FlatPak -- Steam blank screen

General Help
1

Just today I noticed that Steam opened up with a blank screen, as in all gray. I checked my journalctl only to discover:

Apr 03 21:57:54 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17973]: steamwebhelper.sh[233]: Running under Flatpak, disabling sandbox
Apr 03 21:57:54 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17973]: steamwebhelper.sh[233]: CEF sandbox already disabled
Apr 03 21:58:02 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1679680416)/tid(243)
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[18077]: steamwebhelper.sh[244]: Runtime for steamwebhelper: defaulting to /home/tmf/.var/app/com.valve>
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[18077]: steamwebhelper.sh[244]: Running under Flatpak, disabling sandbox
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[18077]: steamwebhelper.sh[244]: CEF sandbox already disabled
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] Startup - updater built Mar 24 2023 17:19:53
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/tmf/.var/app/com.valvesoftw>
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/tmf/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.S>
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] 1. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal',>
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] 2. https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal'>
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] 3. http://media.steampowered.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight >
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] Verifying installation...
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: [2023-04-03 21:57:44] Verification complete
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xeef138f0
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xeef121c0
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: src/steamUI/steamuisharedjscontroller.cpp (421) : Failed creating offscreen shared JS context
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: src/steamUI/steamuisharedjscontroller.cpp (421) : Failed creating offscreen shared JS context
Apr 03 21:58:05 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1679680416)/tid(146)
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[18098]: assert_20230403215805_25.dmp[256]: Uploading dump (out-of-process)
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[18098]: /tmp/dumps/assert_20230403215805_25.dmp
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: Failed to init SteamVR because it isn't installed
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: Could not connect to X session manager: None of the authentication protocols specified are sup>
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: Could not connect to X session manager: None of the authentication protocols specified are sup>
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop[17782]: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1679680416)/tid(259)
Apr 03 21:58:06 desktop1.tmf.home steam[17782]: gtk_disable_setlocale() must be called before gtk_init()

I have attempted all the input I have been able to find including downgrading steam:

sudo flatpak update --commit=c67a900e23d514cb308148c24638cb7316a20643c32049b0a8e2818ed1d4f62c com.valvesoftware.Steam

and most recently to run it as:

flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam -bigpicture

I'm following a few others posts about users that are experiencing the same over the last few days, system is up to date, any input would be great

2

Have you tested the latest Flatpak Steam Beta?

3

I have not, how would I go about upgrading to that?

4

I had to look it up, too... I do not use Flatpak:

5

that's "steam link"
now from within my software manager it shows the flatpack for steam is installed, but uninstalling it produces a pop-up indicating that it's in fact not installed. I ignored this and moved on

Given there are several package managers available I figured I'd give snap a go, but before that I removed and purged all steam:i386 packages from apt and flatpak

apt uninstall --purge steam

flatpak remove steam

moved the installation directory:

tmf@desktop1:~/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share$ mv Steam Steam-old

and then used snap to install

# snap search steam
Name                       Version     Publisher        Notes  Summary
steam                      1.0.0.75    canonicalâś“       -      Launcher for the Steam software distribution service (Early Access)
alienware-cli              v1.0.9      a1ecbr0wn        -      Alienware LEDs and HDMI Control
electronplayer-portuguese  2.3.0       tomattban        -      An app to watch your favorites steam on Linux
sl-moon127                 5.02        moon127          -      SL
solus-runtime-gaming       3.0.0       ikey             -      Solus Gaming Runtime
sl-jiphex                  5.02        jiphex           -      Cure your bad habit of mistyping
m10e                       1.11.4-dev  addq1eax         -      Matterbridge snap
sl-doismellburning         0.1         doismellburning  -      SL(1): Cure your bad habit of mistyping
chad-stride                0.695       ginglis13        -      A small curses program to stride across your terminal
root@desktop1:/home/tmf/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32# snap install steam
error: snap "steam" is not available on stable but is available to install on the following
       channels:

       candidate  snap install --candidate steam
       beta       snap install --beta steam
       edge       snap install --edge steam

       Please be mindful pre-release channels may include features not completely tested or
       implemented. Get more information with 'snap info steam'.
root@desktop1:/home/tmf/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32# snap install --beta steam
steam (beta) 1.0.0.75 from Canonicalâś“ installed

from here I was able to launch steam from the menu as expected, the error was reproduced and the window was gray. However I was then able to access the "settings" and in spite of me having selected --beta on install the settings indicated I was not subscribed to the beta, toggling that setting prompted me to restart to install the beta. I proceeded, and upon launch it installed/compiled and launched with success; running in beta using snap worked.

Now onto the next. Thank-You for your helpful suggestion @Aravisian

1 Like
6

Awesome - glad you got it solved. I use the APT package. So the Flatpak or Snaps are a bit more mysterious to me. :wink:
Sorry about my failure to pay attention to detail above.

1 Like
7

Not at all, I appreciate you speaking up as It's the path that lead to resolution. Thank-You :slight_smile:

8

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