protonscr

[Steam RT3] No AppIndicator / Tray Icon

steamclosed
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13005 · opened 2026-03-20 by alosarjos · updated 2026-07-17 · 23 comments · github
Aalosarjos 2026-03-20 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1773983034
  • 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:

Switching to the Steam RT3 beta, when booting the steam client, there is no tray icon (Using AppIndicator and kStatus Notifier Support extension). Disabling the RT3 beta the tray icon shows up

Yyasink21 2026-03-20 github

same here, running on cachyos, on an AMD system, I also don't have the tray icon

Ggamidov-r 2026-03-20 github

same here. debian sid w/ gnome 49

HHaxorzz 2026-03-20 github

+1 nobara 43, KDE 6.6.2, native steam package

EE-D-W-I-N 2026-03-20 github

Same

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1773983034
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux 6.19.8-arch1-1
  • Desktop Environment: KDE 6.6.3
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • GPU: NVIDIA
  • Steam native package: Yes
  • Wayland: Yes
Iiguanacucumber 2026-03-20 github

same issue, i'm on a wlroots based window manager

Ttsuza 2026-03-21 github

Same here on Hyprland ( Arch, Nvidia, Wayland )

FFuzzyPixelzz 2026-03-21 github

seems like a general issue for wayland (and perhaps x11) environments, independant of hardware, distro or window manager. using cosmic

Gghbset 2026-03-22 github

same issue here - bazzite and up-to-date.

Ooutsell933 2026-03-22 github

Same issue for me, cachyos, kde, up to date on everything

Kkalrach 2026-03-23 github

Same for me, on up to date Archlinux with Nvidia drivers with Steam beta activated, using Mangowm Wayland compositor with Waybar.

LLloydNicholson 2026-03-25 github

Same here on Nobara 43 with AMD and Wayland. Everything up-to-date

Kkakra 2026-03-25 github

Same here on Gentoo with KDE Plasma

Ooutsell933 2026-03-26 github

I believe I have a fix (on KDE Plasma):

  1. Have Steam open
  2. Right click on system tray -> Configure System Tray
  3. Under "Application Status" change Steam from "Never Show (disabled)" to "Always Show" or "Show When Relevant"

I don't know why it was changed to "Never Show (disabled)" in the first place, as I certainly didn't choose that, but switching it returned my Steam icon.

Note: When I first did this and restarted, Steam didn't initially autostart, despite being on the autostart list in my Plasma settings; it gave a "Failed" status in red, with no logs. However, after removing it entirely from the list, restarting, then adding it back and restarting again, Steam autostarted WITH the icon in the system tray, no problem.

Hope this helps someone else.

HHaxorzz 2026-03-26 github

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/13005#issuecomment-4137686833

this might be related to something they fixed, as I remember trying to look for the menu entry to enable

Ooutsell933 2026-03-26 github

Replying to https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/13005#issuecomment-4137965367

Possibly, you likely know better than I. One note, however, is that if you don’t have Steam actively open, it won’t show as an option under “Application Status”.

Ssmcv 2026-03-27 github

For the experimental steamrt3c client, the cause for this is understood and tracked as steamrt/tasks#968, and should hopefully be fixed in a future beta update. (The steamrt3c runtime doesn't currently have libayatana-appindicator, and because Steam is now running inside a container, it can't just load the library from the host.)

We don't need more "+1" reports of this, please use Notifications → Subscribe if you would like notifications if something changes.

If you are not opted-in to the experimental steamrt3c client, then any problem with the tray icon would have to be something different, and not this issue.

@outsell933:

I believe I have a fix

I would be surprised if this works for the experimental steamrt3c client. I think you might have found a fix or workaround for an unrelated appindicator/tray-icon issue, perhaps in the ordinary beta, or perhaps even in the general-availability client? If so, it would probably be better handled as a separate issue report.

LLifeismana 2026-04-02 github

today's beta client update has the new steamrt3c version aka bug fixed
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/announcements/detail/511861099418616555

Mmcfd 2026-04-02 github

still happened on latest version

DDaktyl198 2026-04-02 github

still happened on latest version

Can confirm it's fixed for me on the latest version. Did you simply relaunch steam or did you go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates?

SSaNch0sE 2026-04-02 github

Can confirm it's fixed for me on the latest version. Did you simply relaunch steam or did you go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates?

Yup, after manual update issue is gone, can confirm

Kkalrach 2026-04-02 github

The issue was resolved for me after the most recent update.

Mmcfd 2026-04-03 github

still happened on latest version

Can confirm it's fixed for me on the latest version. Did you simply relaunch steam or did you go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates?

Thank you for your reply. I checked for updates several times yesterday, but the issue persisted. However, after restarting today, everything is back to normal.

EE-D-W-I-N 2026-04-23 github

So, we can close this issue I guess?