FAQ More Info
This page expands the FAQ page with more information, to keep that short while including all necessary information. You will find the same questions here, with longer answers.
No (Assuming you download it from the official source. Being open source, anyone can edit and share modified copies). This project was created by someone who switched Steam accounts often. I run a YouTube channel among other business ventures and have 0 interest in collecting your accounts. This project is open source, and yes, open-source implies trust BUT you should not outright trust projects just because they are open source. You are more than welcome to read through the source code if you can code; otherwise, keep in mind that anyone can access the entire codebase and build from it if they don't trust my builds (including you). You don't even need to enter your password. The platform authorizes your computer on an account, and this program just swaps out the name of the account (or a token), and the platform does the rest.
This program works by swapping files, registry keys, both, or sometimes just a single word in a file. It assumes platforms like Steam will remember who you are based on the "Last logged in the username" in a file, registry key or combination of the two. It works really well for the most part! Some platforms that use login tokens require these token files to be swapped with others to "swap accounts". While these files are sometimes copied to the TcNo Account Switcher's user data folder, they are never uploaded or shared by this software and remain entirely yours. Assuming your <UserData>\LoginCache folder isn't accessed from third-party software, you are safe.
No. I've tested this myself on a Windows Sandbox (That has Edge preinstalled) by uninstalling it through the command C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\90.0.818.51\Installer>setup --uninstall --force-uninstall --system-level, then installing the 3 required runtimes, and I'm left with the following in my installed programs list (Note: This is what it looked like before):
Yes. This is a portable program (assuming the required runtimes are installed already). The files can be unzipped/installed to a USB and taken anywhere. Note that this also means you can move the files after unzipping them, although this will break shortcuts to the program (Remember to create new shortcuts after moving the program).
In TcNo Account Switcher > Settings you will find "Current user data location:". Click [Set custom user data location] to move user data from AppData to any other location. Keep in mind you need to log into accounts again on other computers, even though they may show on the list still.
If you move the program, and user data using the method above to a USB drive: Please make sure the drive letter stays the same; changes may cause issues.
This is happening because either WebView2 isn't installed, or isn't working. Fixes:
- Download and install WebView2 (Evergreen). or
- Switch to CEF (Chrome Embedded Framework), an alternate plugin to interact with the program. See How can I use CEF instead of WebView? below.
Switching is simple, and mostly automated. Open the user data folder (Default location: %AppData%\TcNo Account Switcher) , then WindowSettings.json with any text editor. Change "ActiveBrowser": "WebView", to "ActiveBrowser": "CEF",. Save, and close the file. If prompted to download CEF files on next launch, click Yes, The updater will open and roughly 60MB will be downloaded, then extracted to the install directory. Assuming it fails, launch the account switcher as Admin intead, and try again.
You know CEF is active when right-clicking in open spaces doesn't open a menu. F12 stil opens developer tools. WebView allows you to right-click and inspect element for easier development.
You can still revert back to WebView, or switch to CEF at any time from in-app (assuming you can reach it) in Settings, under (Advanced) Set rendering engine:.
Go to the user data location (Default: %AppData%\TcNo Account Switcher). Delete any files or folders you like to reset each bit of functionality. LoginCache holds saved accounts. Settings holds settings for each platform on the switcher. wwwroot holds images for saved accounts (See wwwroot\img\profiles\(platform)), as well as everything front-end for the program. Clearing this 'resets' the program's data in case something is funky. EBWebView is the WebView2 cache. Loose files are settings for Steam, BattleNet and the account switcher WindowSettings.json - This is a good file to reset to get the switcher back to default. Tray_Users.json stores accounts quick-switching via the Windows Tray. Backups, CrashLogs, IconCache, themes and the rest should all be self-explanatory.
If you used the installer, uninstall from the Settings app or the Control Panel. Then delete any remaining app files (Default install location: C:\Program Files\TcNo Account Switcher), as well as any user data files (Default location: %AppData%\TcNo Account Switcher).
There are multiple reasons for this. Steam and Battle.net are the only platforms where accounts are automatically detected. The important note and note apply to ALL PLATFORMS including Steam and Battle.net. Every other platform, including ones you add need to have the following steps done:
- Click
Add New - Sign in to an account (Some platforms need you to restart them, eg. Discord). Remember to have "Remember Password" ticked!
- Click
Save, enter a name and save. - Now repeat steps 1-3 to add another account, and switch.
-
IMPORTANT NOTE: The
Add Newbutton is your new "Sign out" or "Switch" button for platforms. As soon as you sign out using a platform, your computer is de-authenticated on that account, and you can't switch to it. Use the TcNo Account Switcher and stick to it. This program swaps the "Last logged in user" or a token, and relies on platforms to authenticate computers and ownership of accounts. - ALSO NOTE: Using VPNs or Hardware ID changers can often lead to a platform de-authenticating your computer for an account, and you need to log in again.
This can be due to many reasons. Run through these in order:
- Is the platform closing on switch? Check Task Manager when switching accounts, or close the platform entirely before switching. If it wasn't closing everything properly, or manually closing via Task Manager helps: Go to
TcNo Account Switcher > (platform) > Settingsand locate[Advanced] Set method to close (platform). Try the other options here, restarting the account switcher and attempting to swap accounts each time. REMEMBER: Click Close at the bottom to save setting changes.
Go to the user data location (Default: %AppData%\TcNo Account Switcher). Open LoginCache\(platform) and you will find folders for each account (Assuming it's not Steam or Battle.Net - These lists are managed by the platform, not the switcher). You can manually delete saved accounts here -- Note: This won't log you out, or touch your account on the platform at all, this is only the reference in the switcher.
This error occurs when the loginusers.vdf file is corrupt, or for another reason not working properly.
Check TcNo Account Switcher > Steam > Settings and see where "Current install location:" is set. If the Steam install you use is NOT located in that folder, then click Pick Steam Folder and set it to the right place.
If it is correct, you can try deleting the loginusers.vdf file and signing into accounts again to get it working again. Find it in <Program Files>\Steam\config\loginusers.vdf. Alternatively, you can try and replace the file with loginusers.vdf_last if it exists in that directory.
This file is where the TcNo Account Switcher collects all the account usernames, and SteamIDs (used to get user images, etc). When this file is deleted you will need to log in to each of your accounts again. REMEMBER to use the Add New button in the TcNo Account Switcher when doing so to keep all of your accounts authed.
The Steam account switcher is the reason this project was originally created and is by far the most reliable of all the account switchers.
There are multiple possible reasons, though the same as above applies: Do NOT use "Sign Out" or "Change Account" (as it signs you out) to swap accounts. Instead, to add a new Steam account: Click + Add New in the TcNo Account Switcher > Steam page. If you're sure you logged in with Remember Password checked on the accounts ALL your accounts (at least the ones you are trying to switch between) then what could be the issue?
Well, no tokens or anything containing a token, password or key are swapped for Steam. The validity of your login is entirely determined by Steam. If you can restart your computer and stay logged in, then likely this program will work properly. Steam is the most reliable account switcher to-date, as the project was created with only this in mind.
Why? VPNs are the most likely reason Steam asks you for your password. Any VPN usage may cause Steam to invalidate your login, and ask for a password again. Hardware spoofers, MAC address spoofers or changers and other hardware-ID related programs may cause issues with Steam's login validity as well. Normal usuage will usually not lead to these changing. Programs like CCleaner or other file removers may remove files associated with Steam's login system as well. Steam have a dedicated help article on Programs which may interfere with Steam.
That being said, there are a few steps that may help Steam remember your password better if it is struggling right now.
- In
Steam > Steam (Extreme top left) > Settings > Accountmake sure thatDon't save account credentials on this computeris UNchecked. - Try logging in without "Remember my password" checked, then sign out without doing anything else, and sign in a second time with "Remember my password" now ticked. In some cases this may help.
- You can try completely clearing saved account data in Steam. You will be logged out when this process is done, so be ready to log into your accounts again. Your games, saved progress and the rest will stay intact. We're just logging out here. You can remove files manually, or via the TcNo Account Switcher.
Manual file removal:
- Go to your Steam install folder, for example
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam. - In Windows Explorer make sure hidden files are visible. On Windows 10, click
Viewat the top and make sureHidden itemsis checked, as well asFile name extensions. - Delete any and all files that start with
ssfn. These are what store your logins for accounts, or at least important parts for it. - Then in the
<ProgramFiles>\Steam\configfolder,loginusers.vdf,loginusers.vdf.errorandloginusers.vdf_lastare files that may exist and store user login data. Delete these files as well to make sure Steam forgets who you are on this computer. - Now, we'll clear Steam's web cache by deleting all files within
%LocalAppData%\Steam. (This isC:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Steam). Automated with TcNo Account Switcher: - Head to
TcNo Account Switcher > Steam > Settings > Advanced Cleaning. - Tick the
I understandbutton, and then theKill Steam processbutton to exit Steam. - Under
General Cleaningclick%Local%\Steam\htmlcache. - Under
Clean my login historyclick..\Steam\config\loginusers.vdf, and..\Steam\ssfn*, as well as all the buttons starting withHKCU\- These are registry entries for the currently signed in account only, including "AutoLoginUser", "LastGameNameUsed", "PseudoUUID", and "RememberPassword".
- Go to your Steam install folder, for example