How to host a real private match?

[Jason]

Just wondering, I have it set to private, I even set level restrictions. I don't get any randoms but my friends on steam are able to just drop into my games. Is there a way to stop this?

[Renendaru]

Press escape and click "Hide Match", no one can join now.

[MitchellW]

Hit ESC to open up the menu and click "Hide Match"

If you Hide Match while in a Private Match, people from your friends list cannot join

[Soulfrost]

Just wondering, I have it set to private, I even set level restrictions. I don't get any randoms but my friends on steam are able to just drop into my games. Is there a way to stop this?

Hit escape and set the match to hide, it will prompt them with , you have been banned from current game session.

[Jason]

I thought creating a private match, already made your game hidden? So the top right option in ESC is a private setting for steam friends only or?

Also, if I have hide match clicked on the ESC options, can I invite people in?

[ManaCorporation]

Doesn't have to be a Private Match. As long the "Hide Match" button is selected, nobody can join, randoms or friends.

[Dingle]

Private Match stops your game from showing up in the game list. Hide Match sets a flag on your game to stop anybody from joining through other methods.

If you don't care to talk to your friends, you could simply appear offline on steam instead - then nobody could even know you're playing the game (match still needs to be private to keep off the server list though)