Not 100% sure of this method, but I couldn't find any other way:

1. Make sure you check the 'Remember Me' before logging in.
2. Back up Steam into another drive, then restore them later after you reinstall Windows. All the local config including Online state should be copied (hopefully).

I was going to recommend editing the localconfig.vdf, but you need to log in first in order for the file to appear so it won't work for this case where you never logged in.

Edit:
I just tried closing Steam whilst keeping myself online and when I opened it again, Steam didn't just automatically make me appear online, see the pic below: https://imgur.com/a/fKqeN9V

If you wanna gamble, you can skip the backup part and just YOLO

I find it funny people are always reinstalling Windows.

Originally posted by Wynters:

I find it funny people are always reinstalling Windows.

tell me, what is so funny about reinstalling Windows?

my gpu drivers are broken, i've got several more issues with my windows, it's been running since early 2021. "always" make no sense lol

Originally posted by Maria:

Not 100% sure of this method, but I couldn't find any other way:
1. Make sure you check the 'Remember Me' before logging in.
2. Back up Steam into another drive, then restore them later after you reinstall Windows. All the local config including Online state should be copied (hopefully).

I was going to recommend editing the localconfig.vdf, but you need to log in first in order for the file to appear so it won't work for this case where you never logged in.

thank you for an advice, i've never thought about these before

Originally posted by Maria:

Not 100% sure of this method, but I couldn't find any other way:

1. Make sure you check the 'Remember Me' before logging in.
2. Back up Steam into another drive, then restore them later after you reinstall Windows. All the local config including Online state should be copied (hopefully).

I was going to recommend editing the localconfig.vdf, but you need to log in first in order for the file to appear so it won't work for this case where you never logged in.

Edit:
I just tried closing Steam whilst keeping myself online and when I opened it again, Steam didn't just automatically make me appear online, see the pic below: https://imgur.com/a/fKqeN9V

If you wanna gamble, you can skip the backup part and just YOLO :SakuraiEmi_ordinary:

replying on edit:
well tbh i don't wanna do yolo because it took me a long time to build up "last online 150 days ago" XD and i wanna keep that long streak
that's why i'm asking cuz i wanna exclusively avoid getting back online after i reinstall my windows

Your status is dictated by what you set it to in your friends list.

As long as you set your status to Invisible in your friends list, your last online status should not update.

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Your status is dictated by what you set it to in your friends list.

As long as you set your status to Invisible in your friends list, your last online status should not update.

:qr:

yes, exactly, but i remember last year i've been invisible for a few weeks and then a friend of mine came over with his laptop, i decided to log into my steam account on his laptop and download csgo, but guess what happened - my status got automatically restored to "online" as soon as i had logged into my account via a new device.

perhaps it's been adjusted by now, i don't know... that's why i'm asking

Did anything ever work for you.?

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.