How to Block Game Updates COMPLETELY?

[🦊 Hermit]

So recently a game which I play has released a major update that breaks a lot of content and renders the title largely unplayable. Mercifully we had advanced warning that this was coming, so I set that game to only update when I launch it in my Steam Library.

However in the past when using this method to block updates on other games, I have found that it is not always successful. Despite very clearly setting the game to 'Only Update When I Launch It' in the game's Properties, I often logged in to Steam to find that my Downloads page had still scheduled an update for the game, completely ignoring my settings.

And sure enough this is happening for me with this title too - looking at my Downloads page now, I see that Steam has lined up an update for the game which is set to be downloaded on Saturday, whether I want it or not. If I was not aware of this and do not take the step to remove it from the downloads queue, it would have gone ahead and updated the title without my permission or consent.

I have actually had to go so far as to access my game install and set the title's appmanifest file to 'read only' status, in order to ensure that no downloads/installations can happen without my permission even if I forget to remove it from the schedule.

I feel I must be missing something obvious here. The setting in the Properties section clearly states that it will not download an update until I launch the game, but this is obviously not happening, so there must be some other setting or config which I have missed that is causing this broken behaviour. May I ask for some assistance as to why this may be the case, or some pointers as to how I can fix it and ensure the game will not update without me having to set files to read only? Any aid anybody can give would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

[Nx Machina]

The downloads page is informing you there is an update and schedules a date based on when you last played it. The game will not update if "only update when i launch it" is set so the schedule is ignored.

Examples from my library:

Vermintide 2 is online only and schedules the update if i have "only update when i launch it" set and if I do not launch the game it does not update.

For other games such as Rogue Trader, a single player game the setting "only update when I launch it" works as previously described.

[Dranak]

You cant, you can do alot of hoxcus pocus, but in the end its game devs files, you have a license to play thats all so many steam user think game devs should not get rights to update,

But pc user have forget where we come from in the past box games that do not get updated.

this dont matter if this is single player games, why will a game devs accept a steam user bad mouth a game then they have already fix it, technical you have tamper with steam files and prevent a update, ( we have just not seen steam or game devs hammer steam user down someday they will do this. and that why you agree on games and steam require updates

So technicaly they have every right to terminate your game , if you think this though , we just have not seen that side of steam or games devs yet.

and as steam user here, why will a game devs accept pc user being allowed post with things they cause themself.

gl read all steam rules and game devs rules in you actual have no choise at all.
go ahead test this on a online game , you wont be alllowed to play it, technicaly they can do same on single player games. ( what is also odd how come so many steam user think its own files and they can do as they see fit. )

dont forget i play xcom in dosage and know exatly the consequence for games not patched, and alot of pc user have learn not update games is even worse.

its here we will disagree with you all the way. ( we have no choise at all )

steam and game devs has every right to remove all the option you can do to try prevent a update. ( someday they will do this, just wait and see )


modded is not game devs problem thats user content, not made by games devs, also raise a issue then you think game devs is the problem, you just told any game devs here, why enable modded content at all, see how missguide steam user is today.

steam user that think modded content have any right at all, only push game devs in why bother with user content at all.

so gl with that idea, they have copyrights, it end there.

and im actual not the problem here. you made a user modded content as a game devs issue, there is no way we can win that debat ever over game devs update or change or added dlc content that screwup your game.

[𝓷𝓷]

you cant.

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by 🦊 Hermit:

However in the past when using this method to block updates on other games, I have found that it is not always successful. Despite very clearly setting the game to 'Only Update When I Launch It' in the game's Properties, I often logged in to Steam to find that my Downloads page had still scheduled an update for the game, completely ignoring my settings.

The Only Update on Launch will override the scheduled update date. I have three games that are notorious for updates that I have set to only update on launch and occasionally when I look at the downloads page I'll see one of them move into the scheduled section. The day/time passes and just transitions back into the update on launch section.

[KAKAROTTO 孫悟空]

hmm... upgarde comp maybe

[🦊 Hermit]

Thanks very much to everyone for all your replies. I was afraid that the response would indeed be that I am not missing anything, and that it was simply a failing in Steam, but it seems like that is the case.

I will confess though, I am somewhat confused that some are saying the schedule means nothing and the 'Only Update On Launch' status will still be respected. In no way am I intending to question your experience, but I'd have to say my own personal experience has been different. There have been times in the past where I have set games to that setting, only to see a download going on a few days later, and on checking my Downloads list I find that it is that very game which is updating, contrary to my settings. And no, these were not 'always online' games or anything like that...Steam just decided to update them anyway, and I had to manually stop them before it completed. As I recall in one case I didn't spot it in time and only noticed after the update had finished and my installed version had been lost. I have no idea why there should be such a discrepancy between my experience and others.