Finding Your Steam Custom URL

[C-Beats]

6 hours ago, jonesey0074 said:

I keep getting an error message whenever I try to set up the url

Error: There was an error setting the custom URL
An error occurred while setting account details

any advice on fixing it?

 

Where are you seeing this error? Steam website or in LB somewhere?

[jonesey0074]

It was on steam. But fixed itself after waiting a few hours

[jlister]

I was getting the error as well after getting a new hard drive, if you have followed the guide about having your profile public, then when you set the URL make sure, if you copy and paste, you don't a / at the end, that was causing the issue for me.

[wiesshund]

Hi, has the latest steam update broken this?

My profile is fully public, you can look it up, same name as here.
URL is correct
https://steamcommunity.com/id/Wiesshund

API key is correct.

I know it has worked in the past, on this same PC, same OS install etc
but it keeps just directing me to this thread.

I can have LB sign into steam just fine.
I thought maybe an issue on this PC but i installed LB and a steam game on laptop and tried
and same issue.
 

Not end of the world, i can easily import manually and get images off steamgrid

Edit

Disregard
Apparently steam has been resetting API keys
i had to get an entirely new one created

Edited November 23, 2024 by wiesshund

[mittencamper]

Steam import worked for me once I dropped the trailing slash ' / ' in the custom url.  My issue is getting Launchbox to allow streaming the game from my gaming PC to the emulator PC instead of trying it install it.  Is that possible?

[wiesshund]

On 11/29/2024 at 9:52 AM, mittencamper said:

Steam import worked for me once I dropped the trailing slash ' / ' in the custom url.  My issue is getting Launchbox to allow streaming the game from my gaming PC to the emulator PC instead of trying it install it.  Is that possible?

I had to get new API keys, seems they cancelled many, guess for security

 

As far as streaming?
i mean i can stream anything, i can stream notepad

BUT

Steamlink only streams the EXACT thing it was asked to launch
If you stream launchbox, it likely wont stream a game you then launch from LB/BB

You can Broadcast anything, but steamlink is to play a single item, no complex stuff.
AND you can only stream FROM the Steam Client
You can NOT initiate a stream from a 3rd party app
LB/BB has no way to send the commands to the host steam app, it does not even know them
it can only ask steam to open the app locally.

Steam does not want 3rd party apps calling up the remote link procedure

[unusual]

How in the world do you get an API key?  I uploaded the image of what it shows for my account and says I don't meet the requirements for a developer API key. So I can't get past that screen in launchbox. 

[bbbzeliard]

 

Still getting this "Your Account Could Not Be Accessed" after:

-Ensuring my Steam account is public (has been for years)

-Attempting to revoke my previous API key and finding out I needed to add a phone number to my account and get Steam Guard set up

-Added a phone number and got Steam Guard set up

-Generated a new API key

-Removed the "/" from the end of my Custom URL

-Reset my internet connection just for S&G

I believe I've done everything previously mentioned to solve this issue, but still can't get my Steam Games to auto-import into Launchbox 13.18.

[bbbzeliard]

On 1/25/2025 at 1:44 PM, unusual said:

How in the world do you get an API key?  I uploaded the image of what it shows for my account and says I don't meet the requirements for a developer API key. So I can't get past that screen in launchbox. 

@unusual If you haven't already resolved this, click the hyperlink in your screenshot, "Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator", and it'll guide you through adding a phone number to your account, which then prompts you to install the Steam app on your mobile device, which they allows you to verify your account and generate an API key.

[unusual]

On 2/8/2025 at 8:21 PM, bbbzeliard said:

@unusual If you haven't already resolved this, click the hyperlink in your screenshot, "Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator", and it'll guide you through adding a phone number to your account, which then prompts you to install the Steam app on your mobile device, which they allows you to verify your account and generate an API key.

I started using Playnite and it works fine by allowing me to sign into steam as I normally do through a pop up and it authenticated just fine. maybe Launchbox should try that route.

[dukdukgoos]

On 2/11/2025 at 6:33 AM, unusual said:

I started using Playnite and it works fine by allowing me to sign into steam as I normally do through a pop up and it authenticated just fine. maybe Launchbox should try that route.

It's ridiculous the hoops we have to jump through for Launchbox Steam integration: Custom profile id, API key, Steam mobile authentication app... it's too much! Launchbox should switch to whatever Playnite, GOG, etc are using for Steam integration. Requiring the Mobile auth app is a bridge too far for me...

[C-Beats]

We utilize the method we do for two reasons. It's officially supported by Valve, and it's far more secure than an SSO session like Playnite/GOG utilizes. SSO methodologies would need to save SSO cookies locally that can be used as an attack vector into compromising your accounts, otherwise we'd need to ask for creds every time (or store the creds which again is less secure). Since last I knew both were using it to log directly into your Steam account that session token can be used to hit your account settings including payment methods and purchases. Ours cannot. That being said I know Valve is constantly improving things and they may have made a more secure way of doing this that we can look into. You can submit a ticket via the Help and Support link at the top so that the powers that be can decide how important of an issue this is to tackle for our userbase.

[wiesshund]

5 hours ago, dukdukgoos said:

It's ridiculous the hoops we have to jump through for Launchbox Steam integration: Custom profile id, API key, Steam mobile authentication app... it's too much! Launchbox should switch to whatever Playnite, GOG, etc are using for Steam integration. Requiring the Mobile auth app is a bridge too far for me...

You are literally bitching at the wrong person

If the gas man shuts off your gas, do you run outside and scream at the telephone man?

Launchbox doesn't "Just switch to whatever [insert someone else here] uses"
You use with Steam what Steam allows, and if you do not like that, then you bitch to Steam
Who will then promptly tell you to sod off

[dukdukgoos]

1 hour ago, C-Beats said:

We utilize the method we do for two reasons. It's officially supported by Valve, and it's far more secure than an SSO session like Playnite/GOG utilizes. SSO methodologies would need to save SSO cookies locally that can be used as an attack vector into compromising your accounts, otherwise we'd need to ask for creds every time (or store the creds which again is less secure). Since last I knew both were using it to log directly into your Steam account that session token can be used to hit your account settings including payment methods and purchases. Ours cannot. That being said I know Valve is constantly improving things and they may have made a more secure way of doing this that we can look into. You can submit a ticket via the Help and Support link at the top so that the powers that be can decide how important of an issue this is to tackle for our userbase.

Thanks for explaining the reasoning. Security is of course important, and I understand now why Launchbox is doing it the way they are.

However, GOG and Playnite have been using the "log in, store a local cookie" methods for years and I've yet to hear of anyone's account being hijacked because of it.

I guess most people already have Steam Mobile Authenticator and so getting the API key isn't an additional hurdle. Personally I hate those app-based 2fa methods that can lock you out unexpectedly or tie to a particular device.

Perhaps Launchbox could offer both methods? Recommend the API method for greater security but have a fallback method for those that don't want or can't use the Steam mobile authenticator app.