[SOLUTION] To Revert To Old UI :: Steam Discussions

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Wikarian99PL Jun 15, 2023 @ 12:44pm

[SOLUTION] To Revert To Old UI

Thanks to this post
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2967855237
by User
https://steamcommunity.com/id/lightwo

Im on Win7, dont know exactly how the first steps will looks on newest Windows
In short

Close completely Steam
Create Shortcut for Steam.exe
Right Click on Shortcut
Properties
Target (It should have path to original .exe file)
I have "C:\Steam\steam.exe" or Default "C:\Program Files\Steam"
Paste This in after Path from previous step (It will download old version of Steam)
-forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl http://web.archive.org/web/20230531113527if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam
Open Steam via Shortcut
Wait until it finish update and will close
Delete previously pasted code (remember to not delete path to .exe file)
Open Steam Main Folder
Default "C:\Program Files\Steam" or Your Location
In this folder create File "steam.cfg" (.cfg Needs To Be File Extension, not steam.cfg.txt)
Paste This in our "steam.cfg" File (It will prevent form Automatic Updates)
BootStrapperInhibitAll=Enable
BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=False
Open Steam, should looks normal again

I think its everything
It looks normally, dont know if every function on Steam will work
If You want to again download Newest Version, delete "steam.cfg" from Main Steam Folder

Again, Special Thanks to lightwo
Originally posted by lightwo:
Also, a note to anyone who wants to use the instructions as per the OP: if you don't use Windows, edit the URL to replace the date (after /web/, before if_) with one of these:
- Linux: 20230531115543
- macOS: 20230531120503
And also Special Thanks to Radoo, from pinned comment below for other alternative solution

Last edited by Wikarian99PL; Jun 16, 2023 @ 11:52am

The author of this topic has marked a post as the answer to their question.
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Originally posted by Pepe:

OP Alternative - Start Steam in VGUI Mode Using Initial CEF Steam Release

In June, this option was just easier, as it wasn't involving using a different client. Now... <insert HowTurntables meme>.

Note that the Friends List is not working properly. It might not work at all or it might work intermittently. Sometimes I saw it working after a retry, sometimes it didn't, after several retries. I couldn't find any reproducible steps to make it work. I've read a few people saying it's working fine, but I'm not sure if they use the old build from OP or the newer CEF build with -vgui. You could try...
- closing and opening Friends List window;
- using the retry button that appears after the error shows up;
- changing your status from the Friends List window, somehow (I couldn't make it work, I had no dropdown list available).

Originally posted by anon_amos:
I may have a fix for the friends list not working with the -vgui option. Open Friends & Chat and click Sign In. It will disappear and appear to have not connected.

Open the Friends & Chat again and you should notice that it now says 'Offline'. Click the drop down and select Online.

You should now be connected and your Friends List should appear.

Later Edit 6 (2023-09-10 UTC): Due to sheer volume of unmoderated trolling (plus being modded myself for "Disrespectful Post" while stating the obvious about the main troll here), I won't be answering any new questions on this subject. I've unsubscribed from this thread. If you have any questions, please read the whole thread, from top to bottom, maybe the question was posted and answered before.

The most common question of value that I can remember is about installing another version that the ones posted. Yes, it is possible, if you search for the specific date when that version was published on web archive.

Originally posted by Radoo:
Originally posted by Limbert:
This is great! Is it possible to revert back to before they messed up the steam controller gyro in May/June (not sure exactly which version)?
Sure, if you know when it happened...
1. Try to find a snapshot from
a) here https://web.archive.org/web/20230000000000*/media.steampowered.com
... or ...
b) here (looking for when the Windows client was backed up might reveal a better snapshot for the updates files which are under https://media.steampowered.com/client and can't be listed) https://web.archive.org/web/20230000000000*/https://media.steampowered.com/client/installer/SteamSetup.exe
2. From that snapshot URL, just copy the timestamp part
Example:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230329081100/https://media.steampowered.com/client/installer/SteamSetup.exe
... copy ...
20230329081100
3. Run the downgrade command with the changed URL, modifying the timestamp part
Example:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230616124219if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam
... changed URL ...
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230329081100if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam

Another interesting aspect of keeping the memory to its lowest is enabling Family View. One helpful user did a test on this.

Originally posted by SAUNA:
Originally posted by Radoo:
That gave me an idea. What if you run Steam using Family View, disabling access to "Steam store", "Community-generated content", "Friends, chat and groups", "My online profile, screenshots, and achievements". How much better Steam would run? Did anyone try it out?
Steam client application
Built: Jun 15 2023
Steam API: v020
Steam package versions: 1686880776

Family view OFF:
323.2 - 383.2 MB large mode, open

Family view ON:
223.1 - 259 MB small mode, minimized on task bar.

First number is just after launch, after a while it grows and seems to stop there.

My toaster specs:

Intel Core i3
4Gb RAM
Win10 32bit

(dont judge me XD)

Later Edit 5 (2023-08-02 UTC): The latest Steam release from 2023-08-01 has removed the -vgui option. This means that for this alternative method to work you will need June/July Steam version which still has the newer underlying CEF - that will allow for newer authentication method in the long run - but also has the -vgui option.

Clean Installation

Clean installation is intended for people with no Steam installed at all or people who have issues when trying to downgrade. Skip to Downgrade to Older CEF Steam Version with VGUI Option otherwise.

As most people already have Steam installed and the few links found weren't tested enough by people, the clean install steps will be deferred for now

If you need a clean installation, you could try these download links. After the initial installation, you could continue with the Downgrade steps, as the forced downgrade steps were tested.

Windows Steam Client Install Files

Both links download the same client.

https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/https://media.steampowered.com/client/installer/SteamSetup.exe

SHA256SUM: 3b616cb0beaacffb53884b5ba0453312d2577db598d2a877a3b251125fb281a1 SteamSetup.exe

https://web.archive.org/web/20230616124219if_/https://media.steampowered.com/client/installer/SteamSetup.exe

SHA256SUM: 3b616cb0beaacffb53884b5ba0453312d2577db598d2a877a3b251125fb281a1 SteamSetup.exe

There were two reports of failing to run Steam: "Steam - Critical error. Fail to load steamui.dll". This issue is fixed by "downgrading" using the Windows Downgrade Steps to Older CEF Steam Version with VGUI Option from below.

GNU/Linux Steam Client Deb Files for Debian Based Distros
(E.g. Debian, Ubuntu, Mint)

Packages differ based on the link used. First one should contain the 21 June client, second one the 16 June one.

https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/archive/precise/steam_latest.deb

SHA256SUM: 456c200c00f7cae57db06d2067fbdb1fa3727eb6744371827913c4cf82d507a0 steam_latest.deb

https://web.archive.org/web/20230618205131if_/https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/archive/precise/steam_latest.deb

SHA256SUM: 4e0a3c80bbaec9387983f025a4f4cff48dbeb46be38af33033877352f0a59bdc steam_latest.deb

* for Fedora and Arch distros, if you don't want to use the downgrade steps, the solution is to find the archived version from the distro repos - I don't think we've got any updates yet, usually packages are updated later, depending on the maintainer. Note that (at least on Fedora) some distros will not keep old package versions for long. You should save the old package locally in a safe place (not the main system partition - e.g. home dir if it's o a separate partition than root (/), a kits partition you might have, on an USB sick/drive, on a NAS).

MacOS Steam Client Install Files

Both links download the same client.

https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/https://media.steampowered.com/client/installer/steam.dmg

SHA256SUM: 5f55670c91afd3603a8a10d82a179da90744fca98f0106647891ee740ea84ba3 steam.dmg

https://web.archive.org/web/20230714110541if_/https://media.steampowered.com/client/installer/steam.dmg

SHA256SUM: 5f55670c91afd3603a8a10d82a179da90744fca98f0106647891ee740ea84ba3 steam.dmg

Downgrade to Older CEF Steam Version with VGUI Option

Windows Downgrade Steps to Older CEF Steam Version with VGUI Option
This requires Steam client to be already installed.
I need people to test this. Let me know the build date and size of download. Also let me know if the Steam pop-up message is correct for Steam Client Updates. Thanks!

# 1 - Disable auto updates # Go to your Steam installation directory (default C:\Program Files\Steam or - for 32 bit client on a 64 bit Windows - C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam) and create a file named steam.cfg with the following contents BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=disable # 2 - Downgrade client # ... for 32 bit client on 32 bit Windows # Unknown build (Windows) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be unknown KB "C:\Program Files\Steam\steam.exe" -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 2b - ALTERNATIVE SNAPSHOT LINK - ? SAME CLIENT - Downgrade client # Unknown build (Windows) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be unknown KB "C:\Program Files\Steam\steam.exe" -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230616124219if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # ... for 32 bit client on a 64 bit Windows # Unknown build (Windows) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be unknown KB "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 2b - ALTERNATIVE SNAPSHOT LINK - ? SAME CLIENT - Downgrade client # Unknown build (Windows) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be unknown KB "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230616124219if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 3 - Run steam with VGUI # ... 32 bit client on 32 bit Windows "C:\Program Files\Steam\steam.exe" -vgui # ... for 32 bit client on a 64 bit Windows "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -vgui # 4 - Check that updates are disabled # a. Go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates... # b. You should get this pop-up window: "Steam client updates have been disabled by a command line switch."

GNU/Linux Downgrade Steps to Older CEF Steam version with VGUI Option
This requires Steam client to be already installed.

# 1 - Disable auto updates printf 'BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=disable ' > ~/.local/share/Steam/steam.cfg cat ~/.local/share/Steam/steam.cfg # in case you found a solution using ~/.steam/steam, it is the same thing, ~/.steam/steam is a symlink to ~/.local/share/Steam # 2 - Downgrade client # 21 June 2023 build (GNU/Linux) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be 371,644 KB steam -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 2b - ALTERNATIVE SNAPSHOT LINK - OLDER CLIENT - Downgrade client # 16 June 2023 build (GNU/Linux) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be 371,738 KB steam -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230618205131if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 3 - Run steam with VGUI steam -vgui # 4 - Check that updates are disabled # a. Go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates... # b. You should get this pop-up window: "Steam client updates have been disabled by a command line switch."

MacOS Downgrade Steps to Older CEF Steam version with VGUI Option
This requires Steam client to be already installed.

# 1 - Disable auto updates - use Terminal printf 'BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=disable ' > ~/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/Steam.cfg cat ~/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/Steam.cfg # 2 - Downgrade client - first time, it might have cached the latest client update (it happened to me and got a 275,885 KB size), try again afterwards # 10 July 2023 build (macOS) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be 274,306 KB open -a Steam --args -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230702125953if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 2b - ALTERNATIVE SNAPSHOT LINK - SAME CLIENT - Downgrade client # 10 July 2023 build (macOS) - on Valve's GUI, download size should be 274,306 KB open -a Steam --args -forcesteamupdate -forcepackagedownload -overridepackageurl https://web.archive.org/web/20230714110541if_/media.steampowered.com/client -exitsteam # 3 - Run steam with VGUI open -a Steam --args -vgui # 4 - Check that updates are disabled # a. Go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates... # b. You should get this pop-up window: "Your Steam client is already up-to-date."

Initial Content

Here, you will find more info about Custom Skins Q&A, StartUp options and alternative ways to block the updates.

Easier Workaround for now (though it seems like Friends List is not working all the time): start Steam in VGUI mode.

GNU/Linux & Windows*

steam -vgui

macOS**

open -a steam --args -vgui

* Windows not tested tested by other users
** macOS High Sierra tested

Later Edit: Wow! Thanks for all the awards. Now I feel like I have to tell the story on how I found out about this option:
1. After updating Steam on the newest GNU/Linux PC, I was browsing the new UI drama topics, posting along like most people reading this, and then decided to upgrade my pretty old Mac as well, just to be greeted with black windows
2. Looking up for black windows, screen, something, I found this topic on Steam For Mac, all caps: BLACKSCREEN, and inside this user had come up with a workaround: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/2/6516193260165563446/#c6516193260168282748
3. From there, I've did a bit of research on what that option meant, what other options are there and testing it out on my GNU/Linux machine. References:
- VGUI https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/VGUI_Documentation
- Steam options: from this user's post https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/7/616189106612574150/#c2989789048621125077 to this list https://gist.github.com/xPaw/fe7d275d31da14d70481
- new CEF based GUI engine: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Chromium_Embedded_Framework
Probably, there were other sources I've seen while trying things out, but these are the main ones.

Thanks again for the awards! If you can, please share your love with the users referenced in the Steam Community links.

Later Edit 2: Sorry OP for the mish mash of posts in this topic between the hard solution you posted and the temporary one I wrote. In the end, both are helping someone, both are trying to tackle the same problem, and any of them can be used, for now. It just depends on how much somebody wants to go to stay away from the new UI.

Later Edit 3 (2023-06-17 UTC): Additional info coming from users posts on the topic:

Custom Skins

Originally posted by Crystal Sharrd:
Originally posted by Crystal Sharrd:
Does -vgui enable custom skins again?
To answer my own question, it does.

StartUp Options other than running from a Command Line Terminal

Windows - Application Shortcut

Originally posted by Wiawyr:
Originally posted by madelai:
Where do I put that code at? Do I include "steam" as well or just "-vgui".
For the shortcut, after the "filepath" in Target, put a space and then -vgui.

Windows - Run Steam when my computer starts

Originally posted by JermioneGranger:
I posted this in the other discussion, but I'll post it here also.

If you have Steam launch when Windows starts, you can make it start with -vgui by adding it to the Steam registry entry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

It will take effect the next time you restart Windows

GNU/Linux - Run Steam when my computer starts

Originally posted by Radoo:
On GNU/Linux...

1. when you check "Run Steam when my computer starts", Steam creates a desktop file called steam.desktop in ~/.config/autostart/. So modifying that should give you the equivalent of Windows settings;

# Force Steam VGUI on computer startup sed -r 's#^(Exec=/usr/bin/steam %U)$#\1 -vgui#' -i ~/.config/autostart/steam.desktop # Revert Steam VGUI settings on computer startup sed -r 's#^(Exec=/usr/bin/steam %U) -vgui$#\1#' -i ~/.config/autostart/steam.desktop

GNU/Linux - Change Steam to work with VGUI in any situation

Originally posted by Radoo:
On GNU/Linux...

2. if you want to make this work "globally", even when manually opening Steam, even from the terminal, instead of editing your Desktop/Launch bar shortcut, you can edit the steam file, which is actually a bash file.

# Force Steam VGUI globally sudo su -c 'sed -r '\''s#^(exec "\$LAUNCHSTEAMDIR/\$STEAMBOOTSTRAP" "\$@")$#\1 -vgui#'\'' -i /usr/bin/steam' # Revert Steam VGUI settings globally sudo su -c 'sed -r '\''s#^(exec "\$LAUNCHSTEAMDIR/\$STEAMBOOTSTRAP" "\$@") -vgui$#\1#'\'' -i /usr/bin/steam'

Later Edit 4 (2023-07-24 UTC): Just a heads up, I saw a few reports on the forums about -vgui option not working anymore in the latest Beta. Valve might be killing this alternative in the next update.

Anyone with limited resources should try to block any updates from now forward or just go with OP's solution.

Info found on how to block updates

Originally posted by Wikarian99PL:
Open Steam Main Folder
Default "C:\Program Files\Steam" or Your Location
In this folder create File "steam.cfg" (.cfg Needs To Be File Extension, not steam.cfg.txt)
Paste This in our "steam.cfg" File (It will prevent form Automatic Updates)
BootStrapperInhibitAll=Enable
BootStrapperForceSelfUpdate=False

Originally posted by _I_:
you can stop steam from updating

open folder
..\steam\package
delete the 'tmp' folder if there is one

create a file named 'tmp' with no extension

then steam cannot make the tmp folder to update its client files
done

< >

Showing 691-705 of 1,081 comments

asha* Sep 21, 2023 @ 3:41pm

Originally posted by shoe:
steam friends broke on old ui, had to update my client

try rename *package* directory

#691

Ɛ: ʎɥɔʇɐԀ Sep 21, 2023 @ 3:49pm

Originally posted by asha*:
Originally posted by shoe:
steam friends broke on old ui, had to update my client
try rename *package* directory

work- i mean don't tell valve about that...

#692

Preacher Sep 21, 2023 @ 3:53pm

Originally posted by dispenser6257,:
Originally posted by asha*:
try rename *package* directory
work- i mean don't tell valve about that...

hmm not working for me. what did you rename it?

#693

Ɛ: ʎɥɔʇɐԀ Sep 21, 2023 @ 3:55pm

Originally posted by Preacher:
Originally posted by dispenser6257,:
work- i mean don't tell valve about that...
hmm not working for me. what did you rename it?

"package1"
also, use "-nofriendsui"

#694

Preacher Sep 21, 2023 @ 3:58pm

Ah dang! Didnt work ;)

#695

asha* Sep 21, 2023 @ 3:59pm

Originally posted by Preacher:
Ah dang! Didnt work ;)

with latest clent this not work.

#696

cSg|mc-Hotsauce Sep 21, 2023 @ 4:09pm

Originally posted by Mountain Months:
friends network unreachable for me as well, not that I care. if it still works for some people I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's a regional rollout coming to you soon.

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Valve isn't looking here to see what you all are doing. They simply make old versions inoperable piecemeal throughout the months, until it all becomes nearly completely inoperable in the future.

yeah right someone found the steam://restartinuimode/vgui method and valve removed that in like a week

They posted/spammed that workaround in the beta forums, where the devs always are.

#697

[DFS] JakHamma Sep 21, 2023 @ 5:01pm

Damn it, I liked my green steam so much...

#698

flogodisten Sep 21, 2023 @ 5:34pm

Help, the old interface was working fine for me but then the friends list doesn't load

#699

🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊 Sep 21, 2023 @ 5:39pm

Originally posted by flogodisten:
Help, the old interface was working fine for me but then the friends list doesn't load

Perhaps you might want to read at least the previous 2 or 3 pages in a thread before you reply to it next time: That has already been reported. Friends list is (mostly) gone (for many people but not everyone). Sadly it seems you were one of those effected by this. There's really nothing you can do. If you want access to the friends list again you will have to run the current version of the Steam Client.

#700

NSFW Sep 21, 2023 @ 5:54pm

Time for a reverse engineering AI to do it's thing I guess.
You know how the Internet works, once you offend people with blackmail and repression like this, they will build a community and soon your technical solution will be overcome by a team of people much larger and more flexible than your own development team. When your company then starts to focus on defeating the group, they will gain new members, and gain power, find new ways that require more and mor of your funds to be invested. This war cannot be won by a company. Sad if they miss the early stage of this development, where they could still have compromised, but that is just typical for companies with broken politics, ethics and very probably broken financial structure.

#701

NSFW Sep 21, 2023 @ 6:38pm

Originally posted by Jimmy Rustles:
Microsoft laughs smugly at your naive take on overcoming such repression. One day, I hope you're right, though.

Well, Valve hasn't yet been absorbed by Microsoft, even if it seems as if Valve is already on its knees begging for it to happen.

#702

Ｌｅｅｓ_ｎｏｍａｄ Sep 21, 2023 @ 6:50pm

Goodnight guys, yesterday we had a working friends list "removed" from our lovely Steam client. My first thought was that it was because of disabled updates of Steam Client, although still at night Steam chat was working, it's very.... Very strange, by the way I contacted support and got a very funny answer related to certificates, which I was also sure of

Guys, does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this "again"?

One strange thing I will write, I noticed in the root folder of Steam, a file, with the name "update_hosts_cached.vdf" and the modification date of this file perfectly coincides with the time when my computer was turned off at night, it is not deleted, when restart Steam, it is automatically created, whether it's related to networking I don't know, just a random thought, not even a guess.

If suddenly the Steam friends chat does not work only for me, but it works through the browser, then please write about it, maybe I have glitches in my head and I'm sleeping...

Last edited by Ｌｅｅｓ_ｎｏｍａｄ; Sep 21, 2023 @ 6:55pm

#703

🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊 Sep 21, 2023 @ 7:10pm

Originally posted by Ｌｅｅｓ_ｎｏｍａｄ:
Guys, does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this "again"?

As of right now there is no fix for this.

Originally posted by Ｌｅｅｓ_ｎｏｍａｄ:
If suddenly the Steam friends chat does not work only for me, but it works through the browser, then please write about it, maybe I have glitches in my head and I'm sleeping...

It is not only you. Many people using the old steam client have already reported this. It appears that Valve/Steam purposefully disabled the Steam friends list. But some how some people have it still working for them while others do not. This part is just a suggestion here but: you might want to try skimming the past 3-4 pages of a forum thread before you reply next time.

#704

lsdninja Sep 21, 2023 @ 8:32pm

Originally posted by 🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊:
It is not only you. Many people using the old steam client have already reported this. It appears that Valve/Steam purposefully disabled the Steam friends list. But some how some people have it still working for them while others do not. This part is just a suggestion here but: you might want to try skimming the past 3-4 pages of a forum thread before you reply next time.

You're assuming there's malicious intent here when it's far more likely that Valve just isn't particularly concerned whether or not changes they make at the top break backward compatibility, nor do they have any particular reason to. Stuff breaking as time moved on was always a risk of forcefully downgrading the client.

#705

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Date Posted: Jun 15, 2023 @ 12:44pm

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