protonscr

Cannot open steam window if window is closed and running on the tray bar

steamopen Distro Family: ArchWeb Component
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11423 · opened 2024-11-04 by alosarjos · updated 2025-08-12 · 16 comments · github
Aalosarjos 2024-11-04 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): (Can't open the client, can't check)
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: AMD

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

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Doesn't happen always but it's with the window closed and trying to open again while still running on the background

Logs:

nov 04 18:02:55 artorias steamwebhelper[8556]: steamwebhelper.sh[8545]: Using supervisor /home/alosarjos/.steam/root/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/amd64/usr/bin/steam-runtime-supervisor
nov 04 18:02:55 artorias steamwebhelper[8556]: steamwebhelper.sh[8545]: Starting steamwebhelper under bootstrap sniper steam runtime via /home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steam-runtime-sniper.sh
nov 04 18:02:55 artorias steamwebhelper[8556]: steamwebhelper.sh[8545]: Using CEF sandbox \(try with -no-cef-sandbox if this fails\)
nov 04 18:02:55 artorias steamwebhelper[8556]: steamwebhelper.sh[8545]: Starting steamwebhelper with Sniper steam runtime at /home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steam-runtime-sniper/_v2-entry-point
nov 04 18:02:56 artorias steamwebhelper[8556]: exec ./steamwebhelper -lang=es_ES -cachedir=/home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/config/htmlcache -steampid=3340 -buildid=1730416762 -steamid=76561198402716199 -logdir=/home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=8 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/clientui -steampath=/home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 -no-restart-on-ui-mode-change --valve-initial-threadpool-size=4 --valve-enable-site-isolation --enable-smooth-scrolling --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/alosarjos/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --enable-features=PlatformHEVCDecoderSupport --disable-features=SpareRendererForSitePerProcess,DcheckIsFatal,ValveFFmpegAllowLowDelayHEVC
nov 04 18:02:57 artorias steam[3316]: BuildCompleteAppOverviewChange: 1135 apps
nov 04 18:02:57 artorias systemd-coredump[8809]: Process 8659 (steamwebhelper) of user 1000 terminated abnormally with signal 11/SEGV, processing...
nov 04 18:02:57 artorias systemd[1]: Started Process Core Dump (PID 8809/UID 0).
nov 04 18:02:58 artorias systemd-coredump[8810]: [🡕] Process 8659 (steamwebhelper) of user 1000 dumped core.

                                                 Stack trace of thread 8765:
                                                 #0  0x0000000000000000 n/a (n/a + 0x0)
                                                 ELF object binary architecture: AMD x86-64
nov 04 18:02:58 artorias systemd[1]: [email protected]: Deactivated successfully.
nov 04 18:02:58 artorias systemd[1]: [email protected]: Consumed 525ms CPU time, 456.7M memory peak.
Aalosarjos 2024-11-05 github

I'm sorry, I will uploads the logs again. The errors shown on the original comment are because of a switcheroo-control installation and Gnome trying to run Steam with the integrated GPU (Which I guess should work too, but that's not this issue).

I'm adding new logs and a video showing the issue

steam-logs.tar.gz

As you can see on the video, once it gets into the tray bar, I can't open the window again. I can still launch games. I need to close Steam and restart it for the window to show. I'm not sure whats the cause. Can't reproduce 100% of the time

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/918cb49e-8acc-43b7-a39c-8a5398fcc1e4

IIShashkin 2024-11-09 github

Seems like I have the same issue. It's also not 100% reproducible for me. I trigger the issue after the following

  • Start a game
  • Exit the game
  • Steam is closed on its own
  • I can't open Steam from the tray or from the application icon. I still can open Friends dialog from the tray.

Hardware Information:

  • Hardware Model: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. B550I AORUS PRO AX
  • Memory: 64.0 GiB
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 7 5700X × 16
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 7800 XT
  • Disk Capacity: 2.0 TB

Software Information:

  • Firmware Version: FCc
  • OS Name: Fedora Linux 41 (Workstation Edition)
  • OS Build: (null)
  • OS Type: 64-bit
  • GNOME Version: 47
  • Windowing System: Wayland
  • Kernel Version: Linux 6.11.6-300.fc41.x86_64
Mmynameiskali 2024-12-26 github

Same issue here, also on Fedora, except if I right click and press "Launch with integrated GPU" it works. I have two monitors plugged in, one to iGPU and one to my GPU (I know how bad that sounds but I'm yet to have other bugs caused by it). Steam is only displaying on the monitor plugged into my discrete GPU, if that makes a difference.

System Details Report

Report details

  • Date generated: 2024-12-26 15:27:16

Hardware Information:

  • Hardware Model: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. B550M S2H
  • Memory: 32.0 GiB
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600G with Radeon™ Graphics × 12
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 6700
  • Graphics 1: AMD Radeon™ Graphics
  • Disk Capacity: 3.1 TB

Software Information:

  • Firmware Version: F16c
  • OS Name: Fedora Linux 41 (Workstation Edition)
  • OS Build: (null)
  • OS Type: 64-bit
  • GNOME Version: 47
  • Windowing System: Wayland
  • Kernel Version: Linux 6.12.5-200.fc41.x86_64
Nnexitem 2024-12-26 github

I have the same issue, seems like it always happens after closing a game, if the steam window was minimized

OS Name: Fedora Linux 41
OS Type: 64-bit
GNOME Version: 47
Windowing System: Wayland
Kernel Version: Linux 6.12.5-200.fc41.x86_64

HHosein-Rahnama 2025-04-24 github

This is weird. Setting steam to start in Big Picture Mode prevents this bug. However, when in Browser Mode, this bug happens after I run steam for the first time, exit steam, and run it again. The issue persists and does not resolve until I start steam in Big Picture Mode again or reboot the laptop.

OS Name: Fedora Linux 41
OS Type: 64-bit
GNOME Version: 47.5
Windowing System: Wayland
Kernel Version: 6.13.12-200.fc41.x86_64

TTreatHunter 2025-05-24 github

After leaving fedora 41 for a month and sitting on windows same bug appeared for me. Restarting steam didn't help, but i decided to start steam via terminal and this bug dissapeared

Pphilkoch 2025-06-18 github

Same issue for me. When starting any game, the main window minimizes and can't be viewed again. Friends list stays visible. Games can still be started by right-clicking the tray-icon and will work, but a message asking if the game should be uninstalled appears.

~I was able to get around the issue by setting STEAM_USE_X11=1 and running it through XWayland.~
edit: disregard, setting the env didn't change anything.

OS Name: Arch Linux
OS Type: 64-bit
Windowing System: Wayland
DE / WM: Hyprland
Kernel Version: 6.15.1-arch1-2
Steam version:

Steam Beta Branch:  Stable Client
Steam Version:  1747701111
Steam Client Build Date:  Mon, May 19 9:51 PM UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Tue, May 20 2:21 AM UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient022
Nnjdom24 2025-06-18 github

@philkoch I'm confused. Steam doesn't support Wayland, and only ever runs in Xwayland. I've never seen the STEAM_USE_X11 var referenced anywhere. Are you sure this isn't just placebo?

Pphilkoch 2025-06-27 github

Yes, you're right. I've checked with hyprctl clients and steam is using xwayland no matter if the env is set or not. Problem is also still occuring occasionally. It seems that not using the STEAM_USE_X11-env solved the problem for me, but that steam disappearing after playing doesn't happen every time, which lead me to believe setting the env worked.

Aalosarjos 2025-07-20 github

On my case I think this is related to Steam crashing on the background, seems to happen always I get an achievements, but maybe happens with some other triggers. One this happens, the achievement notification appears twice for example.

Disabling GPU acceleration for the client I don't reproduce the issue.

Aalosarjos 2025-07-31 github

For those having issues... Do you people have an integrated GPU on your systems?

Ddwagelaar 2025-07-31 github

For those having issues... Do you people have an integrated GPU on your systems?

No, just a discrete AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card:

Computer Specifications:

Manufacturer: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
Model: PRIME B350M-A
System Size: Desktop
No touch input detected
Processor Specifications:
CPU Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD
CPU Brand: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor

Operating System Version:

"Fedora Release 41 (Forty One)" (64-bit)
Kernel Name: Linux
Kernel Version: 6.15.7-100.fc41.x86_64
X Server Publisher: The X.Org Foundation
X Server Version: 12401008
X Window Manager: GNOME Shell
Steam Runtime Version: steam-runtime_1.0.20250519.130917

Graphics card:

Driver: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (radeonsi, navi22, LLVM 19.1.7, DRM 3.63, 6.15.7-100.fc41.x86_64)
Driver version: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.0.7
Desktop color depth: 24 bits per pixel
Monitor refresh rate: 143 Hz

Aalosarjos 2025-07-31 github

Can you check coredumpctl when this happens again to see if it's because of steamwebhelper crashing?

Ddwagelaar 2025-08-02 github

Hmm, I've got this from coredumpctl:

TIME                             PID  UID  GID SIG     COREFILE EXE                                                                                                                                  SIZE
Mon 2025-07-21 16:31:57 CEST  790460 1000 1000 SIGILL  present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper                                                                            74.2M
Mon 2025-07-21 16:33:52 CEST  795829 1000 1000 SIGILL  present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper                                                                            64.7M
Mon 2025-07-21 17:06:01 CEST  790024 1000 1000 SIGSEGV present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam                                                                                     66.9M
Mon 2025-07-21 19:09:34 CEST  848572 1000 1000 SIGILL  present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper                                                                            71.8M
Mon 2025-07-21 19:39:01 CEST  848117 1000 1000 SIGSEGV present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam                                                                                       34M
Tue 2025-07-22 09:46:34 CEST  874328 1000 1000 SIGILL  present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper                                                                            75.9M
Tue 2025-07-22 10:16:01 CEST  873884 1000 1000 SIGSEGV present  /home/finn/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam                                                                                     44.8M
...
Sat 2025-08-02 19:17:01 CEST  904701  500  500 SIGSEGV present  /opt/media/apps/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam                                                                                             40.9M
Aalosarjos 2025-08-02 github

I think this happens when the steamwebhelper crashes, because of some issue with hardware acceleration and I think it's related to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/11942 too, this is a secondary effect of that crash.

Jjoan31 2025-08-12 github

I have the same issue.

Arch Linux
Kernel 6.16
Hyprland
Wayland

GPU RX 5700 XT
Mesa 1:25.1.7-1

Upstream links