Working with the session
The session is the logged-in state of a Steam account.
It is stored inside the maFile and lets NebulaAuth perform actions without asking for the password again.
How it works
After login, NebulaAuth saves the mobile session of the account.
It usually stays valid for a long time, often up to several months, so you do not need to enter the password every time.
However, the session can be reset:
- when the IP address changes
- when the password changes
- for internal Steam reasons
If the session has expired
When the session can't be restored, NebulaAuth opens the Login window by itself. Enter the password to log in again.
You can also do it yourself:
- Select the account
- Click Account → Login
- Enter the password
After that, the session will be updated and saved in the maFile.
Automatic login
You can save the account password.
In that case, NebulaAuth can restore the session automatically without your involvement. Passwords are saved only while encryption is on.
More details: Saving passwords
After transfer from SDA
After importing a maFile from Steam Desktop Authenticator, all accounts will show "Session fully expired".
This is normal.
After the import, you need to log in once for each account.
"Refresh session" button
Steam uses two types of sessions:
- long-lived, main
- short-lived, working
The "Refresh session" button refreshes the short session if possible.
Tip
In newer versions of NebulaAuth, this is usually not required because the application tries to restore the session automatically.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What happens if I change the Steam password?
All active sessions will be reset.
After that, you need to log into NebulaAuth again.
What does the "Refresh session" button do?
Steam uses two types of sessions:
long-lived, main; short-lived, working
The "Refresh session" button tries to refresh the short session without re-entering the password.
Tip
In most cases, you do not need to use this button because NebulaAuth automatically tries to restore the session.
If an error occurs, it is easier to use Account → Login.