative for steam given that updates will break blender addons and can destroy files you are working on. but for the vast majority of people a blender update won't be much of an issue for their work.)