Bypass Steam DRM — Manifest + Launcher Combo 💎

Tutorials & Methods
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Bypass Game Protection — DepotBox Launcher Method

Download via Steam manifests, launch via DepotBox to skip DRM.

:world_map: The Two-Step Bypass

Steam manifests let you download games from official servers. DepotBox launcher lets you run them without Steam’s protection checks. Together = free games that actually work.

Why this matters:
Protected games won’t run after manifest download → DepotBox removes DRM layer → game launches normally → no cracks/viruses needed

What you’re doing:
✓ Download games from Steam’s own servers (using manifests)
✓ Bypass protection with DepotBox launcher (no sketchy cracks)
✓ Launch games outside Steam = DRM skipped
✓ Works on many protected titles (GTA 5, etc.)
✓ Clean files from official source

Prerequisites

First: Download your game using Steam manifests
Full Steam Manifest Toolkit Guide

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Step 1: Get DepotBox Launcher

1. Register on DepotBox
Go to https://depotbox.org/launcher

2. Download their launcher
Sign up → download launcher app

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Example: GTA 5 Legacy version used in this guide

Step 2: Install Game via DepotBox

After game downloads from Steam:
→ Don’t touch Steam anymore
→ Don’t click anything in Steam interface

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Open DepotBox launcher:
→ Find your game in the list

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Click Install:
→ Select folder where game downloaded

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Step 3: Launch (Important)

CRITICAL: Always launch from DepotBox launcher, NEVER from Steam.

Steam = DRM triggers = won’t work
DepotBox = bypasses checks = game runs

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Manifests download it. DepotBox runs it. Steam stays closed. :fire:

10 Likes
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It’s working thanks

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@Edgar you think it would work for FC 26?

Or there is a game avalibles list?

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This is great, but it’s essentially just using automation to bypass Steam DRM.

While the open source tool for that is widely available, it still won’t run games with additional layers of protection like Ubisoft’s games or Chinese games that utilize the ACE method or any other third party DRM.

When I get some time off from work, I might try to analyze one of the protection layers to find a vulnerability. There’s one in particular that caught my eye, and if I succeed, I’ll be sure to share it with this amazing community, wish me luck!.

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the ones in the catalog work without problems, so far this is the only way to bypass authorization. if there are new ones, I will create a new theme, but for now this is the only option.

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Can someone add Power & Revolution 2023 or/and Football Manager 26

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Can I subscribe to mods from the Steam workshop like they do if you buy a game from Steam?

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Then what is the tool we should use?

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If your game doesn’t have DRM protection, then a regular manifest will be enough. If your game has protection, then use the manifest from the first topic to download the game together with this application to bypass the protection.