To begin with, i need to say I am low-end PC user and a big fan of VGUI.
I came up with writing this guide, because I see how many people being disappointed (including myself) about VGUI removal. There is thousand of steam skins, which you cant use anymore since Steam moved to React-based UI.
Steam UI literally became a set of web pages. It uses Chromium-embedded framework to be rendered and it really affects performance, as it eats as much RAM as Chromium-based browser did. Furthermore, you cannot personalize it (for now).

Unfortunately, progress does not stand still. Time changes. People grow up. We need to admit we cannot return the Steam as it was in its golden ages.
Fortunately, I found a temporary solution on how you can experience Steam VGUI in 2023.

Exploring the internet, I found Steam Build from May 30th, 2023, which is the last Steam Build supporting both Old Friends UI and VGUI Main Window.



Also, I took care about potato PC users. I put a batch file called steam.bat inside archive. it can launch Steam with three different modes.

1 - Steam Normal Mode. This Steam Build as it was. Modern Steam Friends UI. VGUI Window.

2 - Steam Potato Mode. This feature will disable cef (Chromium Embedded Framework) and optimize Steam as much as it possible. No web-browser, no large library, no web components at all! Enables Old Friends UI and Small Library Mode by default. In this mode, Steam uses approximately 48 mb of RAM, and you can download games with it, chat with your friends.


3 - Potato Mode Change Account. The same as Steam Potato Mode, but with enabled cef. Use it to change your Steam account.

[i]Here is Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test launched with this client, using "Steam 2013 skin".[/i] [/previewicon]
Here is Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test launched with this client, using "Steam 2013 skin".