This also started happening to me somewhat recently (since last Steam for LINUX runtime update).
Now, if I reboot my LINUX PC, the first run of the Steam client takes a really long time to do anything. I thought that it had crashed out, but it was just taking a super long time to start up.
I am on the latest CachyOS (based on Arch LINUX) as of today, 12/23/2025. Steam runtime version is 0.20251201.0+srt1.
I use the flatpak version of Steam for LINUX on this particular machine. The other machine is a Windows PC, which doesn't seem to have this problem. I just installed Steam for LINUX on a third PC but haven't had time to test to see if it also has this problem.
What rolls down stairs
alone or in pairs,
and over your neighbor's dog?
What's great for a snack,
And fits on your back?
It's log, log, log
It's log, it's log,
It's big, it's heavy, it's wood.
It's log, it's log, it's better than bad, it's good.
Everyone wants a log
You're gonna love it, log
Come on and get your log
Everyone needs a log
log log log
Another day, another absurd startup.
10 minutes now, and counting.
Screenie
Logs (you're gonna love it, LOG!)
steam-logs.tar.gz
Time spent gaming: zero
Fucks given by anyone in charge: equally zero!
Ubuntu 25.10, by the way.
I've upgraded.
Keeping Костик Батькович in touch.
I was able to run Steam afterwards once. Installed some things in preparation for tomorrow's Daily Hiccups of Steam-for-Linux.
Then, it hanged and went poof.
And now, nothing.
No response on Steam launch attempt, just empty window with a spinner.
Nothing extracted yet.
Your system information
steam-logs.tar.gz
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
Apparently, Steam is ordering pizza or something. 20 minutes since launch - and I don't even see its icon in tray yet.
Steps for reproducing this issue:
11/10 best Christmas gift for avid gamer, thank you very much.