Steam browser protocol

There are numerous system-wide commands available that interact with Steam. All of them open up Steam if it is not open. They can either be typed into a command box (Start-> Run) or through your browser's address bar (you can normally create links to them as you would web page links). Use a Steam Application ID in place of <id> (i.e. 211 for the Source SDK).

Implemented commands

steam:"<commands>"

Opens Steam with command line arguments, which can be found here.

Note:If you forget the closing quote on a steam:"<command>", you will get an assertion failed error from Steam.exe/BootStrapperApp.cpp.

steam://AddNonSteamGame

steam://advertise/<id>

Opens up the store for an application.

steam://ackMessage/ackGuestPass/<pass>

Accepts the Gift or Guest Pass.

steam://appnews/<id>

Opens up the news page for an app.

steam://backup/<id>

Opens up the Backup Wizard and checks the specified application. If an application is not specified then nothing will be checked.

steam://browsemedia

steam://checksysreqs/<id>

Checks if users computer meets system requirements of app.

steam://connect/<IP or DNS name>[:<port>][/<password>]

Connects the user to the server specified by the IP or DNS name. You don't have to specify anything for connecting a third party mod server, it will be automaticly detected.

• Example: steam://connect/1.0.0.27:27015
• Example: steam://connect/dns.server.com

steam://defrag/<id>

Defragments files of the application.

steam://ExitSteam

Exits the Steam application.

steam://friends/

Opens Friends. These sub-commands are accepted:

add/<id>

Adds user with specified id number

friends/<id>

Shows list of users with whom you recently played

joinchat/<id>

Joins a chat with a specified id number

message/<id>

Send a message

players

Shows table of recent players you've played with

settings/hideoffline

Toggle offline friends from friends list

settings/showavatars

Toggle avatars in friends list

settings/sortbyname

Sorts friends list by name

status/away

Sets status as away

status/busy

Sets status as busy

status/offline

Sets status as offline

status/online

Sets status as online

steam://flushconfig/

Flushes and reloads the configs for each application (beta availability, etc.)

steam://guestpasses/

Opens up the Guest Passes window

steam://hardwarepromo/

Tests whether the user has hardware that matches a promotional offer.

• Example: steam://hardwarepromo/305 (ATi)
• Example: steam://hardwarepromo/609 (nVidia)

steam://install/<id>

Installs an application.

• Example: steam://install/8230 installs Sam & Max: Episode 4.

steam://installaddon/<addon>

Installs the specified add-on.

• Example: steam://installaddon/halflifehd installs HL High-Def Pack.
• Example: steam://installaddon/hl2russian installs HL2 Russian Pack.

steam://nav/<component>

Opens a Steam window, but doesn't make Steam window active.. Known <component> values:

downloads

games

games/details

games/details/<id>

games/grid

games/list

media

tools

steam://open/<component>

Opens a Steam window. Known <component> values:

activateproduct

downloads

friends

games

games/details

games/grid

games/list

largegameslist

minigameslist

main

Your "favorite window".

mymedia

news

registerproduct

CD key registration (e.g Prey)

tools

screenshots

servers

settings

steam://openurl/<url>

Opens URL in the system's default web browser.

steam://paypal/cancel

Cancels an ongoing PayPal transaction.

steam://preload/<id>

Preloads an application.

steam://publisher/<name>

Loads the specified publisher catalogue in the Store. Type the publisher's name in lowercase, e.g. activision or valve.

steam://purchase/<id>

Opens a dialog box to buy an application from Steam.

steam://purchase/subscription/<id>

Opens up a dialog box to buy a subscription to a Steam product/service. None are available yet.

steam://removeaddon/<addon>

Uninstalls the specified add-on.

• Example: steam://removeaddon/halflifehd uninstalls HL High-Def Pack

steam://run/<id>

Runs an application. It will be installed if necessary.

steam://runsafe/<id>

Resets CVARs of a Source game.

steam://rungameid/<id>

Same as run, but with support for mods and non-Steam shortcuts.

steam://settings/

Same as steam://open/settings, but also allows for subcommands for each page:

account

friends

interface

ingame

downloads

voice

steam://store/<id>

Opens up the store for an app, if no app is specified then the default one is opened.

steam://subscriptioninstall/<id1>/<id2>/...

Opens a dialog box with a checklist of the games specified allowing you to install them all at once.

steam://support/<params>

Launches the Steam Support utility, running all tests. Enter valid support string to filter results.

steam://takesurvey/<id>

Takes a survey.

• Example: steam://takesurvey/1

steam://uninstall/<id>

Deletes the specified apps' cache files.

steam://updatenews/<id>

Opens the news about the latest updates for an app.

steam://url/<named page>

Opens a special, named web pages:

ChatBanListAdmin/...

CommentNotification

CommunityHome/

CommunitySearch/

CommunityFriendsThatPlay/<id>

CommunityGroupSearch/

DownloadsSupportInfo

GroupEventsPage/<id>

GroupSteamIDPage/<id>

GroupSteamIDAdmin/<id>

LeaveGroupPage

LegalInformation

PrivacyPolicy

SSA

SteamIDAchievementsPage/<id>

SteamIDControlPage

SteamIDEditPage

SteamIDFriendsPage

SteamIDLoginPage/<pass>

Opens the internal auto-sign in page. Won't work unless the correct one-time password is included.

SteamIDPage/<id>

Store

StoreAccount

Storefront

StoreFrontPage

Opens store homepage in Steam store tab.

SupportFrontPage

Opens support.steampowered.com in your default browser

steam://validate/<id>

Validates the local files of an app.