Question about Friend visibility in the new update

[Rahm Kota]

Hoping one of you can help me out here.

For my own reasons, I used to have the Friends list set to "Offline" by default. Since yesterday's update, that is no longer the case. I also can't seem to find the option to set the chat back to being offline by default, after having searched through General Settings, Friends Settings and Account Settings.

Anybody who can help me out here? Is the option for Offline-per-default is there? And if yes, where can I find it?

For clarity: I don't want Steam to start in Offline Mode, just the Friends list to start in Offline.

[JD777]

USe this all the time and I'm afraid to shut my steam down since I heard of this. I like logging in when it's alright for my friends to know I'm online.I did back up the old client and removed all the new files created under the PACKAGE folder but we need a way to opt out.

[Tesityr]

Same here... Where is the

"Start Friends List in OFFLINE MODE" ?

Edit:
Just while writing this, I see that there is an INVISIBLE mode in the Friends portion of the Steam Client, where you can set yourself as 'not seen' (I am assuming).
Testing this, it seems to be persistent through logout/restart of Steam, so that looks to be it now -

» Set to INVISIBLE (pull-down menu "v" next to name)
[Stays through Steam restart]


Thank You to Steam/Valve for allowing those that don't wish to be Visible [and/or those that have illnesses that prevent them from using this portion of the client well/properly/astheydesireto], to still remain "offline" to Friends - not all companies would maintain this level of user option/satisfaction. Thank You. ~T

[wuddih]

invisible = you appear as offline.

they might probably add a real offline setting in near future that allows you to be disconnected from the whole thing.
i think this is not available right now so that they can stresstest the backend for this.

[Aldmeris]

Originally posted by Tesityr:

Thank You to Steam/Valve for allowing those that don't wish to be Visible [and/or those that have illnesses that prevent them from using this portion of the client well/properly/astheydesireto], to still remain "offline" to Friends - not all companies would maintain this level of user option/satisfaction. Thank You. ~T

I don't think they maintained the same "level of user option", since there's no option to actually be offline in chat. Being invisible is not the same thing.

[Tesityr]

Originally posted by Aldmeris:

Originally posted by Tesityr:

Thank You to Steam/Valve for allowing those that don't wish to be Visible [and/or those that have illnesses that prevent them from using this portion of the client well/properly/astheydesireto], to still remain "offline" to Friends - not all companies would maintain this level of user option/satisfaction. Thank You. ~T

I don't think they maintained the same "level of user option", since there's no option to actually be offline in chat. Being invisible is not the same thing.

It actually functions the exact same way...


As far as Visibility, you still show up on the Friends List, but 'greyed out', as Offline (just as before).
As far as Messaging, your Friends can still 'leave you messages' but you do not see them until you open up the Friends portion of the Steam Client and look at them (just as before).
As far as Notifications, you can turn off all Notifications, so that no sound plays and no message is displayed, when Friends send you messages (just as before).

It functions exactly as it did before, then.
The only thing different is the terminology (Invisible versus Offline) - it actually is more apt here [most likely done for their own internal handling] as you are truly Online within the game client (playing) but not part of the Friends interactivity (Invisible and will not respond).

So, it is the same: you are 'greyed out' in the Friends List on their end and it just shows when you were "Last Online". It is functionally exactly the same.

[Potato]

The Invisible option is not the same as previous Offline staus. People can't see me but I still see what everyone playing. I still got spam by meassage like ThisDude123 start playing GTA V....etc. How can I turn off that?

[Adam Jensen 007]

Originally posted by Your Mother:

The Invisible option is not the same as previous Offline staus. People can't see me but I still see what everyone playing. I still got spam by meassage like ThisDude123 start playing GTA V....etc. How can I turn off that?

Yeah that is a huge problem even now that you are offline you get notification every second that someone is playing a game

[Tesityr]

Originally posted by Your Mother:

The Invisible option is not the same as previous Offline staus. People can't see me but I still see what everyone playing. I still got spam by meassage like ThisDude123 start playing GTA V....etc. How can I turn off that?

If I may pop back in, under the Notifications section of the Friends List Settings (click on the Gear in the Friends List window), take out all the Checkmarks and choose to silence all pop-ups/sounds/etc by selecting the "Never" button. Here is an example of what that window would look like:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1451447571
With these settings, you can stream/game uninterrupted [and not 'feel forced' to reply, or that you are ignoring Friends, and/or other personal reasons..]. Combined with setting yourself as "Invisible" (where you will appear 'greyed-out' in your Friends' Lists), it will then be set up functionally similar to the old Friends List "Offline" Mode.
HTH

[Essobie]

This is all nice and well and all, but I still would like a fully offline mode where I not only am invisible to those on my friends list, but that I won't get any notifications whatsoever while in this mode. If I'm NOT in this mode, I WANT those notifications. The only way the solution combo above this post works is if there are separate notification settings per mode, so that if I'm "online and visible" I can have beeps and boops for notifications, but when I'm "offline and invisible" I get none of those things.

[Glimmer]

If you want to be offline, you can do that. Create a shortcut for Steam and add

-nofriendsui

at the end of the Target field.

If you want Steam to start with Windows with that flag, turn off the auto-start in Steam's settings and then place that shortcut in

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

Other launch options are -nochatui and -silent. NoChatUI disables some other new features. Silent causes Steam to launch minimized to the taskbar rather than open.

[WonderGamer]

Biggest gripe I have about this new update (so far) is I can't log into Steam as Invisible (I can change it, but can't log into Steam that way). Haven't really messed with the friend list yet (other than forcing myself to invisible every time I start it back up, seeing as it's going to throw the friend list in your face anyways), might need to stop leaving Steam on nearly 24/7 like I usually do (only turning it on when I want to play a Steam game, I've been spending more time in Fortnite lately anyways; before I would only turn it off when I was playing a non-Steam game).

[Faked]

Iknow this is 3 years old but to add to it. why doesnt steam keep you as invisible if you message someone. why does it then show what your doing to that person. cant you just keep us listed as invisible?