CHILLMODEA/Pages/Command line options (Steam)

GoldSrc ( Engine | Dedicated Server )

Source Engine ( Engine | Dedicated Server )

Source 2

Steam

edit

Todo: Add more command-line from this GitHub Gist.

These command-line parameters work when launching the Steam application.

Command-Line Parameters

Argument	Description
-applaunch <appID> [launch parameters]	Launches an Game or Application through Steam.
-cafeapplaunch	Launch apps in a cyber cafe context (Forces apps to be verified / validated before launch).
-clearbeta	Opts out of beta participation (in case for some reason it can't be done via settings).
-complete_install_via_http	Run installation completion over HTTP by default.
-console	Enables the Steam debug console tab.
-ccsyntax	Spew details about the localized strings we load.
-debug_steamapi	Enables logging of Steam API functions.
-dev	Sets the 'developer' variable to 1. Can be used to open the VGUI editor by pressing F6 or VGUI zoo by pressing F7. Intended for skin development, also enables the debug console tab.
-fs_log	Log file system accesses.
-fs_target	Set target syntax.
-fs_logbins	Log the binaries we load during operation.
-forceservice	Run Steam Client Service even if Steam has admin rights.
-gameoverlayinject	Sets the method how GameOverlay is injected.
-install <path>	Install a product from a specified path (e.g. "D:" for the DVD-ROM drive if D: is one).
-installer_test	Changes installing a retail game to emit all files to install_validate/ folder instead of to the steam cache.
-language <language>	Sets the Steam language to the one specified. (Examples: "english", "german").
-login <[username]|anonymous> [password]	Logs into Steam with the specified Username and Password combination. Note: Steam must be off for this to work.
-lognetapi	Logs all P2P networking info to log/netapi_log.txt.
-log_voice	Writes voice chat data to the logs/voice_log.txt file.
-noasync	Don't use async file operations, run them synchronous instead.
-nocache	Starts steam with no cache (Steam must be off for this to work properly).
-nofriendsui	Prevents the friends list window from showing automatically upon start.
-noverifyfiles	Prevents from the client from checking files integrity, especially useful when testing localization.
-no-dwrite	Forces vgui to use GDI text even if DWrite support is available.
-script <file name>	Runs a Steam script. All scripts must be in a subdirectory of the Steam folder called test scripts (Steam must be off for this to work).
-shutdown	Shuts down (exits) Steam.
-silent	Suppresses the dialog box that opens when you start steam. It is used when you have Steam set to auto-start when your computer turns on. (Steam must be off for this to work).
-single_core	Force Steam to run on your primary CPU only.
-tcp	Forces connection to Steam backend to be via TCP.
-voice_quality	Sets audio quality, range [1,3].
-voicerelay	Only allow 'relay' connections for voice (testing).
-tenfoot	Start Steam in Big Picture Mode.
-gamepadui	Same as -tenfoot. Note:Was used to start Big Picture in the Steam Deck UI, but this is now the default as of February 2023.

Deprecated Command-Line Parameters

• -no-browser - Disables all instances of CEF. CEF stands for Chromium Embedded Framework, which Steam uses for its built-in web browser components (including the in-game overlay browser), and also for WebViews used by the new Panorama-based friends/chat UI, and Library. Using this option will —among other things— disable the new Library UI, and restore the old friends list and chat UI. However, it won't restore the old Library UI, requiring the use of Small Mode to view the list of games.
  Note:Deprecated as of January 2023.

• -noreactlogin - Switches to the old login UI, but disables login confirmations via the mobile app and QR code logins.
  Note:Deprecated as of January 2023.

• -oldbigpicture - Restores the old Big Picture Mode UI.

• -vgui - Start Steam with VGUI as the main window renderer instead of being Chromium.
  Note:Deprecated as of January 2023.