26/10/2023 UPDATE:

Thanks to the efforts of the user known as Crtitical, there's now a powershell script which is fighting back against the cancer that is BPM. Here's the user's post:

I ended-up here looking for a solution and didn't find an easy one, so I have made a Powershell script to remove all references to the Guide button assignment.

It backs-up your current Steam config before opening it and deleting all 'guide:xx' refences, and then saves it (overwrites current config), thus solving the guide button problem once and for all.

Full details on what it is and how it works are on Github, where the code can be seen before using - https://github.com/CriticalPoint/Automatically-Disable-Steam-Big-Picture-Mode-Guide-Button

Dropping this here in case it's helpful for someone!

Hope so! 🍻

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DISCLAIMER 1: The whole reason that I classify Big Picture as MALWARE is because there's NO WAY TO GET AROUND IT WHILE THERE SHOULD BE.

The definition of Malware is as follows:

"software which is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain authorized access to a computer system."

In this instance, Big Picture disrupts normal gameplay and normal UI without my authorization. It also constantly forces itself onto my machine without authorization as well. It will hereby be referred to as Malware until it is patched to prevent it's invasiveness and disruption of my entertainement.

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DISCLAIMER 2: This guide is NOT an official way of deleting BPM from your machine. It's a work around which is to be implemented fo so long as Valve refuses to let us opt out of the Big Picture Malware. The only reason this guide exists is because Valve has forced my hand and has continuously ignored requests from the community to opt out from Big Picture completely.

Each user has their own reasons to disable big picture. Mine is that it's performance heavy and that even if Big Picture is set to "disabled" in Valve preferences, pushing the controller "home" button will still activate it. BPM is also the default chat overlay in some games, meaning that "disable BPM" function within Steam is more or less useless.

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DISCLAIMER 3: The "you don't like it, don't use it" argument is about as obnoxious and ignorant as it can be.

You can't not use Big Picture Malware. Regardless of your options, BPM will be installed on your machine. Regardless of your options, pressing the guide button while steam is the acitve window will activate the Malware. Let alone all the bugs which make Big Picture Malware the default chat overlay for some games.

I am NOT pushing for complete eradication of BPM from ALL machines. What this guide is for is to enable an option to OPT OUT of Big Picture Malware FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT BIG PICTURE MALWARE ON THEIR MACHINE in the first place. It does NOT concern those who want the Malware. All protests from Big Picture Malware fanboys will be ignored as this here disclaimer is more than enough to answer anything they might have to say.

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UPDATE: There is an easy method to kill home button inputs, found by one of the contributors here. TRY THIS METHOD FIRST:

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

For those where BPM is an issue because it opens on Guide / Home press:
I discovered a way to have some control over the Guide button last month and have been investigating things with it.
I set the Guide Button Chord Config always-on action to Empty and it mostly worked to prevent BPM opening but there'd be issues. If using BT, on reconnect or re-opening Steam (can't remember what) it would still open BPM the first press and then it would kinda prevent it. On USB it would open BPM the first time, but thereafter as long as using the same port, it wouldn't. I think in either case spamming Guide would still open BPM.

With the current Steam clients, it seems to work much better - like the Guide Button Chord config is being applied to the controller better or earlier or something, so I decided to introduce it to you guys. I don't know how it goes on mac though.

The good things about this method is that you don't need to delete files / prevent Steam verification etc. if wanting to use/open BPM you can set a different combo on the Guide Button config to open BPM e.g. Guide + X, for the overlay set up Shift+Tab on a button.

How to:
1. Steam > Settings (Preferences on macOS) > Controller > Guide Button Chord Configuration

2. Select the Always-On action

Always-On action
Community Created Artwork for Steam Artwork
By: tintingaroo


3. Set it to Empty

Empty binding icon
Community Created Artwork for Steam Artwork
By: tintingaroo


4. Choose Done

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MY METHOD MIGHT BE DEPRECIATED. BEFORE YOU TRY TO MESS WITH PERMISSIONS, TRY THIS METHOD:

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

Quick method:
1. Right-click Steam shortcut > Properties
2. At end of Target text box press Space then type -noverifyfiles
3. Click Apply > OK
4. Rename/delete panorama folder

Originally posted by tintingaroo:

I had an old Steam client installation to test this.
It auto-updates as normal and re-installs the panorama folder. So using just -noverifyfiles means the panorama folder has to be deleted/renamed after each client update.
You could just delete the folder after each client update or have a batch file that deletes it and launches Steam with the -noverifyfiles command. You'd then use the batch file as the 'shortcut' to start Steam instead of the regular shortcut.

To create the batch file:

Right-click on the Desktop > New > Text Document
Call it something
Open the file and paste in the following:
@ECHO OFF
SET SteamDIR="XXXXX"
RMDIR /S /Q %SteamDIR%\bin\panorama
START "" %SteamDIR%\steam.exe -noverifyfiles
Overwrite XXXXX with the directory of your Steam install, resulting in, for example:
SET SteamFolder="C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam"
(Note there should be no backslash at the end)

Change the file extension from .txt to .bat

Run it to start Steam.

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GUIDE:

Let's get into it.

It is my understanding that a lot of Steam users are having issues with Big Picture Malware.
A vast majority of PC players don't use their PC in a living room. Nor do we need an UI to type with our gamepads.

While Big Picture Malware is undeniably important to a very vocal monority, it is useless and uncalled for for a vast majority of PC gamers. Why isn't there an option to completely opt out of Big Picture Malware is beyond me.

So. I've taken it upon myself to do the job of Valve developpers. To be honest, I'd rather not have to do this, but I have no choice. Apparently whoever was supposed to run BPM developement doesn't understand nor care about the pleas from the community for a way to completely opt out of this project.

Perhaps they're too busy sitting on their laurels, or they're using Big Picture Malware to aggressively push their hardware through this anti-consumer practise which forces an inferior UI onto every user in an effort to make more sales.

Without further ado, here is how you can completely and firmly kill Big Picture Malware with fire:


1. Go to your steam installation folder, then into the bin folder. ( [Your Path to Steam]\Steam\bin )

2. Inside, you will see a folder named "panorama". This is the evil folder which you need to cleanse. Go into the panorama folder and delete everything inside. Leave the folder itself standing.

3. Back out of the panorama folder. This is where it gets a bit harder. Right click the panorama folder, go into properties, then go to the security tab. This is where you can edit permissions for said folder. You should see multiple groups, such as "System", "Authenticated Users", "Adminsitrator" and so on. Click "edit". Make sure that you DENY access to EVERY group for EVERY task(Including your own username).

You have to do this because steam runs in administrator mode, so if you make the panorama folder read only, Steam can actually pretend it's an admin, remove the read-only tag and stubbornly re-install Big Picture Malware. If NOBODY has persmissions (not even you), steam can't do that anymore.

4. Once done, return to the properties of the Panorama folder and set it to read-only.

5. Now, steam can't access the big picture directory and can't re-install this malware on your machine. The big picture buttons will still be present in the UI, but when steam tries to launch Big Picture Malware from now on, it'll only pop up an error. No more lag. No more corporate decisions which the players never wanted. No more Valve telling you that they know what you want better than you. Just games.



BONUS: You can also combine this method with Guy Gizmo's method found in this thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/bigpicture/discussions/1/846939071346659003/?tscn=1447541997#c35221031602951514

In order to make Guy Gizmo's DLL non-updateable by steam, apply exactly the same method as above to the file itself (i.e. remove permissions for everyone) which, in theory, should make the file unable to be modified at all. The only difference is that you'll probably want to leave the Read/Read & Execute permissions available so that the file can be read but not modified. Once more the reason you'll want to do it is because BPM is malware and will automatically wiggle itself back onto your clean Steam installation without your permission.


UNINSTALLATION:

It's as simple as giving back the permissions to the folder/files. Because BPM is Malware, once the permissions block is lifted, it will automatically infect your Steam installation again you will be once more able to use the Malware freely.

This concludes this guide. Stay safe and kill Big Picture Malware with fire, one .dll at a time!