protonscr

Steam not launching on Fedora 40

steamopen Steam clientDistro Family: Fedora
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11222 · opened 2024-09-01 by Smashcat · updated 2025-04-22 · 15 comments · github
SSmashcat 2024-09-01 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): Unknown - it updated today, but does not launch

  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Fedora 40 Workstation for x86_64 with kernel 6.10.6-200.fc40.x86_64

  • Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No

  • Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Yes
    steam-logs.tar.gz

  • Steam Logs: [generate by running this command in a terminal tar -zcvf ~/Desktop/steam-logs.tar.gz ~/.steam/steam/logs]

  • GPU: Nvidia/Intel/AMD Nvidia RTX2070 - secureboot active, so drivers modified for this.

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen. Please link any large code pastes as a Github Gist

Launching steam from the command line results in no window appearing - console output is below.

steam.sh[42512]: Running Steam on fedora 40 64-bit
steam.sh[42512]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[42585]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
/home/fyre/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/run.sh: line 85: steam-runtime-identify-library-abi: command not found
run.sh[42597]: steam-runtime-identify-library-abi --ldconfig-paths failed, falling back to ldconfig
steam.sh[42512]: Can't find 'steam-runtime-check-requirements', continuing anyway
tid(42631) burning pthread_key_t == 0 so we never use it

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Install Fedora in secure boot mode, with Nvidia drivers (they need akmods installed to rebuild the module so it can be installed whilst in secure boot mode)
  2. Checked Nvidia drivers are loaded and working
  3. Install Steam and allow it to update. Attempt to launch, and it does not.
SSmashcat 2024-09-01 github

I should add that Steam DID launch when using the Nouveu drivers (software fallback).

SSmashcat 2024-09-01 github

Wait I've just noticed it's looking for a path with Ubuntu in it on Fedora?!

Llilwat1 2024-09-01 github

I noticed this as well when launching through the taskbar. Sometimes when I'm done playing a game, I can't open my steam again AND tray icon is super laggy. I have to right click and exit steam, then wait a while for it to actually close. Trying to kill the process through the system monitor or with $ pkill steam does not work. I suspect this may be part of a larger lag problem in general, as when I'm navigating steam, sometimes it'll just freeze for 30+ seconds.
I'm on Nobara 40 which is a modified version that used Fedora Workstation packages.

SSakitoshi 2024-09-04 github

i'm on a laptop with a 940m. if you are on a laptop too or have integrated graphics enabled on your desktop, you can try this.
right click steam and launch with integrated graphics, then go into settings->interface and disable "enable gpu accelerated rendering for web views".
in my case it crashed with nouveau, but worked fine without disabling that after i installed the latest nvidia drivers (555 i think).
i think you could also create a custom desktop entry that defaults to launching with integrated graphics adding this to it.

PrefersNonDefaultGPU=false
X-KDE-RunOnDiscreteGpu=false

but i didn't try that.

SSmashcat 2024-09-04 github

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/11222#issuecomment-2327860507

I am on desktop with an Nvidia GPU. I'm sure this is related to secure boot in some way (at least in my case). I previously used Steam with Fedora with no issues when secure boot was not enabled, on the same machine.

SSakitoshi 2024-09-04 github

try launching with the -cef-disable-gpu parameter.
it's the same as settings->interface and disable "enable gpu accelerated rendering for web views".
i don't think it has any relation with secure boot as my laptop has it enabled and had to sign the driver and all that.

LLecrisUT 2024-09-05 github

switching to the proprietary nvidia drivers did resolve the issue for me, but I was hoping to see how the free drivers are performing

Mmhkdepauw 2024-09-09 github

try launching with the -cef-disable-gpu parameter. it's the same as settings->interface and disable "enable gpu accelerated rendering for web views". i don't think it has any relation with secure boot as my laptop has it enabled and had to sign the driver and all that.

This worked for me, I'm still confused as to why this even occurs, given that it only occurs when secureboot is on for me.

Xx5f3759df 2024-09-17 github

it's not fedora or steam issue, it's your drivers issue

steam client just works when installed from rpmfusion repo

try to launch something without steam - supertuxcart for example

enabling secure boot maybe broke your nvidia blob, because it is not signed and kernel can use it (in simple words)

try to verify that driver actually works

SSmashcat 2024-09-17 github

it's not fedora or steam issue, it's your drivers issue

steam client just works when installed from rpmfusion repo

try to launch something without steam - supertuxcart for example

enabling secure boot maybe broke your nvidia blob, because it is not signed and kernel can use it (in simple words)

try to verify that driver actually works

Other 3D accelerated software works fine. The window manager also makes use of the Nvidia drivers without problems. I also write software using OpenGL and that works as expected.

LLecrisUT 2024-09-17 github

So it could be a Steam issue, in that they are not supporting the free stack of the Nvidia drivers

JJoshndroid 2024-10-22 github

Fresh install of steam on a Fresh install of Fedora 40
AMD - 9900x, 7900xt, x870 board.

Installation via the store or via DNF both work as expected.

The initial section of steam loads up and it installs the environment or whatever.

I am able to login.. I then see the little steam logo in the task tray.

I then see it attempt to open steam constantly, in that it will open and crash, with no steam window actually being generated.... I have to kill it or at least exit steam via the tray icon in order for it stop trying to spawn a new steam window

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2024-10-22 github

Hello @Joshndroid, you've described the symptoms of #9383. Please check if that issue report is relevant to your system.

JJoshndroid 2024-10-23 github

Hello @Joshndroid, you've described the symptoms of #9383. Please check if that issue report is relevant to your system.

Hello @kisak-valve, I had a look and it appears you are correct. I was able to open steam by launching it from the terminal as listed in one of the comments in that issue. Weird bug. Thanks

33ab3z2 2025-04-22 github

same here on fedora kde 41, steam installed using DNF doesn't launch except from the terminal