protonscr

Steam doesn't launch after a fresh startup.

steamclosed Steam clientDistro Family: Arch
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12466 · opened 2025-11-20 by EvalynKelley · updated 2025-11-20 · 7 comments · github
EEvalynKelley 2025-11-20 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1763531587
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux, Niri WM
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: No
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5500/5500M / Pro 5500M Discrete with Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible: I expected Steam to launch...It didn't launch.

I tried a previous method to work around this issue which initially launched steam without the window, however it stopped completely working the second time around. Before this I did try reinstalling steam with pacman with no change.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Try launch steam
  2. Didn't work, try launching steam through terminal
  3. Outputs exitcode 0
Eesalexreyes 2025-11-20 github

Same issue here, if it helps, these is the list of my latest upgraded packages.

Also running Arch, with Niri. But In my case I'm using a Nvidia 3080 Ti card.

[2025-11-20T09:35:30-0600] [ALPM] upgraded bind (9.20.15-1 -> 9.20.16-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:30-0600] [ALPM] upgraded ca-certificates-mozilla (3.117-1 -> 3.118.1-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:30-0600] [ALPM] upgraded cmake (4.1.3-1 -> 4.2.0-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:30-0600] [ALPM] upgraded nss (3.117-1 -> 3.118.1-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:30-0600] [ALPM] upgraded glib2 (2.86.1-1 -> 2.86.2-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:30-0600] [ALPM] upgraded gtk-update-icon-cache (1:4.20.2-3 -> 1:4.20.3-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded electron38 (38.7.0-1 -> 38.7.1-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded firefox-developer-edition (145.0b9-1 -> 146.0b5-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded glib2-docs (2.86.1-1 -> 2.86.2-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded gtk4 (1:4.20.2-3 -> 1:4.20.3-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-glib2 (2.86.1-1 -> 2.86.2-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-nss (3.117-1 -> 3.118.1-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded luajit (2.1.1763148144-1 -> 2.1.1763318511+e17ee83-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:31-0600] [ALPM] upgraded openexr (3.4.3-1 -> 3.4.4-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:32-0600] [ALPM] upgraded webkit2gtk (2.50.1-2 -> 2.50.2-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:32-0600] [ALPM] upgraded webkit2gtk-4.1 (2.50.1-2 -> 2.50.2-1)
[2025-11-20T09:35:32-0600] [ALPM] upgraded webkitgtk-6.0 (2.50.1-2 -> 2.50.2-1)

And this is what I get if I run steam from the command line:

steam.sh[53027]: Running Steam on arch rolling 64-bit
steam.sh[53027]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[53079]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[53027]: Log already open
steam.sh[53027]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Startup - updater built Nov 19 2025 05:42:09
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-srt-logger-opened'
11/20 10:12:05 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
11/20 10:12:05 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1763531587)/tid(53133)
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Process started with command-line: '/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-child-update-ui' '-child-update-ui-socket' '8' '-srt-logger-opened'
11/20 10:12:05 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Using update UI: xwin
11/20 10:12:05 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(53134)
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Create window
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] 1. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 400, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] 2. https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 900, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] 3. https://client-update.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Checking for update on startup
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Checking for available updates...
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Manifest download: send request
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Set percent complete: 0
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Set status message: Checking for available updates...
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-11-20 10:12:05] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Manifest download: finished
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Download skipped: /steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1763531587, installed version 1763531587, existing pending version 0
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Nothing to do
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Verifying installation...
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Verifying all executable checksums
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Set status message: Verifying installation...
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Verification complete
UpdateUI: skip show logo
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Destroy window
[2025-11-20 10:12:06] Shutdown

Steam logging initialized: directory: /home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/logs

XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xf6186dc0
XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xf6185500
11/20 10:12:07 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
11/20 10:12:07 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steamsysinfo)/version(1763531587)/tid(53151)
Running query: 1 - GpuTopology
Response: gpu_topology {
  gpus {
    id: 1
    name: "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti"
    vram_size_bytes: 12884901888
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_NvidiaProprietary
    driver_version_major: 580
    driver_version_minor: 105
    driver_version_patch: 8
    luid: 0
  }
  default_gpu_id: 1
}

Exit code: 0
Saving response to: /tmp/steamLlcJeK - 53 bytes
steamwebhelper.sh[53156]: Starting steamwebhelper under bootstrap steamrt steam runtime via: /home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/steamrt64/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
steamwebhelper.sh[53156]: Starting steamwebhelper with steamrt steam runtime at /home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/steamrt64/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
exec ./steamwebhelper -nocrashdialog -lang=en_US -cachedir=/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/config/htmlcache -steampid=53133 -buildid=1763531587 -steamid=0 -logdir=/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=0 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/clientui -steampath=/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 --valve-initial-threadpool-size=12 --valve-enable-site-isolation --disable-smooth-scrolling --disable-gpu-compositing --disable-gpu --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --disable-component-update --disable-features=WinRetrieveSuggestionsOnlyOnDemand,SpareRendererForSitePerProcess,DcheckIsFatal,BlockPromptsIfIgnoredOften,ValveFFmpegAllowLowDelayHEVC
Steam Runtime Launch Service: starting steam-runtime-launcher-service
Steam Runtime Launch Service: steam-runtime-launcher-service is running pid 53310
bus_name=com.steampowered.PressureVessel.LaunchAlongsideSteam

fsync: up and running.
Fossilize INFO: Overriding serialization path: "/home/localuser/.local/share/Steam/shader_cache_temp_dir_d3d11_64/fozpipelinesv6/steamapprun_pipeline_cache".
Vvaaino 2025-11-20 github

I have the same issue with Niri, but Steam works with other Wayland compositors like Sway and Hyprland on my machine.

Eesalexreyes 2025-11-20 github

Update:

I downgraded glib2 and lib32-glib2, restarted my system and steam is running fine again.

I'm assuming something happened with those two that is preventing Steam from launching.

Eesalexreyes 2025-11-20 github

I have the same issue with Niri, but Steam works with other Wayland compositors like Sway and Hyprland on my machine.

It may have to do with xwayland-satellite and maybe those libraries from my previous comment.

EEvalynKelley 2025-11-20 github

Thank you for the help.

Vvaaino 2025-11-20 github

I have the same issue with Niri, but Steam works with other Wayland compositors like Sway and Hyprland on my machine.

It may have to do with xwayland-satellite and maybe those libraries from my previous comment.

You're right it seems :)
https://github.com/Supreeeme/xwayland-satellite/issues/282

Seems like clearing the clipboard before launching Steam also works as a workaround.

JJarnoB 2025-11-20 github

I think I was just running into the same issuse. If so, it seems to be related to Zenity. My system kept on spawning new instances of Zenity, filing up the systems memory. To kill those, run killall zenity.

Here is a small part of the output, taken from the linux-console logfile:

[2025-11-19 17:30:01] [2025-11-19 17:30:01] No more messages are expected - exiting
[2025-11-19 17:30:01] steam.sh[1797]: Restarting Steam by request...
[2025-11-19 17:30:01] steam.sh[1797]: Running Steam on cachyos rolling 64-bit
[2025-11-19 17:30:01] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:01] (zenity:2191): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:01.699: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:01] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:01] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:02] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:02] (zenity:2318): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:02.201: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:02] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:02] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:03] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:03] (zenity:2333): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:03.290: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:03] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:03] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:04] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:04] (zenity:2354): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:04.306: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:04] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:04] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:05] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:05] (zenity:2372): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:05.021: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:05] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:05] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:05] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:05] (zenity:2390): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:05.745: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:06] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:06] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:06] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:06] (zenity:2405): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:06.483: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:06] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:06] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:07] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:07] (zenity:2419): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:07.258: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:07] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:07] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:08] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:08] (zenity:2436): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:08.039: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:08] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:08] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
[2025-11-19 17:30:08] 
[2025-11-19 17:30:08] (zenity:2454): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:30:08.817: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[2025-11-19 17:30:09] [Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
[2025-11-19 17:30:09] Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

I noticed I get the same error with anything zenity related, even when launching zenity on it's own. Somehow gamescope seems to be tied to zenity on my system?

Here is the output I got after launching a Zenity window on it's own:

❯ zenity --scale \
--title="Set Screen Brightness" \
--text="Enter the desired screen brightness (%)" \
--value=50 \
--min-value=0 \
--max-value=100

(zenity:50273): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:39:58.107: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50293): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:39:58.583: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50302): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:39:59.356: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50311): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:00.136: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50331): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:00.921: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50340): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:01.701: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50360): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:02.480: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50369): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:03.262: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50378): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:04.044: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50399): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:04.824: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50408): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:05.590: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50428): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:06.368: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.

(zenity:50437): Adwaita-WARNING **: 17:40:07.147: Using GtkSettings:gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme with libadwaita is unsupported. Please use AdwStyleManager:color-scheme instead.
[Gamescope WSI] Forcing on VK_EXT_swapchain_maintenance1.
Warning: --icon-name is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of zenity; Treating as --icon.
^C

I actually tried the fix OP linked to. Steam launched, but it didn't render any of the HTML. It just showed the window decorations, filled with a black square where the actual interface should be.

I quit Steam after that, tried to run the client through gamescope as it seemed to be related to it. I use this command (under an alias) to do so, you might want to give it a try. Make sure to edit the resolution and refreshrate to whatever you have.

STEAM_MULTIPLE_XWAYLANDS=1 gamescope --xwayland-count 2 --hdr-enabled --hdr-itm-enable -e -W 5120 -H 1440 -f --disable-color-management -r 144 -- steam -steamos3 -gamepadui -pipewire-dmabuf

After that, Steam launched into Big Picture mode. When I quit Steam after that and tried running Steam again regularly (WITHOUT Gamescope), it lauched like it should. Somehow either the fix OP posted or initiazing Steam through gamescope worked around the issue.

If I can provide any more details or logs, I'm happy to provide them .

Upstream links