ValveSoftware
bug: steam installer gui crashes instantly after launching
Your system information
- Steam client version (build number or date): dec 5, 2025 (.deb file)
- Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Ubuntu
- Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] Not sure
- Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Yes I did the upgrade first
- GPU: Intel Arc A750
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
steam installer gui crashes instantly after launching for the first time
Steps for reproducing this issue:
- install latest_steam.deb
- start steam
- face the issue
Additional information
This happened to me on X11, Wayland, (normal install) Unsandboxed and (Sanboxed) Snapcraft.
The progress is shown, if steam launched from command line, after crashing the GUI.
I am having a similar issue. On a fresh install of Ubuntu 25.10, installing steam with the .deb from steam's website. It installs. When I open steam, it will put the icon up on the panel, but when the main window tries to open, you see it appear then disappear in the dock, like it just crashes, and it keeps repeating this. If I run steam from the terminal, it opens normally and runs normally. Ubuntu 25.10 6.17.0-7-generic Wayland AMD 7900x 32GB Ram RX 6950XT Reference Card Steam Version : 1763795278 Steam Client Build Date : Sat Nov 22 1:00 AM UTC -06:00 Steam Web Build Date: Sat Nov 22 12:35 AM UTC -06:00 Steam API Version: SteamClient023
iirc, it also happens with snap version. you just have wait without seeing any progress
Getting the exact same problem, I see the initial splash screen, the tray icon and then nothing, whatever I try. It is frustrating since launching from the console with steam works, so I'm not sure how I should debug that. Ubuntu 25.10, installed Steam from latest deb with gdebi. Running MESA 25.3.1
Hello @thamulot, you've described the symptoms of #9383. Give that issue report a read.
My bad. I didn't noticed the "installer" part 🤦♂️ thank you nonetheless 🙏