Boost your Steam playtime (idle) without launching games
The playtime shown on your Steam profile matters: for trading cards, for some servers that require a minimum number of hours, or just for your profile. Here’s how to raise it without playing.
What is idling on Steam?
Idling a game means telling Steam you’re playing it, without actually launching it. Steam then counts that time as playtime, and games with trading cards drop them during that time.
What playtime is good for
Playtime has several practical uses:
- getting Steam trading card drops (you often need a few hours of playtime before the first one);
- reaching the minimum hours required by some community servers or groups;
- keeping your Steam profile active.
Boost your hours with SuperStreamDropper
Pick your games and the app runs them in the background, with no window and without installing them: your hours go up on your profile while you do something else, or play something else.
Your Steam login stays on your PC: unlike online boosting services, it’s never handed over to a server.
Limits to know about
Steam limits how many games can run at the same time on one account. A game being idled shows as “in-game” to your friends. And as with any automation, you remain responsible for your use with regard to Steam’s terms.
Frequently asked questions
Do the games need to be installed?
No: the game just needs to be in your library.
Can I play while my hours go up?
Yes, as long as it’s a different game from the ones being idled.
How is this different from an online boosting service?
Those services keep your Steam login on their servers. Here, everything happens on your PC.