Loading a Steam game opens the Steam Library and their advertising - how to stop it?

BlindZenDriver

It used to be, that when running a game bought through Steam it would load the Steam client as a small icon in the notification are. It still does so, but it also opens a Steam library window and a window showing whatever games they want to sell me.

I would rather be without the library window and I really would like to not get the advertising showed in my face, only I doesn't seem like there is an option for that in the Steam app

Any tricks?

Jazz

The ad window does pop up (usually) on a fresh boot of Steam, but once closed it stays closed until next time Steam loads up.

I usually leave the Steam client running all the time when my PC is on (thus don't see the ad wjndiw much), and launch stuff from the library rather than shortcuts elsewhere. Looking at the client on my Steam Deck in desktop mode (the only PC I have to hand right now) I don't see an option to launch Steam minimised or to the system tray, which it sounds like what you'd want. I may have missed it though.

As it stands my best suggestion would be to leave Steam running, with notifications all off if you like, and close the window so it's just sitting in the system tray. Assuming it doesn't open the client window into the library when you run something then from your (presumed) shortcuts, it should stay pretty unobtrusive. It doesn't exactly hit system resources hard after all.

Sorry if this isn't quite ideal; maybe someone can offer more.

Strikor

Steam > Settings > Interface. Down at the bottom there is "Notify me about additions or changes to my games, new releases, and upcoming releases" that you can untick.

Pretty sure that's the one because while I do get the library window with stuff I already own, it doesn't give me the marketing popups.

BlindZenDriver

Thank you, both of you.

Unfortunately not really what I was looking for. I don't think just running Steam always is a solution, as I don't game everyday just the idea seems wrong on principle. And the unticking of the "Notify me..." option not only removes the ads for games, which I want, it also removes notification regarding games I have that I want.

I guess I may have to simply accept that the Steam client is not just a game launcher, but also a vessel for ads - gaming ads, but ads non-the-less.

Irridan

I think you might be able to add a -silent modifier to the launch shortcut of the game, haven't tried it myself though.

Jazz

I always have Steam running primarily because I've always got a chat window open, so I'm very used to that.

But yeah, Steam gonna want to sell you stuff. Honestly I find its approach to ads etc a lot less intrusive than, say, Windows. And I guess there's at least some sort of option for turning it off, even if it turns off too much!

Wrizzik

I could be wrong, but I believe you still receive wishlist emails if you uncheck that box. I haven't investigated in a long time.

Caedwyr

I use Playnite to integrate all my various PC game interfaces and libraries (Steam, Epic, Humble, Blizzard, etc.). There's an option in there to close a library when the game closes. What I see happen is that I load a game via the Playnite interface, the webstore library (Steam) loads in the background, but it doesn't pop up with any advertisements, and then when I close the game, Steam will close shortly after.

BlindZenDriver

Caedwyr wrote: »

I use Playnite to integrate all my various PC game interfaces and libraries (Steam, Epic, Humble, Blizzard, etc.). There's an option in there to close a library when the game closes. What I see happen is that I load a game via the Playnite interface, the webstore library (Steam) loads in the background, but it doesn't pop up with any advertisements, and then when I close the game, Steam will close shortly after.

Interesting - I will look into Playnite. Thanks.