(Solved?) Steam friends list and library not working.

[UR_XLNC]

Edit: It seems I have (temporarily) resolved the issue.

Years ago, the "Steam Client Web Helper" used to keep my computer from entering sleep mode, so I used a script to check to see if that service was running every few minutes and to kill it if it was. Eventually the service no longer affected things so I stopped using the script.

So I just now looked at what was running in Task Manager and saw about a half dozen Steam Client Web Helper services running...the script to kill them no longer worked but I terminated them manually and library, chat, and the Steam store all instantly started working again. I don't know why they were janking up the exact software that they were designed to work for, or why so many of them were running, but everything is working now; only issue is that I'll have to terminate those services whenever Steam/computer restarts but that's not too bad.

Edit: Looks like they start themselves back up pretty quickly actually...but let's see if it breaks things again or if terminating just once was enough. Will add an edit here if things break again.

Edit Edit: Still working. Now that I know the service causing the issue it was easier to find others having similar issues. One person stated that he had this issue when the Steamwebhelper.exe was located in .../program files (x86)/steam/bin/cef/cef.win7 when it SHOULD have just been in .../program files (x86)/steam/bin, and after cutting/pasting the service to the location it should be in, the issue was resolved. I'll try this next time I have to restart steam and/or my computer. For now everything is working.

Hi guys, for the longest time I've had a glitchy friends list on Steam and have just dealt with it. However, now that I'm playing more co-op games it's getting in the way and Steam support was not able to help.

The issue: After launching Steam, everything works as intended. However, after a few minutes, attempting to access my library leads to a blank screen (though is accessible via "small view" mode). Accessing my friends list or any kind of chat does nothing, and apparently I appear as offline to my friends despite being online. Sometimes the store and community pages will also go black, but this is fixed by using the previous page/next page buttons. Basically, nothing involving friends and chat works.

For context, running Windows 10 with a Radeon VII GPU. My laptop does not have this issue and also uses Windows 10, though has Intel/Nvidea CPU and GPU.

What I've tried:

1. Restarting Steam (temporary fix; only lasts a minute or two)
   
2. Restarting computer (same effect as above)
   
3. Opting in/out of Steam beta (no effect, outside of what is gained from restarting Steam)
   
4. Reinstalling Steam
   
5. In Interface settings, enabling/disabling "scale text and icons to match monitor settings", "Enable GPU accelerated rendering", and "Enable hardware video encoding" (no effect)
   
6. Clearing cache
   
7. Editing the steam.exe registry by adding -no-browser, -nochatui, and -nofriendsui (no effect).
   
8. Updating/rolling back/reinstalling GPU drivers (no effect).
   
9. Doing a Steam flush

Really at a loss at this point of how to fix this and it's a HUGE inconvenience.

[The Giving One]

UR_XLNC původně napsal:

I use CCleaner and the like, and have antivirus software. Everything on my PC is kosher. With the recent update, it's even worse. Now every few seconds it refreshes and goes to the main steam page, no matter what I'm doing.

CCleaner can be a bad one also, even though this post was made a long time ago.

One of the worst features it has is "monitoring mode". This has been seen to directly conflict with Steam and games, and CCleaner runs on boot automatically by default, but can be disabled in the startup menu for Windows.

At the very LEAST, you will want to be sure "monitoring mode" is not active in the settings for CCleaner.

EDIT...As was said by the good Reboot, if it works fine in safe mode (networking), then you have conflicting software that runs in a normal boot of Windows that is causing the issue, because that software does not run automatically in safe mode of Windows.

My bet is on CCleaner, but there may be more or others. Use msconfig in Windows, and see what is actually running when you boot up your computer.

[UR_XLNC]

ReBoot původně napsal:

If it works in safe mode, the case is clear: you got background crapware that dislikes Steam.
The most likely one is "security" software. I suggest you uninstall it, reboot and see if Steam works then.

I run my computer pretty lean. The only security software I use is Windows Defender; I built the PC myself so there's no bloatware. The only software that I have that comes close to this is CCleaner and Malwarebytes but these don't do anything in the background (the former I just use to keep my registry and temp files clean and the latter is just if I ever need to do a virus scan that Windows Defender can't handle); I don't use the pro versions of them that do ♥♥♥♥ in the background.

Given that the chat/library/friends list/store fails at unpredictable intervals it may be the case that I simply didn't wait around long enough while in safe mode.

Also, since I have a laptop that runs roughly all the same software that I have on this desktop (with the addition of some bloatware), and that laptop does NOT face this issue, I'm thinking that the issue lies in display/CPU drivers. My laptop uses Nvidia and (probably) Intel. My PC uses AMD. A Radeon VII for the GPU and a Ryzen 7 2700x for the GPU, I reckon it may be an AMD/Radeon thing.

The whole issue reeks of display driver troubles; especially now seeing as this issue (probably) doesn't exist in safe mode. Steam starts up, then there's some glitching with Steam not knowing if it's window is maximized or in the "restore down" mode (idr the proper name...basically it's the setting that's between a fully maximized window and a fully minimized one), then store/library/chat fails, with only the former being able to recover; even then, if I browse through the store long enough eventually the Steam window will go black again and can only be fixed by backing to the previous page and then forward again.

That being said, my drivers are all up to date of course, and this issue has been going on across multiple (Radeon) GPUs; so rolling back drivers isn't the solution.

[ReBoot]

Did you restart Steam after disabling GPU for Web views?

[FurBall]

try turning off steam from start up apps in windows settings then exit steam and end all process of the steam client in task manager then restart steam

[Iceira]

you do know then you use safeboot mode and it work that same as say my pc only issue.

do not have wifi use cable dont use vpn i had use vpn, restart vpn turn off vpn so it shutdown previous vpn tunnel, other say it can fix gateway that way.
i see no point with test with spare pc or friends then it work at safeboot mode.
Reboot even mention crappy addware. but you dont seem to follow up on that.

For context, running Windows 10 with a Radeon VII GPU. My laptop does not have this issue and also uses Windows 10, though has Intel/Nvidea CPU and GPU.

you alrready confirm it work on other pc, so now its your job to test for cause or wipe it all start over. even that is seen before untill user figure it out what app or things cause this.

[UR_XLNC]

The Giving One původně napsal:

UR_XLNC původně napsal:

I use CCleaner and the like, and have antivirus software. Everything on my PC is kosher. With the recent update, it's even worse. Now every few seconds it refreshes and goes to the main steam page, no matter what I'm doing.

CCleaner can be a bad one also, even though this post was made a long time ago.

One of the worst features it has is "monitoring mode". This has been seen to directly conflict with Steam and games, and CCleaner runs on boot automatically by default, but can be disabled in the startup menu for Windows.

At the very LEAST, you will want to be sure "monitoring mode" is not active in the settings for CCleaner.

EDIT...As was said by the good Reboot, if it works fine in safe mode (networking), then you have conflicting software that runs in a normal boot of Windows that is causing the issue, because that software does not run automatically in safe mode of Windows.

My bet is on CCleaner, but there may be more or others. Use msconfig in Windows, and see what is actually running when you boot up your computer.

There is no option I can see in my version of CCleaner pertaining to monitoring mode. Regardless, It is not set to start when Windows boots. The only services of note (i.e., ones not pertaining to things like Java/driver-related services and the like) that start up when Windows starts are Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, Steam, and software that came with the mouse I'm currently using (and the issue with Steam that I have started long before I had this mouse). Even still, I terminate Teams if it's a day that I'm not expecting any meetings. Literally besides that the only stuff I have running on my taskbar right now is Discord (which also doesn't launch on startup) and various printer, Control Center, and a VPN that my University uses so that I can access journals while off campus...though that also doesn't launch on startup and is almost always disconnected unless I'm actively browsing journals.

What do you think of this being a display driver issue?

[UR_XLNC]

ReBoot původně napsal:

Did you restart Steam after disabling GPU for Web views?

Yes; it's on the list of settings that I enable/disable/restart in various combinations when troubleshooting

[UR_XLNC]

FurBall původně napsal:

try turning off steam from start up apps in windows settings then exit steam and end all process of the steam client in task manager then restart steam

if this works imma be hella pissed give me a sec. Will update with an edit to this post.

Edit: Nah wasn't it

[ReBoot]

It's still some background crapware. The question is, which.
It may be a program, it maybe the network driver. Did you ever install such a driver, or have you let Windows use the default one?

[The Giving One]

Go to msconfig in Windows and select "services" in the top, and check the box "hide all Microsoft services" at the bottom and take screenshots of all that is left.

Go to Task Manager (Windows 10) or Startup (other OS) and take screenshots of all that also. Make sure to scroll down to get everything in the shots.

Post the screenshots here, using a file hosting site. Imgur is free, if you like.

If for some reason it is not in English, please set Windows to be in English for now, if you post the shots.

Maybe we can see what process may be related to the issue.

Also, I did not read the whole thread, but if you have AMD software, and you see a process there called AMD External Events Utility, that one has been seen to be an issue also. Just because you asked about the display driver.

But otherwise, you can disable third party software, reboot your PC, and test the issue again.

Process of elimination.

If it works in safe mode with networking, then something must be causing it that does not run or load in safe mode with networking. Process of elimination.

[Fishie]

Make sure your PC is connected to internet.

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/669A-2F68-D1D1-A5EC

Or

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1850323802586351649/

If your just having a issue with Steam friend list click the second link.

[UR_XLNC]

It seems I have (temporarily) resolved the issue.

Years ago, the "Steam Client Web Helper" used to keep my computer from entering sleep mode, so I used a script to check to see if that service was running every few minutes and to kill it if it was. Eventually the service no longer affected things so I stopped using the script.

So I just now looked at what was running in Task Manager and saw about a half dozen Steam Client Web Helper services running...the script to kill them no longer worked but I terminated them manually and library, chat, and the Steam store all instantly started working again. I don't know why they were janking up the exact software that they were designed to work for, or why so many of them were running, but everything is working now; only issue is that I'll have to terminate those services whenever Steam/computer restarts but that's not too bad.

Edit: Looks like they start themselves back up pretty quickly actually...but let's see if it breaks things again or if terminating just once was enough. Will add an edit here if things break again.

Edit Edit: Still working. Now that I know the service causing the issue it was easier to find others having similar issues. One person stated that he had this issue when the Steamwebhelper.exe was located in .../program files (x86)/steam/bin/cef/cef.win7 when it SHOULD have just been in .../program files (x86)/steam/bin, and after cutting/pasting the service to the location it should be in, the issue was resolved. I'll try this next time I have to restart steam and/or my computer. For now everything is working.

[Taelyth]

UR_XLNC původně napsal:

Edit Edit: Still working. Now that I know the service causing the issue it was easier to find others having similar issues. One person stated that he had this issue when the Steamwebhelper.exe was located in .../program files (x86)/steam/bin/cef/cef.win7 when it SHOULD have just been in .../program files (x86)/steam/bin, and after cutting/pasting the service to the location it should be in, the issue was resolved. I'll try this next time I have to restart steam and/or my computer. For now everything is working.

My steam had an update last week and appears that the issue was solved for me.
My steamwebhelper is still inside "/steam/bin/cef/cef.win7"

[Gonza]

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