Ubuntu Version:
25.04Desktop Environment:
GNOMEProblem Description:
Installed Ubuntu a couple of months ago and everything worked perfectly so far, including Steam, which I’ve installed via Flatpak. Last week an update came out, going from version 1.0.0.83 → 1.0.0.84. After the install steam wouldn’t properly launch anymore. It briefly pops up as a running application within Mission Centre, but dissappears again after a few seconds. Nothing ever shows up UI-wise.
To my knowledge, only 2 changes have been made to the system between Steam working and not working (other than a reboot and turning it off overnight):
- I updated Steam from Version 1.0.0.83 to 1.0.0.84
- I wanted to try out preload and installed that
I didn’t manage to find a topic that covers this problem here or on other sites.
Relevant System Information:
Ubuntu 25.04
Steam 1.0.0.84 (Flatpak)
Running all network traffic through ProtonVPN
System up-to-date with the exception of two packages (fwupd and libfwupd3) due to phasing.
Screenshots or Error Messages:
When launching via command i get the following:
yoxi@____-DT01:~$ flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam
INFO:root:https://github.com/flathub/com.valvesoftware.Steam/wiki
INFO:root:Will set XDG dirs prefix to /home/yoxi/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam
DEBUG:root:Checking input devices permissions
WARNING:root:Missing permissions for input devices
INFO:root:Overriding TZ to Europe/Zurich
steam.sh[2]: Running Steam on org.freedesktop.platform 25.08 64-bit
steam.sh[2]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[53]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[2]: Log already open
steam.sh[2]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Startup - updater built Sep 12 2025 03:55:50
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/yoxi/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-srt-logger-opened' '-no-cef-sandbox'
10/06 15:11:47 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
10/06 15:11:47 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1757650573)/tid(96)
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/yoxi/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] 1. https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 900, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] 2. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 400, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] 3. https://client-update.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Checking for update on startup
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Checking for available updates...
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Manifest download: send request
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Process started with command-line: '/home/yoxi/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-child-update-ui' '-child-update-ui-socket' '8' '-srt-logger-opened' '-no-cef-sandbox'
10/06 15:11:47 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Using update UI: console
10/06 15:11:47 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(97)
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Create window
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Set percent complete: 0
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Set status message: Checking for available updates...
[ 0%] Checking for available updates...
[2025-10-06 15:11:47] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Manifest download: finished
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Downloaded new manifest: /steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1759461205, installed version 1757650573, existing pending version 0
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Download complete.
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] uninstalled manifest found in /home/yoxi/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_ubuntu12 (1).
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Found pending update
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Installing update...
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Set status message: Download complete.
[----] Download complete.
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Set status message: Installing update...
[----] Installing update...
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Extracting package...
[2025-10-06 15:11:48] Set status message: Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[2025-10-06 15:11:49] Show window
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[----] Extracting package...
[2025-10-06 15:11:53] Installing update...
[2025-10-06 15:11:53] Set status message: Installing update...
Followed by a varying ammount of lines of:
[----] Installing update...
then it suddenly stops with no further message.
With my limited knowledge I can’t seem to find anything wrong in the above command-output.
What I’ve Tried:
- launching steam via command instead of the app-icon or app-list
- reinstalling Steam via the Flatpak “Software”-app
- uninstalling preload
- disabling ProtonVPN
(including rebooting after each step of the above mentioned processes)
I’m happy to provide any additional details or system information if needed.
Your help and patience are much appreciated!