If the chat window is already opened, then clicking the notification will bring back the chat window on foreground.

This also happens for me, except it's always not sometimes, and it doesn't matter if I'm in a game at the time or not.

This issue is quite annoying, people think you ignore them, but you just don't know they wrote a message.

Same issue here!

Pop!_OS 22

Steam Beta Branch:  Stable Client
Steam Version:  1721173382
Steam Client Build Date:  Wed, Jul 17 01:22 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Mon, Jun 24 21:16 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient021

Any info if it is looked at @kisak-valve ? The issue is still ongoing on Steam Beta to this day. It is very annoying I miss many messages people send me if I'm not hearing the notification when someone sends a message.

Just commenting to say this happens to me too (on Pop).

Still happening... On Pop!_OS, I think it's on other distributions too

Same issue, same amount of time. If it weren't for notifications on my phone I would miss basically all my messages. Very annoying.

Steam Beta Branch:  Steam Beta Update
Steam Version:  1733265492
Steam Client Build Date:  Tue, Dec 3 08:26 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Tue, Dec 3 08:20 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient021

Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.2.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.8.0
Qt Version: 6.8.0
Kernel Version: 6.12.1-arch1-1 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i7-4790K CPU @ 4.00GHz
Graphics Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080/PCIe/SSE2
Nvidia driver: 565.57.01

Same issue since switching to linux.

Steam Beta Branch:  Steam Beta Update
Steam Version:  1733265492
Steam Client Build Date:  Mon, Dec 2 23:26 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Mon, Dec 2 23:20 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient021

Ubuntu 24.10 (64 bit)
Kernel Name: Linux
Kernel Version: 6.11.0-9-generic
X Server Vendor: The X.Org Foundation
X Server Release: 12101013
X Window Manager: KWin
Steam Runtime Version: steam-runtime_0.20241024.105847

Also happened when using Wayland. I did however go back to X11 for other reasons.

Same issue here on mint 22. With linux gaming taking off and the steam deck being so popular, I am surprised this isn't more widely mentioned as being an issue. The notification sound and popup appears in the bottom right of my screen, but no new window opens to show me the message - and what's especially annoying is that the friends list doesn't show me I have a new message, therefore I have to manually open chats to check for new messages.

and what's especially annoying is that the friends list doesn't show me I have a new message, therefore I have to manually open chats to check for new messages.

This is definitely the worst part. Thankfully I only have one friend who messages me on Steam...

I just noticed today that while the main Steam window shows a notification that I have received a message, it doesn't tell me who it's from and it doesn't open a chat window when I click on the notification.

I have found that if I open the chat window with an extra tab (i.e. open a chat with 2 friends simultaneously), then the steam friends window notifies me of unread chats with other friends. If i close the chat window down to 1 tab then the steam friends window no longer notifies me of anything - but upon re-opening the 2nd chat tab, it will again show me missing notifications from other friends

I thought this was a deliberate workaround to solve games minimizing when you received a message.
I remember playing on Pop_OS almost 2 years ago and TF2 would minimize if someone sent me a message because of the new chat window opening.

I'm on KDE now so perhaps that isn't affected by that either way, so surely Valve can fix it properly as it is on Windows.

This is an issue about focus stealing then on Pop OS. If this is the case about this being intended in Steam, then it is dumb because if you configure properly focus stealing on the Desktop this is a non issue (on KDE for sure).

Steam does actually create the chat window, but it is never shown. Here's a workaround script: https://gist.github.com/urholaukkarinen/b94a5bcded1ad87392120ffbbc69b19b

Steam writes logs to $HOME/.local/share/Steam/logs/webhelper.txt whenever it creates a chat window. The log mentions the actual system id of the window, so you can use something like xdotool to make that window visible. That's what the script does.

Will try this out, thanks for sharing this workaround.

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10722#issuecomment-2780660911

God bless you! 💪🏻✌🏻

I switched from Kubuntu 24.10 to Debian trixie. Friend of mine apparently had no problems with chat windows on it using GNOME.

I cant say the same for myself with KDE Plasma 6.3.4. Luckily @urholaukkarinen made my life little easier so at least chats are opening now.

Steam Beta Branch:  Stable Client
Steam Version:  1743554648
Steam Client Build Date:  Wed, Apr 2 03:27 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Wed, Apr 2 03:34 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient022

Debian GNU/Linux trixie/sid (64 bit)
Kernel Name: Linux
Kernel Version: 6.12.21-amd64
X Server Vendor: The X.Org Foundation
X Server Release: 12101016
X Window Manager: KWin
Steam Runtime Version: steam-runtime_1.0.20250307.120442

Steam does actually create the chat window, but it is never shown. Here's a workaround script: https://gist.github.com/urholaukkarinen/b94a5bcded1ad87392120ffbbc69b19b

I had a quick look into possibly using this myself having just upgraded to Fedora 42 but I see I lack a $HOME/.config/systemd/user/ folder into which to put the service file, is it as simple as making the systemd and user folders or do I have to jump through hoops?

Steam does actually create the chat window, but it is never shown. Here's a workaround script: https://gist.github.com/urholaukkarinen/b94a5bcded1ad87392120ffbbc69b19b

I had a quick look into possibly using this myself having just upgraded to Fedora 42 but I see I lack a $HOME/.config/systemd/user/ folder into which to put the service file, is it as simple as making the systemd and user folders or do I have to jump through hoops?

I guess creating the folder should work: mkdir -p $HOME/.config/systemd/user/

I've updated the script with two variables:

# 1 = Bring the new chat window to front even if some window is full-screen
BRING_TO_FRONT_WHEN_FULLSCREEN=0

# Don't bring the chat window to front if one of these programs is running
PROGRAM_BLOCKLIST=("first-program" "another-program")

The new chat window will stay minimized if the first variable is 0 and you have some window in full-screen mode. Some games use a borderless window for full-screen mode, so the second variable is useful for that.

In either case, you can still see the new chat window, but it will be minimized

I might be doing it wrong but the service doesn't appear to be working for me, I played Civ 6 with a friend the other day and when I got the invite to lobby the chat window didn't open, when I run systemctl list-unit-files it doesn't show the fixsteamchat service in the list and when I attempted to start the service as a sudo command and it says "Failed to start fixsteamchat.service: Unit fixsteamchat.service not found."

Read the instructions they are pretty clear, you're doing it wrong.

I might be doing it wrong but the service doesn't appear to be working for me, I played Civ 6 with a friend the other day and when I got the invite to lobby the chat window didn't open, when I run systemctl list-unit-files it doesn't show the fixsteamchat service in the list and when I attempted to start the service as a sudo command and it says "Failed to start fixsteamchat.service: Unit fixsteamchat.service not found."

systemctl edit --user --force --full fixsteamchat.service

[Unit]
Description=Steam Chat Window Fixer
After=graphical-session.target
PartOf=graphical-session.target

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/home/alex/scripts/fixsteamchat.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=graphical-session.target

systemctl start --user fixsteamchat.service

Should work

Now it seems to work, thank you.

It would appear I spoke too soon, it worked until I rebooted and now that doesn't fix it anymore, I managed to get it to work once today and then rebooted to see if it'll work again and this boot it doesn't.

Come on, go to the link provided for the script/workaround by https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10722#issuecomment-2780660911 and follow the procedure, you're failing because you're doing it wrong, so DO IT RIGHT now so it works properly.

PS: you didn't enable the user service.

I DID follow the instructions in that comment, to the letter, that why I was so confused when it didn't work for me. It did work on the first boot I did as ztjuh instructed and then I rebooted and it again didn't work, I tried doing those steps again and it didn't work again, I rebooted and tried the steps ztjuh gave and it worked that boot for no apparent reason.

My fixsteamchat.service file, located in "/home/Ian/.config/systemd/user/", contains this:

[Unit]
Description=Steam Chat Window Fixer
After=graphical-session.target
PartOf=graphical-session.target

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/home/ian/fixsteamchat.sh
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=graphical-session.target

My fixsteamchat.sh file, in "/home/Ian/" is executable and by terminal history from when I first installed this:

  623  sudo dnf install xdotool
  624  chmod +x fixsteamchat.sh
  625  mkdir -p $HOME/.config/systemd/user/
  626  systemctl --user daemon-reload
  627  systemctl --user enable fixsteamchat
  628  systemctl --user start fixsteamchat

This, did not work for me.

From the last couple of day's testing, we have this:

  700  dnf info xdotool
  701  systemctl start --user fixsteamchat.service
  702  systemctl edit --user --force --full fixsteamchat.service
  703  systemctl start --user fixsteamchat.service
  704  systemctl edit --user --force --full fixsteamchat.service
  705  systemctl start --user fixsteamchat.service
  706  systemctl edit --user --force --full fixsteamchat.service
  707  systemctl start --user fixsteamchat.service
  708  systemctl edit --user --force --full fixsteamchat.service
  709  systemctl start --user fixsteamchat.service

I still don't understand why this works sometimes and not others.

Edit 2, I may have figured it out, I thought to check if the user name in the home directory address was case sensitive, it appears it might be and I might well have just been a blithering idiot. I will reboot in a couple of hours to test that and add edit 3 with the result.

Edit 3: It successfully creates windows now, case sensitivity was the problem, I don't know why mine isn't bringing it to the front when there is no fullscreen window but I don't need it to and with my tendency to run games windowed borderless probably for the best anyway. Sorry for my apparent stupidity.

Ho yeah, if you didn't know, LINUX IS CASE SENSITIVE :D ahaha.
Fine if it works now.

You'll learn it, it's a curve but it's pretty easy to learn!

So did we already figure on what distros/DEs/windowmanagers it works and which not?
As someone mentioned already that it seems that chat windows on Debian trixie (Wayland?) + Gnome are working? But then someone mentioned also not working on Mint, which should be Cinnamon + X11 by default.
I think we could rule out that it is only a problem of the graphics platform, as we heard it's neither working on X11 nor Wayland properly in all instances.

Also on my system (see below), I only get toaster pop-ups but when they are gone I get no reminders what so ever about any missed messages on my desktop and also no automatic chat window opening.
I do however get a "yellow" notification bell when opening the general steam UI (e.g. the Library view) which would say "missed chat message" in the top right corner. That is however easy to overlook. Also it will only open the overall "friend list" when clicking on it and not the specific chat window with the missed message. It did work with the options described below.

I did notice in steam options the settings "Friends & Chat" -> "Dock chats to the friends list" and  "Open a new window for new chats(rather than a tab)". With the first option enabled all chat windows will be appearing directly docked in tabs next to your friend list. Also here it does work that new received chats will open a new chat tab. Enabling setting 1 will basically overwrite setting 2 (so you can't have both). Enabling only setting 2 also does not work as you would expect, but it will enable you to at least have a new section called "unread messaged" at the top of your friend list and it then will open a separate chat window when clicking it. I had not seen this section before (not sure if I missed it as I usually saw the toaster pop up messages or had the chat window already open).

So enabling the docked chat should be a more viable easy workaround for some, to at least always have a new open tab next to your friend list.

However to be on par with the Windows version I'd love to have following features working:
 Precondition: Steam Friends list is closed and you receive a new chat message

1. Depending on your settings, I'd like to have the option to have a "colored"/flashing permanent notification in my system-panel/task-bar within the steam logo (which is the default in Windows)
2. This notification should show the missed chat messaged and open them either in a separate window or open the friend list with the docked messaged (depending on setting)
3. Depending on settings, each new received chat message should open either a max-/minimized new chat window in the task bar (and not throw you out of the running game of course).

Operating System: Fedora Linux 42
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1
Kernel Version: 6.15.10-200.fc42.x86_64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland

Steam Beta Branch: Stable Client
Steam Version: 1751405894
Steam API Version: SteamClient022

So did we already figure on what distros/DEs/windowmanagers it works and which not?

for sure does not work in linux mint 22.2 with cinammon 6.4.8 (x11)
for sure does not work with fedora 42 with kda plasma 6.4.5 (wayland)

on both OS's I get the notification pop up, but no new window
on both OS's I can only see "missed messages" by opening the friends window and observing the number next to the name

on fedora, however, when steam is restarted it opens chat windows where messages were missed, which is better than nothing

Any news on this? It's the kind of thing you'd expect to work without doing workarounds, although I'm happy someone found one for showing the window.

Reporting: still doesn't work.

This is still an issue. @kisak-valve any idea if this is being looked at?

Please someone fix the message pop up. I already missed so many game invitations because of this ;_;

You can go to the link provided for the script/workaround by https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10722#issuecomment-2780660911 and follow the procedure.