v2 of the script has a new home at https://github.com/AveYo/Gaming/blob/main/steam_min.bat
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March 17, 2025 17:21
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Steam minimal resource usage after removal of -no-browser & -vgui options. Enter script in powershell then use Steam_min shortcut on Desktop instead
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| @(set ^ "0=%~f0" -des ') & powershell -nop -c iex(out-string -i (gc -lit $env:0)) & exit /b ');.{ | |
| " Steam_min : always starts in SmallMode with reduced ram usage when idle - AveYo, 2025.03.10 " | |
| $QUICK = '-silent -quicklogin -vgui -oldtraymenu -nofriendsui -no-dwrite -vrdisable -forceservice -console ' + | |
| '-cef-force-browser-underlay -cef-delaypageload -cef-force-occlusion -cef-disable-gpu -cef-single-process' | |
| $STEAM = resolve-path (gp "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Valve\Steam" -ea 0).SteamPath | |
| $LASTW = 20250310 | |
| $SignIntoFriends = 0 | |
| #:: AveYo: lean and mean helper functions to process steam vdf files | |
| function vdf_read { | |
| param([string[]]$vdf, [ref]$line=([ref]0), [string]$r='\A\s*("(?<k>[^"]+)"|(?<b>[\{\}]))\s*(?<v>"(?:\\"|[^"])*")?\Z') # | |
| $obj = new-object System.Collections.Specialized.OrderedDictionary # ps 3.0: [ordered]@{} | |
| while ($line.Value -lt $vdf.count) { | |
| if ($vdf[$line.Value] -match $r) { | |
| if ($matches.k) { $key = $matches.k } | |
| if ($matches.v) { $obj.$key = $matches.v } | |
| elseif ($matches.b -eq '{') { $line.Value++; $obj.$key = vdf_read -vdf $vdf -line $line } | |
| elseif ($matches.b -eq '}') { break } | |
| } | |
| $line.Value++ | |
| } | |
| return $obj | |
| } | |
| function vdf_write { | |
| param($vdf, [ref]$indent=([ref]0)) | |
| if ($vdf -isnot [System.Collections.Specialized.OrderedDictionary]) {return} | |
| foreach ($key in $vdf.Keys) { | |
| if ($vdf[$key] -is [System.Collections.Specialized.OrderedDictionary]) { | |
| $t = "`t" * $indent.Value | |
| write-output "$t`"$key`"`n$t{`n" | |
| $indent.Value++; vdf_write -vdf $vdf[$key] -indent $indent; $indent.Value-- | |
| write-output "$t}`n" | |
| } else { | |
| $t = "`t" * $indent.Value | |
| write-output "$t`"$key`"`t`t$($vdf[$key])`n" | |
| } | |
| } | |
| } | |
| function vdf_mkdir { | |
| param($vdf, [string]$path=''); $s = $path.split('\',2); $key = $s[0]; $recurse = $s[1] | |
| if ($vdf.Keys -notcontains $key) { $vdf.$key = new-object System.Collections.Specialized.OrderedDictionary } | |
| if ($recurse) { vdf_mkdir $vdf[$key] $recurse } | |
| } | |
| function sc-nonew($fn,$txt) { | |
| if ((Get-Command set-content).Parameters['nonewline'] -ne $null) { set-content $fn $txt -nonewline -force } | |
| else { [IO.File]::WriteAllText($fn, $txt -join "`n") } # ps2.0 | |
| } | |
| #_# AveYo: change steam startup location to Library window | |
| dir "$STEAM\userdata\*\7\remote\sharedconfig.vdf" -Recurse |foreach { | |
| $file = $_; $write = $false; $vdf = vdf_read -vdf (gc $file -force) | |
| vdf_mkdir $vdf["SteamDefaultDialog"] 'Software\Valve\Steam' | |
| $key = $vdf["SteamDefaultDialog"]["Software"]["Valve"]["Steam"] | |
| if ($key["SteamDefaultDialog"] -ne '"#app_games"') { $key["SteamDefaultDialog"] = '"#app_games"'; $write = $true } | |
| if ($write) { sc-nonew $file $(vdf_write $vdf); write-output " $file " } | |
| } | |
| #_# AveYo: enable Small Mode and library performance options | |
| $opt = @{LibraryDisableCommunityContent=1;LibraryLowBandwidthMode=1;LibraryLowPerfMode=1;LibraryDisplayIconInGameList=0} | |
| dir "$STEAM\userdata\*\config\localconfig.vdf" -Recurse |foreach { | |
| $file = $_; $write = $false; $vdf = vdf_read -vdf (gc $file -force) | |
| vdf_mkdir $vdf["UserLocalConfigStore"] 'Software\Valve\Steam' | |
| $key = $vdf["UserLocalConfigStore"]["Software"]["Valve"]["Steam"] | |
| if ($key["SmallMode"] -ne '"1"') { $key["SmallMode"] = '"1"'; $write = $true } | |
| foreach ($o in $opt.Keys) { if ($vdf["UserLocalConfigStore"]["$o"] -ne "`"$($opt[$o])`"") { | |
| $vdf["UserLocalConfigStore"]["$o"] = "`"$($opt[$o])`""; $write = $true | |
| }} | |
| if ($SignIntoFriends -eq 0) { | |
| vdf_mkdir $vdf["UserLocalConfigStore"] 'friends' | |
| $key = $vdf["UserLocalConfigStore"]["friends"] | |
| if ($key["SignIntoFriends"] -ne '"0"') { $key["SignIntoFriends"] = '"0"'; $write = $true } | |
| } | |
| if ($write) { sc-nonew $file $(vdf_write $vdf); write-output " $file " } | |
| } | |
| #_# AveYo: add steam_reset.bat | |
| if (-not (test-path "$STEAM\steam_reset.bat")) { set-content "$STEAM\steam_reset.bat" @' | |
| @reg delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /v Steam /f | |
| @reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\steamwebhelper.exe" /f | |
| @start "" "%~dp0steam.exe" -silent +quit force | |
| @timeout /t 5 /nobreak | |
| @pushd "%~dp0userdata" & del /f /s /q localconfig.vdf sharedconfig.vdf | |
| @start "" "%~dp0steam.exe" -silent | |
| '@ -force | |
| } | |
| #_# AveYo: was this directly pasted into powershell? then we must save on disk | |
| if (!$env:0 -or $env:0 -ne "$STEAM\steam_min.bat" -or $LASTW -lt 20250310) { | |
| $0 = @('@(set ^ "0=%~f0" -des '') & powershell -nop -c iex(out-string -i (gc -lit $env:0)) & exit /b '');.{' + | |
| ($MyInvocation.MyCommand.Definition) + '};$_press_Enter_if_pasted_in_powershell') -split'\r?\n' | |
| set-content "$STEAM\steam_min.bat" $0 -force | |
| } | |
| #_# AveYo: refresh Steam_min desktop shortcut and startup run if enabled | |
| $short = "$([Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop'))\Steam_min.lnk" | |
| $s = (new-object -ComObject WScript.Shell).CreateShortcut($short) | |
| if (-not (test-path $short) -or $s.Arguments -notmatch 'steam_min') { | |
| $s.Description = "$STEAM\steam.exe"; $s.IconLocation = "$STEAM\steam.exe,0" | |
| $s.TargetPath = "conhost"; $s.Arguments = "--headless `"$STEAM\steam_min.bat`""; $s.Save() | |
| } | |
| $start = 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run' | |
| if (gp $start Steam -ea 0) { sp $start Steam "conhost --headless `"$STEAM\steam_min.bat`"" } | |
| #_# AveYo: start Steam with quick launch options - now under explorer parent | |
| ni "HKCU:\Software\Classes\.steam_min\shell\open\command" -force >'' | |
| sp "HKCU:\Software\Classes\.steam_min\shell\open\command" "(Default)" "`"$STEAM\steam.exe`" $QUICK" | |
| if (!(test-path "$STEAM\.steam_min")) { set-content "$STEAM\.steam_min" "" } | |
| start explorer -args "`"$STEAM\.steam_min`"" | |
| };$_press_Enter_if_pasted_in_powershell |
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| * text=auto | |
| * eol=crlf |
kinda works, there are FAR LESS webhelper processes running
he just combined all webhelper process to one ram usage is still the same ... it used to be great but after steam completely removed old ui this script is not much help
@techgamers2, it's not the same over long term usage and with large libraries, the ram clearing triggers faster and goes more aggressive
added .gitattributes because github is stupid and still forces LF line-endings for windows file extensions
@AveYo i used it, worked good. but i want to update a game and need to revert to original steam, how do i do that?
@ammarpvl29 simply run the script again and it will undo the changes
appreciate it man, thanks!
valve need to wake up, 15% of my Ryzen 5 3600 is fucking too much for a launcher that should do NOTHING idle.
@AveYo cant open steam anymore with shortcut, was working month ago. steamwebhelper, a critical Steam component, is not responding. The Steam UI will not be usable.
@tosunkaya, works just fine over here. simply run the script again, it will undo it's changes.
then can run it again to redo-it
@AveYo already did. and still not working. was working 1 month ago.
Steam Version: 1694466342
Steam Client Build Date: Tue, Sep 12 00:51 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date: Sun, Sep 10 02:01 UTC -08:00
Maybe your AV interferes with?
I dont have any av. Maybe steam changed something in newer versions.
Steam Version: 1694466342
Steam Client Build Date: Tue, Sep 12 00:51 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date: Sun, Sep 10 02:01 UTC -08:00
Same. Windows 11 22621.2338
Anyway, it's no longer very helpful in recent steam versions.
I have something much effective planned.
Cant wait to see.
I'm Interested
Steam Version: 1694466342
Steam Client Build Date: Tue, Sep 12 00:51 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date: Sun, Sep 10 02:01 UTC -08:00
Same. Windows 11 22621.2338Anyway, it's no longer very helpful in recent steam versions. I have something much effective planned.
Would you happen to know how to scrape the parameters that currently work? The latest copy of the parameters I can find is https://gist.github.com/davispuh/6600880, but Steam broke a whole lot of them in the recent updates.
@ImportTaste I use GetLaunchOptions.bat script
run it once and it will add itself to Send to right-click menu
then, right-click Steam folder, Send to, GetLaunchOptions and it will generate a subfolder _LAUNCHOPTIONS_ with all the exe's and dll's text-mined and a summary @LAUNCH_OPTIONS.ini that opens automatically in notepad
I usually just drag exe and dll of interest in a new folder and do it that way to speed things up
But specifically about Steam, there are no longer useful launch options. The (very-old) chromium behind the scenes is left unchecked and that's why it often leaks / does not release memory.
@AveYo on Sep 19
Anyway, it's no longer very helpful in recent steam versions. I have something much effective planned.
Today I learned, through unfortunate circumstances, that @AllowSkipGameUpdate was removed; so, I wanted to ask you about what you said here since I'm quite fed up with the Steam client at this point.
Made the code a little more readable and added some QoL my friends would like :P
Gonna be using this until OpenSteamClient gets remade :D
MiniSteam
check this out:
https://github.com/Aetopia/NoSteamWebHelper
it works good
after launching a game webhelper will disappear
check this out: https://github.com/Aetopia/NoSteamWebHelper it works good after launching a game webhelper will disappear
Does anyone have a solution in March of 2024? Aetopia has stopped updating NoSteamWebHelper, was working fine previously.
Oh god damnit.
@xamionex could repost the MiniSteam link?
@Rafee-M
here you go: https://xb.petar.cc/zoqo8/JAjuCoHo88.zip
This was made almost a year ago, so don't expect everything to work fully, I recommend checking out Steam-Debloat
Yeah it looks promising and I'll look into it. For now, NoSteamWebHelper has been working quite well. Thanks for the code, I'll check it out!
update: new script to always launch steam in SmallMode
- reduced ram usage when idle, it's rather lazy (after 15minutes is now 127.9MB on win11)
- like the old version it adds a
Steam_mindesktop shortcut + updates startup entry if set - using only supported steam launch options and cfg edit, no more ifeo hijacking
- should not require admin rights, but if it does not work run it once as Admin
the project I talked about that patched the steamui dynamically was more efficient but less reliable
have been using this script instead and everything works normally
I can switch back to Large Mode when needed, and when I start Steam_min next time it is back in Small Mode!
update: made it fully hybrid i.e. can enter raw code into terminal/powershell directly for installation
Shouldn't you be defining $sharedconfig = $true and $localconfig = $true within the loops so the first time it hits a file that switches it to $false it still works?
Here's what I came up with, uses -pv and gets rid of the need for StringBuilders by streaming directly to a variables and joining resulting arrays:
dir "$STEAM\userdata\*\7\remote\sharedconfig.vdf" -pv vdf |foreach {
$sharedconfig = $true; $t = gc $vdf |foreach {
if ($_ -match '\s+"SteamDefaultDialog"\s+"') {
if ($_ -match '#app_games') { $sharedconfig = $false }
"`t`t`t`t""SteamDefaultDialog""`t`t""#app_games"""
} else { if ($sharedconfig) { $_ } } }
if ($sharedconfig) { set-content $vdf ($t-join"`n") -nonew -force -ea 0; " $vdf" }
}$re = '\s+"(LibraryLowBandwidthMode|LibraryLowPerfMode|LibraryDisableCommunityContent|LibraryDisplayIconInGameList)"\s+"'
dir "$STEAM\userdata\*\config\localconfig.vdf" -pv vdf |foreach {
$localconfig = $true; $t = gc $vdf |foreach { if ($_ -notmatch $re) {
if ($_ -match '\s+"SmallMode"\s+"') {
if ($_ -match '"1"') { $localconfig = $false }
"`t`t`t`t""SmallMode""`t`t""1""`n$_"
} elseif ($localconfig -and $_ -match '\s+"LastPlayedTimesSyncTime"\s+"') {
"`t`t`t`t""SmallMode""`t`t""1""`n$_"
} elseif ($localconfig -and $_ -match '\s+"FavoriteServersLastUpdateTime"\s+"') {
"`t""LibraryDisableCommunityContent""`t`t""1""`n`t""LibraryDisplayIconInGameList""`t`t""0""`n$_"
"`t""LibraryLowBandwidthMode""`t`t""1""`n`t""LibraryLowPerfMode""`t`t""1""`n$_"
} else { if ($localconfig) { $_ } } }}
if ($localconfig) { set-content $vdf ($t-join"`n") -nonew -force -ea 0; " $vdf" }
}Also got rid of using sc for set-content since that alias is removed in PowerShell 7 due to conflicting with sc.exe
Oh, and I escaped the quotation marks by doubling them instead of doing `" since that makes it a bit more readable.
AveYo, you are a lifesaver! This goddamned web "helper" was devouring my network activity and memory, and this is the first fix that has actually worked. thank you very kindly.
@God-damnit-all thank you very much for your feedback!
I actually planned an update to the script, and made it to work in PS 7 just for you!
added a switch that makes it more readable, still using sb for compatibility with PS 2.0
and it's not like one has thousands of active accounts on a tape drive to matter ;)
@Derbear2112 glad to help!
I have updated the script, further changes will probably happen here:
https://github.com/AveYo/Gaming/blob/main/steam_min.bat
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POG, gonna test it