How to stop new friends list appearing at startup?

[Fandabidozi]

After updating the steam client everytime I restart my PC I have Steam set to load at startup but that annoying new friends list keeps showing up also. I have searched the settings and can't find a way to turn it off. Has anyone found a way to do this?

[Phantom]

It is not possible to stop it.

[Fandabidozi]

I didn't think so. I have no issues with the new UI, I actually like the look of it but I don't need it popping up everyting I restart my PC and Steam loads up.

[Kyguy]

yeah this is terrible, please give me an option to disable it.

[DroopingPuppy]

It is ridiculous. Why we are compelled to see it and can't do anything to stop it?

[Schnitz76]

This post needs more love. I understand they want to show off their new toy, but when I want to see my friends list I will open it myself please!

[garbagefangirl]

I was looking for a way to do the same and stumbled across this post. There needs to be an option for this.

[Joey No Arms]

Agreed.

[Dick Moustache]

Well, gj Valve! You finally made me disable Steam launch at start-up, so I guess I won't be tempted to look at the store now since I'll have to go and launch it manually now instead of just clicking the toolbar.

[Palantus]

Yes! This is really annoying. I have also (for the first time) disabled Steam from starting on boot to avoid this.

[XephyrCraft]

If there is seriously no way to disable this at startup, I agree, the update was a poor decision by Valve.

[ShoddyGuard]

if there's a will there's a way! ;)
The below will revert Steam chat to it's previous incarnation and allow it to run on startup minimized to the tray ;)
I've written this to hopefully be as easy to follow as possible so apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs.

For those of you who understand this a bit more you can just cherry pick bits of this guide to suit your needs.


---Guide Starts Here---
First thing you need to do is disable Steam from launching on startup from within Steam:
With Steam open, click the Steam menu, and choose Settings.

Click on the Interface tab, and uncheck the box that says:

"Run Steam when my computer starts."

- This is cos' we're gonna make our own startup method ;)

Next create a new shortcut to Steam on your desktop, then edit the shortcut (right click choose properties) and in the "target" text box add the following flags to the end of your shortcut:
-nochatui -nofriendsui -silent

(so my target field looks like this: C:\Install\Games\Steam\Steam.exe -nochatui -nofriendsui -silent)

If your target path has spaces in the address (eg C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe) then you will need to encapsulate it with quotations as Windows does not handle spaces in addresses (so "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -nochatui -nofriendsui -silent)

Now would be a good time to test your shortcut - close Steam if it's still running and then try out your shortcut - if it doesn't work double check everything before posting for help! :)

Next up press the Windows Key + R and to bring up the run dialog and type "shell:startup" (without quotes) hit enter and this will take you to the startup folder.
Copy and paste your shortcut here and restart your PC - your steam should be back to the way it was before Valve decided to go all Facebooky :sick:

[[VDD] luskan2]

WTF Valve why would you do this?

It is annoying and an idiotic oversight not to have a setting to turn friends off on startup.

[MartasZLA]

Same here I dont want it in startup!

[Animazombs Ash]

Ditto - this is a stupid decision... I have Steam to play games, not fanny about with 'friends' lists and whatnot. Going to have to disable Steam from start-up myself now, seems like the best suggestion of them all.

[cglatot]

Another one to give us an option to not have chat start up automatically. Super annoying. This will be the first time since I got steam that I will have to stop it from auto-starting.