Suddenly no off-line mode for Steam, please help.

npjnpj · 15 Jul 2011 at 06:42

I usually like to play my Steam games in off-line mode. Yesterday I logged in just to look at offers and catch up with stuff as I do every week or so, and when I tried to switch back to off-line, I'm not able to do so.

A window pops up saying:

"Unable to connect to the Steam network. 'Offline Mode' is unavailable because there is no Steam login information stored on this computer.
You will not be able to use Steam until you can connect to the Steam network again."

I can log in and play my games in online mode no problem, so the connection to the Steam network is there, I just can't switch back. It's always worked before. What worries me that it seems in this mode I won't be able to play any of my games if I'm not onine. Has Steam been bought by Ubisoft?

I left it overnight thinking it'll be OK when I boot my PC in the morning, but it's not.

Anyhoo, has anyone come across this and does anyone have a tip on how to set it right again?

MeMeMeMe · 15 Jul 2011 at 07:10

I haven't seen this error, but one thing that often helps with steam networking problems is:
shut down steam, go to the steam folder, delete clientregistry.blob, then restart steam. You'll need to log on, then try to go offline again.

Werewolf · 15 Jul 2011 at 07:14

A quick guess would be as well as the client registry thing, to try checking the computers date/time.
When my brothers machine had the wrong date it kept having odd problems with logging into stuff

orderoftheflame · 15 Jul 2011 at 07:25

It's working fine for me. As suggested, I'd start with blatting your clientregistry.blob file.

When you log back in, you are clicking the "remember my details" button aren't you. Iirc this is required for offline mode.

Offline mode has been flaky in the past, but it's worked fine every time I've had to use it recently. Is there a particular reason you need it all the time?

MeMeMeMe · 15 Jul 2011 at 08:11

If the main reason you like offline mode, is that you don't show up in friends lists as online, there's an alternative.

Settings --> Friends: Uncheck "automatically sign me into friends when I start steam"

Now you will appear offline to everyone, until you rightclick steam and select "online" status - and each time you start up steam, it will default to showing you as offline.

npjnpj · 15 Jul 2011 at 08:37

Cherrs Guys, deleting the clientregistry.blob did the trick. Doh, I've read this on here before, but something just didn't click. Panic, I suppose.
Anyway, the Steam client did a quick update, and now it works again. Dead chuffed.