Remove steamguard on all accounts

[Ninhigan]

Hello, so recently, I've helped a friend by using my phone number to enable steamguard on a few of his accounts (I know its partially my fault).

Recently, I've just found out that if one of the account that comes from the same phone number gets VAC, the other accounts will get VAC banned too. Im starting to worry that my account could one day be potentially get VAC banned if somehow the friend messed up with one of the account. My account is nearly 10 years old and I dont want to have a bad status on it.

So how can I remove the steam guard from all accounts that is enabled steam guard that are using my mobile phone number? Now I don't have any more contact with him so I can't get information and asked him to remove steamguard. Really appreciate your help T_T

[ KARR™]

How does he even log in if you don't have any contact?

[Ninhigan]

As some reddit suggested, there is a steam desktop authenticator, I believe that's what he has been using it. That's why he doesn't need to contact me

[Tev]

Originally posted by ⎛⎝ KARR ⎠⎞:

How does he even log in if you don't have any contact?

The phone number isn't used at login. Only at restoration.

@Letion
And there's absolutely no way you can make any contact with him? Because this is something you really shouldn't have done. He can't remove your phone number from his account without the SMS code only you can receive, or without Steam Support's help (unless the authenticator / backup code -button still exists somewhere, but it doesn't when it used to.)

Have any other phone numbers you could apply to your own account? So that your numbers at least wouldn't be the same?

[Ninhigan]

Hmm, i can borrow my sibling's number. But then everytime, i have to come to him if i need something? Or i can just use his number for my activation and use my current phone for future login, etc?

[Tev]

Originally posted by Letion:

Hmm, i can borrow my sibling's number.

Not exactly what I meant, but I guess even such number would be better than a random stranger from the internet.

The phone number doesn't have to reside on the same device as the authenticator. Logins are made with the authenticator code; not the SMS code.

[Ninhigan]

ah ok, seem like the best solution so far, just sucks that the current number i've been using for ages. I wish steam support had something like removing all accounts (just like iTune have deauthorise all computers)

[Tev]

The best way would be for you to get in contact with him though.

If push comes to shove, bluff him by saying that you don't think that removal of phone numbers removes the mobile authenticator. That's how it used to be, so it should be fairly easy to back up

Nowadays removal of phone number disables the authenticator too, to decrease the amount of opt-outs due to the VAC changes, and to decrease the amount of people who can't resort to SMS recovery if they've not stored the recovery code itself.

If you're not blocked, either add him, or send him a comment through his public User Generated Content (which can be accessed even if the profile was private) by applying i.e. /screenshots/ to the URL. Blocked, not-on-friends-list, users can be contacted too without making alts, but that's a harder process.

[Ninhigan]

Appreciate for your detailed instruction. But I'm afraid that is not possible, because he was the one who told me about the VAC banned stuffs which means he knows more than me. I guess i'll use my sibling number (by switching sim to my phone) and start the steam guard again. Really do appreciate your help

[Tev]

Originally posted by Letion:

Appreciate for your detailed instruction. But I'm afraid that is not possible, because he was the one who told me about the VAC banned stuffs which means he knows more than me.

As a note, to my knowledge, the number removal removing the authenticator wasn't mentioned in the VAC -thread, so the chance exists, but I'd take it only after switching numbers.

Personally I think an attempt is better than no attempt, but I can see why you'd rather let the sleeping dogs lie.

[Tev]

Sorry for the bump, but if this is still relevant, you can now remove the phone number from other accounts remotely.

Add your phone number to your account, then immediately after go here:
https://store.steampowered.com/phone/manage

[Remove number > Remove from all accounts]

Then add your phone number back.