protonscr

[BUG] Installation says is "requires superuser access to finish setup", but doesn't ask for it, then displays an error that installation "is incomplete."

steamvropen bug
ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux#750 · opened 2024-11-05 by jMyles · updated 2026-06-13 · 16 comments · github
JjMyles 2024-11-05 github

So far I've installed Steam from both Snap and Flatpak and had the same outcome:

It displays a dialog box, saying "SteamVR requires superuser access to finish setup. Proceed?" The available options are "No" and "Yes."

Clicking Yes causes the dialogue to disappear, but it does not then go through the normal flow of asking for superuser access.

Subsequently, a dialogue box ("error" severity) appears, saying: "SteamVR setup is incomplete, some features might be missing. See Steam client logs folder for details."

A cursory look through the logs doesn't show me anything that immediately stands out, but there are quite a lot of logged messages and I'm not sure what to grep for.

After the error message, SteamVR launches, but my headset (Bigscreen Beyond) is not detected.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

  1. Install SteamVR
  2. Click "Yes"
  3. See error

Expected behavior
For the installation to proceed normally.

System Information (please complete the following information):
Please use the latest Steam beta client and SteamVR beta for your bug reports!

JjMyles 2024-11-05 github

Update:

I presume that ~/snap/steam/common/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/vrsetup.sh is the shell script being run under the hood here.

If i run this command manually, it produces a dialogue with a different style (appears to be steam-styled, rather than OS default), again saying that it needs sudo to finish setup. This time, however, it does actually ask.

I give it the requested permission, and indeed the subsequent error goes away. However, it still doesn't detect my Bigscreen Beyond.

Ccaseif 2024-11-06 github

This occurs due to sandboxing in both Snap and Flatpak. The only real workaround is what you discovered - to set capabilities on the binary manually outside of the sandbox. See this issue for more info on this.

As for your headset not being detected, I would personally advise creating a separate issue since it's most likely unrelated to the setcap issue. Be sure to include your Steam/SteamVR logs as well.

MMissBC 2024-11-17 github

I had the same error behaviour and message, my headset was detected though (AMG GPU, Valve Index, Steam Client beta: yes, SteamVR beta: yes). What fixed it for me was the solution from this issue: https://github.com/flathub/com.valvesoftware.Steam/issues/1334#issuecomment-2325227332

(set SteamVR launch option to

QT_QPA_PLATFORM=xcb ~/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/vrmonitor.sh %command%

)

Ddualposition 2024-12-14 github

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux/issues/750#issuecomment-2481576222

i have the same issue, unfortunately that didnt work for me. do you have anymore potential fixes?

MMissBC 2024-12-14 github

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux/issues/750#issuecomment-2543017290

Sorry, no. I stopped looking for fixes after I found this.
Have you tried flatseal to manage permissions? I saw someone else mention it, but I didn’t try it because the launch option worked for me.

Rrlippmann 2025-02-16 github

https://github.com/alvr-org/ALVR/wiki/Installing-ALVR-and-using-SteamVR-on-Linux-through-Flatpak

it needs to sudo setcap to work (which you can do manually). But SteamVR should handle this, not require the end user to do it.

HHicks79 2025-04-05 github

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux/issues/780

I've tried the valve index after months and this is the first error I've found, it doesn't detect my glasses either.

I remember the release of HL:Alyx that I was able to play although with delay problems. Then it was all problems after a SteamVr update.

Jjcherfils 2025-09-02 github

Hi,

Got the same problem and figured that, in my case, it was related to Debian features :

https://steamcommunity.com/app/250820/discussions/5/3088898048355419672/#c3088898048357557217

Nnicklayb 2025-11-27 github

I'm running NixOS with Hyprland and in my case it had something to do with the polkit agent. However, my polkit agent usually work and even trying another one did not help. Steam is installed locally

But when @jMyles pointed to .local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/vrsetup.sh. I took a look at it and saw that the command that was failing was the pkexec setcap CAP_SYS_NICE=eip ... thing.

Running this command manually (and referring to the vrcompositor-launcher directly rather than through an env var) did summon my polkit agent, I entered my password and now SteamVR starts without any issue.

So I'm not sure what Steam cannot open the polkit agent, it seems like this was the problem on my end

JJustTemmie 2025-11-29 github

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux/issues/750#issuecomment-3583933664

i believe this is a general nix thing, happens on nix unstable with cosmic too

Ddragonfly8677 2026-01-04 github

Running this command manually (and referring to the vrcompositor-launcher directly rather than through an env var) did summon my polkit agent, I entered my password and now SteamVR starts without any issue.

Could you explain this in some more detail? What command exactly do I need to run to make this work?

DDonFlymoor 2026-02-26 github

for me, my system was missing libadwaita-1.so.0 from the libadwaita package on Arch. Installing libadwaita made the superuser prompt appear.

YYellowsam4145 2026-03-08 github

Can confirm still happening, on Fedora. No idea how to fix, installed Steam via flatpak

RRPDJF 2026-06-13 github

Same on NixOS with hyprland

JJustTemmie 2026-06-13 github

Same on NixOS with hyprland

I believe KDE is the only desktop environment which has properly implemented the DRM stuff required for VR, I managed to get steamVR working under kde a couple months ago, here's my config https://codeberg.org/Twig/NixOS-Dotfiles/src/branch/main/hosts/the-cube/system/vr.nix

RRPDJF 2026-06-13 github

after some chatgpt prompt engineering (lol), seems that my polkit agent wasn't compatible ? whatever it means

but if it can help someone:

  • configure your polkit agent, it may be sufficient
  • these lines fixed my issue (should be handled if polkit agent is working or supported)
cd ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/SteamVR/bin/linux64
sudo setcap 'cap_sys_nice=eip' vrcompositor-launcher

NixOS
Hyprland

hopefully it can help someone

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