Steam Update Manager

PowerShell-based Steam library update management with a Windows taskbar tray menu, scheduled background checks, Apps & Features registration, and a clean uninstall path.

Current Shape

Steam Update Manager keeps the original CLI/update engine available, then adds a tray host for the most common controls.

• Right-click taskbar menu with app name/version at the top
• Dynamic Status: line for paused, waiting, gaming-paused, and ready states
• Manual queued-update start from the tray menu
• Run with Steam toggle from the tray menu
• Configure dialog for update conditions
• Automatic installed-game monitoring
• Settings dialog for Start with Windows, Show Taskbar Icon, diagnostic logging, and theme selection
• Logs folder access from Settings
• About dialog with version and runtime paths
• App icon for the tray, Start menu, desktop shortcut, and Apps & Features entry
• Scheduled task for background update checks when Steam is running
• Apps & Features registration for uninstall
• ProgramData-backed config/log/cache storage
• Size-controlled diagnostic logs

Requirements

• Windows 10 or later
• Windows PowerShell 5.1 or later
• Administrator privileges for installation/uninstallation
• Steam installed locally
• SteamCMD is installed for legacy CLI compatibility; the GUI uses Steam client queue scheduling for normal queued client updates.

The installer downloads SteamCMD from Valve's official SteamCMD package URL unless -SkipSteamCmdDownload is used.

Install

Run PowerShell as Administrator:

.\Install-SteamLibraryUpdater.ps1

Installed application files:

C:\Program Files\Steam-Update-Manager

Writable runtime data:

C:\ProgramData\Steam-Update-Manager

The installer:

• Copies the PowerShell module, tray host, configuration tool, and uninstaller
• Creates the ProgramData config/log/cache folders
• Grants normal users Modify access to the ProgramData folder
• Detects Steam and installed games when possible
• Installs SteamCMD by default
• Creates the SteamUpdateManager scheduled task
• Creates Start menu and desktop shortcuts that show the tray icon and open the menu
• Registers the app in Apps & Features
• Launches the tray menu unless -DoNotLaunchTray is used

Tray Menu

Right-click the taskbar icon to access:

• App header with version
• Status: line
• Run with Steam with On and Off submenu choices
• Manually Start All Queued Updates
• Configure Update Conditions
• Settings
• About
• Exit

Double-clicking the tray icon also starts a manual update check.

Configure

The Configure dialog controls update conditions:

• When available is checked by default.
• Allow updates while gaming is unchecked by default.

Settings

The tray settings dialog currently manages:

• Start with Windows
• Show Taskbar Icon
• Diagnostic logging
• Theme: Auto, Light, or Dark

When Theme is Auto, Steam Update Manager reads the current Windows app theme and resolves to Light or Dark automatically. The tray menu checks this each time it opens.

Advanced Configuration

Advanced settings live in:

C:\ProgramData\Steam-Update-Manager\Config.json

Default configuration:

{
  "AppName": "Steam Update Manager",
  "AppVersion": "2.0.1",
  "Theme": "Auto",
  "StartWithWindows": true,
  "ShowTaskbarIcon": false,
  "DiagnosticLogging": true,
  "MaxLogFileKB": 512,
  "MaxLogFiles": 8,
  "UpdateDuringGaming": false,
  "UpdateCondition": "WhenAvailable",
  "CheckIntervalMinutes": 1,
  "EnableAutoUpdate": true,
  "SteamInstallPath": "",
  "MonitoredGames": [],
  "LastCheck": null,
  "Advanced": {
    "UpdateCheckProvider": "https://api.steamcmd.net/v1/info",
    "ScheduledTaskPollMinutes": 1,
    "SteamCmdInstallPath": ""
  }
}

Settings not exposed in the tray UI are intentionally treated as advanced config.

CLI Compatibility

The existing PowerShell module functions remain available:

Import-Module "C:\Program Files\Steam-Update-Manager\SteamLibraryUpdater.psm1" -Force

Get-SteamLibraryUpdaterConfig
Set-SteamLibraryUpdaterConfig -Config $config
Find-SteamInstallPath
Get-SteamLibraryFolders
Get-InstalledSteamGames
Find-AppIdByName -GameName "Counter-Strike 2"
Add-MonitoredGame -AppId "730" -Name "Counter-Strike 2" -InstallDir "C:\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive" -ProcessName "cs2"
Remove-MonitoredGame -AppId "730"
Start-SteamLibraryUpdate
Start-SteamQueuedUpdates

The old Configure-SteamLibraryUpdater.ps1 menu remains for advanced/manual game management.

Logging

Logs are written to:

C:\ProgramData\Steam-Update-Manager\Logs

Diagnostic logging can be disabled from Settings. Errors still write to the log. Log retention is controlled by:

• MaxLogFileKB
• MaxLogFiles

Uninstall

Use Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or run PowerShell as Administrator:

C:\Program Files\Steam-Update-Manager\Uninstall-SteamLibraryUpdater.ps1

The uninstaller removes:

• Scheduled task
• Start with Windows entry
• Apps & Features registry entry
• Installed scripts
• ProgramData config/log/cache folder unless you choose to keep it

Notes

Steam Update Manager's tray workflow nudges Steam's own queued update schedule and opens the Steam Downloads view. The legacy CLI update path still uses SteamCMD and public Steam metadata endpoints. Make sure you have the legal right to update the games being managed.