Steam GUI won't launch

Shadjo · June 22, 2023, 4:55pm

Hello everyone!

I am having trouble getting steam to properly launch. This has been a bit of an issue for the past week, but have always figured out the issue. I should mention that I am running an Nvidia card, as I suspect that to be part of the issue. I’ve checked that the Nvidia driver and utilities are up to date, tried both linux and linux-lts, even tried using testing repositories. Though none of this has worked, and steam still fails to load a GUI.

Nvidia versions:

lib32-nvidia-utils 535.54.03-2
nvidia-dkms 535.54.03-1
nvidia-hook 1.3-1
nvidia-inst 23-5
nvidia-installer-common 23-6
nvidia-prime 1.0-4
nvidia-utils 535.54.03-1
opencl-nvidia 535.54.03-1

I do find it odd that the lib32 utilities are newer than the non lib32 utilities, but that update fixed this issue yesterday. This behavior seems to be very unpredictable, but the furthest back I can track this issue is when Steam updated the app UI. If anyone has any ideas, please share. I’ll also be waiting for any updates that come through so hopefully that will fix this issue.

Here is the output of Steam if I launch from the terminal:

steam.sh[41258]: Running Steam on endeavouros rolling 64-bit
steam.sh[41258]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[41332]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[41258]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] Startup - updater built Jun 16 2023 01:41:16
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/empyrean/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam'
06/22 10:54:23 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1686880776)/tid(41395)
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/empyrean/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] 1. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1000, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] 2. https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] 3. http://media.steampowered.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] Verifying installation...
[2023-06-22 10:54:23] Verification complete

(process:41395): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 10:54:23.421: g_object_ref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed

(process:41395): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 10:54:23.421: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xf0c05db0
XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xf0c04500
GetWin32Stats: display was not open yet, good
Loaded SDL version 3.0.0-1735-g2e465ae31

(steam:41395): Gtk-WARNING **: 10:54:23.589: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",
/usr/share/themes/Catppuccin-Mocha-Standard-Mauve-Dark/gtk-2.0/main.rc:790: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}'

(steam:41395): Gtk-WARNING **: 10:54:23.590: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",
/usr/share/themes/Catppuccin-Mocha-Standard-Mauve-Dark/gtk-2.0/hacks.rc:28: error: invalid string constant "normal_entry", expected valid string constant
GetWin32Stats: display was not open yet, good
ComputeStartupMode: found registry default startup mode: 0
Switching to desktopui, since -vgui was not specified
steamwebhelper.sh[41404]: Runtime for steamwebhelper: defaulting to /home/empyrean/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steam-runtime-heavy
steamwebhelper.sh[41404]: glibc >= 2.34, partially disabling sandbox until CEF supports clone3()
CAppInfoCacheReadFromDiskThread took 11 milliseconds to initialize
Failed to init SteamVR because it isn't installed

anon11595408 · June 22, 2023, 5:14pm

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux

Shadjo · June 22, 2023, 5:29pm

I don’t see why I would need this. I don’t use VR and Steam was working yesterday without it.

mruby · June 23, 2023, 12:12am

I’m having the same issue and also haven’t been able to fix it. I’ve seen a few suggestions that didn’t work for me, but maybe they will for you.

The first is to remove the xdg-desktop-portal-gnome package.

github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux

Steam client crashes with xdg-desktop-portal-gnome installed

opened 03:52AM - 15 Jun 23 UTC

RobCod

Steam client

#### Your system information * Steam client version (build number or date): 1…686779606 * Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch 64bit * Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No * Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Yes #### Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible: This error was in the beta so i exited the beta, Then the beta was released fully and its nonstop crashes and difficulties. I have opened a crash report under steam support, but they directed me here. I have the dump file, but cannot attach it here. ![steam-client-crash](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/assets/48031674/b5481461-7b68-46f4-9e58-1993b6c4bcd7) #### Steps for reproducing this issue: 1. Launch steam 2. wait a few second and the client will crash 3. open a terminal and spamming steam, steam-runtime, /usr/bin/steam, /usr/bin/steam-runtime, /usr/bin/steam %U or /usr/bin/steam-runtime %U will result in crashes, but eventually the client will finally launch.

The other suggestion I saw was to run steam from the terminal with steam -no-cef-sandbox
This worked for a while, but stopped working after I updated the lib32-nvidia-utils package, though I’m not sure if that was the cause or not.

github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux

Steam bugs with the new update (new UI)

opened 05:32AM - 17 Jun 23 UTC

logan001

Distro Family: Arch

Archlinux fresh install (i thought that i mess up my previous instalation with s…ome libs and i've reinstall it) bug1: Steam [can't start](https://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/6717729343875132306/). i can manage to start it after a few (10+) tries this is how it looks from terminal (KDE Wayland) ``` steam steam.sh[2425]: Running Steam on arch rolling 64-bit steam.sh[2425]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically setup.sh[2499]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date! steam.sh[2425]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Startup - updater built Jun 16 2023 01:41:16 [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/dan/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' 06/17 08:20:48 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1686880776)/tid(2550) Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/dan/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin) [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal [2023-06-17 08:20:48] 1. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1000, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' [2023-06-17 08:20:48] 2. https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' [2023-06-17 08:20:48] 3. http://media.steampowered.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in' [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Checking for update on startup [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Checking for available updates... [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12 [2023-06-17 08:20:48] Manifest download: send request [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Manifest download: finished [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Download skipped: /steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1686880776, installed version 1686880776, existing pending version 0 [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Nothing to do [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Verifying installation... [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Performing checksum verification of executable files [2023-06-17 08:20:49] Verification complete (process:2550): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 08:20:49.972: g_object_ref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed (process:2550): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 08:20:49.972: g_object_unref: assertion 'G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed Loaded SDL version 3.0.0-1735-g2e465ae31 XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xe836bdb0 XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xe836a500 /usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-2.0/widgets/entry:70: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}' (steam:2550): Gtk-WARNING **: 08:20:50.009: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita", /usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-2.0/widgets/styles:36: error: invalid string constant "combobox_entry", expected valid string constant GetWin32Stats: display was not open yet, good GetWin32Stats: display was not open yet, good steamwebhelper.sh[2602]: Runtime for steamwebhelper: defaulting to /home/dan/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_64/steam-runtime-heavy steamwebhelper.sh[2602]: glibc >= 2.34, partially disabling sandbox until CEF supports clone3() CAppInfoCacheReadFromDiskThread took 60 milliseconds to initialize src/steamUI/steamuisharedjscontroller.cpp (529) : Failed creating offscreen shared JS context src/steamUI/steamuisharedjscontroller.cpp (529) : Failed creating offscreen shared JS context src/steamUI/steamuisharedjscontroller.cpp (529) : Fatal assert; application exiting src/steamUI/steamuisharedjscontroller.cpp (529) : Fatal assert; application exiting 06/17 08:21:39 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1686880776)/tid(2550) assert_20230617082139_30.dmp[2751]: Uploading dump (out-of-process) /tmp/dumps/assert_20230617082139_30.dmp _ExitOnFatalAssert [dan@archlinux ~]$ assert_20230617082139_30.dmp[2751]: Finished uploading minidump (out-of-process): success = yes assert_20230617082139_30.dmp[2751]: response: CrashID=bp-7d9c3ce2-b958-45eb-8331-f6dd22230616 assert_20230617082139_30.dmp[2751]: file ''/tmp/dumps/assert_20230617082139_30.dmp'', upload yes: ''CrashID=bp-7d9c3ce2-b958-45eb-8331-f6dd22230616'' ``` bug 2:When i manage to start steam i wanted to add a library folder to steam but here is another bug. there is no way to browse outside of "steam" folder. the workaround was to manually edit that vdf (i think) file. bug 3: when i've tried to add the icon of game to desktop the icon of the game is the steam icon. (now i'm trying to start steam again to see if it happens again for other games too). the game is from the library folder i manually added edit: i manage to start steam after god know how many tries: Steam Version: 1686880776

Finally, running steam from the terminal with steam -vgui runs it with the legacy GUI. This kindof works, but whenever I try to open a new window such as game properties, etc. the new window crashes.

Let me know if you find anything else that works!

fbodymechanic · June 23, 2023, 4:52am

I know this doesn’t completely help - but I have opted to run Steam as a flatpak for the last year or more so that everything is kind of one big package, and I’ve never had issues with it. It doesn’t really fix the issue, as much as it avoid it. . . but it may be something worth trying. The added “space” it takes up is worth the headaches for me.

Shadjo · June 23, 2023, 2:03pm

The steam -vgui flag seems to work perfectly fine. I just want to be able play my games. Thanks for the great reply!

zangoku · June 23, 2023, 6:57pm

For me uninstalling xdg-desktop-portal-gnome worked. No clue what that software does.

system · June 25, 2023, 6:58pm

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