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First off, I don't even know why this option is on by default. It makes no sense.

Anyway, I'd like my friends not to be notified when I log in, log out, and, most importantly, start playing some game.

How can I achieve this?

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    Set your status to hidden in your profile. I can't access steam right now (at work); if there hasn't been a full answer by the time I get home I'll post details.
    – Shadur-don't-feed-the-AI
    Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 11:15
  • @Shadur Make that an answer, it's good
    – Sentry
    Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 12:42
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    @Shadur huh never noticed that option before. Does it prevent you from chatting too though?
    – Zelda
    Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 13:03
  • @BenBrocka No, it's much like setting "invisible" on any IM service. You appear as "offline" to anyone on your contact list, but you can still chat with friends.
    – Yuuki
    Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 13:23
  • Of course, if both you and your friend are set to invisible, you're going to have to establish that you're actually online some other way... :)
    – Shadur-don't-feed-the-AI
    Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 13:25

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Make yourself appear offline

In Steam simply use the drop down next to your name in the friends list and select 'Offline' - this will make you appear offline to everybody on your friends list and prevent the sending of the notifications when you log in/out or start playing a game;

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Setting offline mode will prevent you from chatting with any of your friends, and them from chatting with you also. Your friends list will change to show a 'sign in' button and detail that you are currently 'offline';

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Make yourself appear offline by default

It is possible to prevent the Steam client from logging into Friends in the Steam settings by clicking on the Steam menu in the main client window, followed by settings and then unchecking 'Automatically sign into Friends when I start Steam' on the 'Friends' tab;

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More information

It's worth noting that this is not the same as putting your Steam client into 'offline mode', and still requires an active connection to the internet for Steam to work properly. You're also still able to update and download new games - the chat functionality, friends list and game notifications are the only aspects of the Steam client affected by setting your status to 'offline'.

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