If you’re a Linux user who loves gaming, you’ve probably heard of Steam. It’s one of the largest digital game distribution platforms out there, and it has a vast library of games available for Linux. The great news is that you can easily install Steam on Linux, giving you access to a whole world of games directly from your desktop.

While Linux doesn’t have as large of a gaming library as Windows, Steam has made significant strides in supporting Linux through its platform, especially with Proton, a compatibility tool that allows many Windows-only games to run on Linux. W

hether you’re a seasoned Linux user or someone new to the system, this guide will walk you through how to install Steam on Linux step by step.

Step 1: Choosing Your Linux Distribution

Before you install Steam, it’s important to know that different Linux distributions (also called distros) might have slightly different methods for installing software. Some of the most popular Linux distros are Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch.

The good news is that Steam is available for most of these distributions, but the installation method might vary.

For example:

• Ubuntu/Debian: These are Debian-based systems, so they use APT for package management.

• Fedora: This is a Red Hat-based system and uses DNF.

• Arch Linux: Arch is a rolling-release distro and uses Pacman for package management.

In this guide, we’ll focus primarily on how to install Steam on Ubuntu, as it’s one of the most popular distributions and a great starting point for beginners. However, we’ll briefly touch on other distros too.

Step 2: Installing Steam on Ubuntu and Debian-based Systems

If you’re running Ubuntu or a Debian-based system, installing Steam is pretty straightforward. Here’s how you can do it.

Option 1: Using the Terminal

1. Update your system: Open a terminal and type the following command to make sure your system is up to date:

    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
   

2. Enable multiverse repository: Steam is available in Ubuntu’s multiverse repository, which is a place for software that is not open-source. Run this command to enable it:

    sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
   

3. Install Steam: Once the multiverse repository is enabled, you can install Steam using this command:

    sudo apt install steam
   

4. Launch Steam: After installation, you can launch Steam from your application menu or by typing steam in the terminal. Steam will automatically download updates the first time you run it.

Option 2: Using the Software Center

If you’re not comfortable with the terminal, you can install Steam through the Software Center. Simply open the Ubuntu Software app, search for “Steam,” and click “Install.” It’s that simple!

Step 3: Installing Steam on Fedora

For Fedora users, the installation process is a bit different since Fedora uses DNF for package management. Here’s how you can install Steam on Fedora:

1. Enable the RPM Fusion repository: Fedora doesn’t include Steam in its default repositories, so you need to enable RPM Fusion, which provides additional packages. You can enable it by running this command:

    sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
   

2. Install Steam: After enabling RPM Fusion, install Steam using DNF:

    sudo dnf install steam
   

3. Launch Steam: As with Ubuntu, once Steam is installed, you can launch it from your applications menu or by typing steam in the terminal.

Step 4: Installing Steam on Arch Linux

If you’re an Arch Linux user, installing Steam is also straightforward but requires a slightly different method. Here’s how to get Steam running on Arch:

1. Install Steam via Pacman: Steam is available in Arch’s official repositories, so you can install it by running:

    sudo pacman -S steam
   

2. Launch Steam: After installation, you can launch Steam from your desktop environment or via the terminal.

Step 5: Setting Up Steam and Proton

Once you’ve installed Steam on your Linux system, the next step is configuring it for the best experience.

1. Logging into your account: After launching Steam, you’ll need to log in to your existing account or create a new one if you don’t have an account already. Steam will then download some additional files and perform some updates.

2. Setting up Proton for Windows Games: One of the coolest things about Steam on Linux is Proton, which allows you to run many Windows games on Linux. To enable Proton:

   • Go to Steam’s settings by clicking “Steam” in the top left, then “Settings.”

   • Click on “Steam Play” in the sidebar.

   • Check the box that says “Enable Steam Play for all other titles” and choose the latest version of Proton from the dropdown menu.

   • Now, when you install a game, Steam will automatically check if it can run using Proton.

3. Test your games: Now that you’ve set up Proton, you can install games from your library. Steam will handle the rest, and you’ll be able to play many Windows games on Linux with no extra work.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While installing Steam on Linux is usually a smooth process, you might run into a few hiccups along the way. Here are some common issues and how to fix them:

1. Steam won’t launch: If Steam isn’t launching, try running it from the terminal to see what errors come up. Running steam in the terminal can sometimes show you useful error messages.

2. Missing libraries: Some Linux distributions might not have all the libraries Steam needs to run. For example, you might see an error about missing 32-bit libraries. To fix this, try installing the following:

    sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386
   

3. Proton games won’t run: If Proton-enabled games aren’t running, try switching to a different version of Proton in Steam’s settings. Some games work better with specific Proton versions.

Conclusion

Installing Steam on Linux is a great way to expand your gaming library and enjoy the benefits of the Linux operating system. Whether you’re using Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch Linux, the steps outlined above will help you get Steam up and running smoothly.

With Steam Play and Proton, you can even run many Windows games on your Linux system, giving you access to an even wider variety of titles. By following these simple steps, you’ll be gaming on Linux in no time!