protonscr

Steam crashing with Xbox Series X/S controller/Steam Controller

steamclosed Steam clientGeneral controller / Steam InputFlathub-provided steam package
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13117 · opened 2026-04-26 by adamdjensen · updated 2026-05-16 · 5 comments · github
Aadamdjensen 2026-04-26 github

This bug report was filed with help of Claude due to personal incompetency, I can provide the entire conversation if useful

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): Steam client version: 1777083821 (publicbeta)
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Fedora 43 flatpak install/RPM install update: Occurs on Fedora 44 as well.
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: see attached
  • GPU: AMD RX 9070 XT (Mesa 26.0.4, RADV GFX1201)

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Steam crashes with a segfault approximately 1-2 minutes after launch whenever an Xbox Series X controller is connected, either via USB-C cable or Xbox Wireless Adapter (xone driver). The crash occurs both when the controller is connected before Steam launches and when hotplugged after Steam is running.
The webhelper log shows repeated BadWindow X errors immediately before shutdown, suggesting an XWayland window management issue:

Webhelper: An X Error occurred - BadWindow (invalid Window parameter)
Major opcode: X_QueryTree, X_UnmapWindow, X_ReparentWindow, X_SendEvent

Steam works normally without any controller connected. The issue affects both RPM and Flatpak versions of Steam, and persists across kernel 6.19.12 and 6.19.13.
Crash IDs uploaded to Valve's servers:
bp-08e07196-e829-4089-afa1-fca442260426
bp-0ec79184-623c-40ff-993a-589fd2260426
bp-c7173052-01e3-4e5f-81a0-8f1b22260425

steam-logs.tar.gz

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Launch Steam on Wayland (GNOME) with an AMD RX 9070 XT
  2. Log in and wait for the main Steam window to appear
  3. Connect an Xbox Series X controller via USB-C or turn on controller via Xbox Wireless Adapter
  4. Steam crashes with a segfault within seconds

Update: This also happens with a Steam Controller connected with either it's dongle or directly over Micro-USB.

This crash happens on the rpm version as well.

Ttatokis 2026-04-27 github

To add a bit more information since I am also hitting this issue in big picture (Ubuntu 24.04, compiz/X11): For me it seems to cause trouble when trying to launch a game. Sometimes it crashes right after trying to run a game with:

[3077918.012506] CSteamControlle[907529]: segfault at 0 ip 00007fbe71f8b02f sp 00007fbe10ad7dd8 error 4 in libc.so.6[18b02f,7fbe71e28000+188000] likely on CPU 25 (core 9, socket 0)

and other times it gets stuck on "Starting Launch..." without ever actually launching proton or any of the game binaries.

I was able to get my Steam Controller to work by unplugging the receiver, starting the game in big picture, and then once the game launched, plug it back in and turn the controller on.

Perhaps the random crashes occur because it's trying to update something in the background which requires launching the game binaries, and because it doesn't have to do that for me, I was able to get past it after starting the game.

Aadamdjensen 2026-04-27 github

I wonder if it's the exact same issue since you're only crashing in BP. Do you only connect the controller once you're in-game?
For me it crashes after the login screen if I have a controller connected (it doesn't seem to matter if the dongle is plugged in or not) or it crashes as soon as I connect the controller. If I wait until I'm in a game it will crash the game too.

Also kisak, perhaps the flatpak tag should be deleted as it happens also in the rpm variant.

Ppsychoelfx 2026-05-06 github

I've tried xbox, ps5 and an 8bitdo controller. Steam will crash immediately with bluetooth or USB connection and will not complete startup if it's kept connected. As stated above, I can start Big Picture, plug in controller, launch game, but it will crash immediately. Fedora 43. RPM install.

Ppsychoelfx 2026-05-06 github

Just verified it crashes Steam on host computer through Steam Link as well when bluetooth or USB controller is connected to phone.

Aadamdjensen 2026-05-16 github

So I've done a fresh install of Fedora Workstation and I can no longer replicate this issue. Both Steam Controller (original) and the Series controller via official dongle through Xone are working fine now. As far as I can tell the issue has been fixed.

Nothing extracted yet.