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Hi all, I have successfully run Steam on playonmac for quite some time now using the -no-browser argument. Steam has now removed arguments that allowed me to use it, including -no-browser, and -no react login. They pushed a stable update on everyone that loads a fancy new login UI. Through play on mac it launches only as a black box. I have looked everywhere for fixes ranging from installing an old steam client and preventing updates, to editing files to kill steamwebhelper.exe. I cannot find any arguments command lines to help, so my next best try is to write a script that kills steam web helper?  Something like this .cmd that someone has posted as a fix, but i have no idea how to make it a script for PoM.

 rename .\bin\cef\cef.win7x64\steamwebhelper.exe2 steamwebhelper.exe rename .\steamerrorreporter.exe2 steamerrorreporter.exe rename .\steamerrorreporter64.exe2 steamerrorreporter64.exe START "" /B steam.exe +open steam://open/minigameslist :search tasklist|find "steamwebhelper.exe" IF %ERRORLEVEL% == 0 GOTO :found TIMEOUT /T 10 GOTO :search :found rename .\bin\cef\cef.win7x64\steamwebhelper.exe steamwebhelper.exe2 rename .\steamerrorreporter.exe steamerrorreporter.exe2 rename .\steamerrorreporter64.exe steamerrorreporter64.exe2 taskkill /f /im steamwebhelper.exe del .\bin\cef\cef.win7x64\steamwebhelper.exe del .\steamerrorreporter.exe del .\steamerrorreporter64.exe

I am running Mac 10.13.6, with PlayonMac 4.3.3, using wine 3.17, and using Windows 8.1 as the platform. I know there are new versions, but it has worked just fine for me to play Age of Empires on Steam. Has anyone found any solution for this yet?

 

My next attempt might be to download the previous working steam client, and replace it in PlayonMac's Steam root directory. Will this work? Can I download these files on a Mac though?

 

1. unpack all archives files to "old_client" folder (use 7-zip manager, select all files and unpack with "absolute pathnames" path mode
2. then delete folders from root steam folder (only these):
bin
clientui
controller_base
friends
graphics
package
public
resource
servers
steam
steamui
tenfoot
3. copy all files from old_client folder with replace all files to root steam folder
4. create in root steam folder file steam.cfg with string (to block updates):
BootStrapperInhibitAll=enable
5. start steam as before with commands -no-browser -noreactlogin

 

It sounds like you’ve encountered a frustrating issue with Steam on PlayOnMac! Have you considered checking forums for updated scripts or community solutions? Meanwhile, if you're looking for a break from troubleshooting, try the snow rider game for a fun distraction. It’s a great way to unwind after dealing with technical challenges. Hopefully, someone will share a fix soon, so you can get back to enjoying games like Age of Empires! 

 

Edited by NadiaTrantow