Download Article Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to install the Steam app on various Linux distributions. If you're running Ubuntu or Debian, you can install Steam from the Ubuntu Software app or use the Ubuntu repositories. For the latest updates not available in the Ubuntu repositories, you can install Steam from its official DEB package. If you are using Fedora or an RPM-based Linux distribution, you can install Steam using RPM Fusion. For all other Linux distributions, you can use Flatpak to install Steam.

Things You Should Know

  • Access the multiverse repository from the Terminal to download Steam on Ubuntu.
  • You can install the official Steam DEB package in the Terminal to get the latest updates.
  • If you’re using Flatpak, install the Flatpak manager if you don’t already have it.
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using the Multiverse Repository

Download Article
  1. It has a black icon that resembles a computer screen with a white cursor. Click the icon to open the Terminal.
    • Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Alt +T to open the Terminal using the keyboard shortcut.
    Advertisement
  2. This command will add the required repository for installation.
    • If you're prompted, enter your Ubuntu user password and press Enter to proceed.
  3. This will update the repository with the latest version.
  4. This will install Steam from the default Ubuntu repositories. You can launch the Steam app on your computer after your installation is finished.
    • If you are asked if you want to continue with the installation, press "Y" and then press " Enter ".
  5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using the Ubuntu Software App

Download Article
  1. This app looks like an orange bag icon with a white "A" on it.
    • You can type the app name in Dash to quickly find it.
  2. The official Steam app will show up at the top of the results.
  3. It has a blue icon with an image that resembles a white rotary piston. Click the app icon to display the information page.
  4. This will install the latest release of the official Steam app on your Ubuntu Linux computer.
  5. In order to install new software in Ubuntu, you must enter your user password. Enter the password for your Ubuntu log in and click Authenticate . This will install the Steam for Ubuntu. When you launch Steam, it may need to update. Once the update is completed, you can sign in to your Steam account.
  6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Installing a DEB Package

Download Article
  1. It has a black icon that resembles a computer screen with a white cursor. Click the icon to open the Terminal.
    • Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Alt +T to open the Terminal using the keyboard shortcut.
  2. This enables multi-arch support that allows 32-bit support on a 64-bit version of Linux.
    • If there is no response in the Terminal, you might already have multi-arch support enabled. To find out, type " dpkg --print-foreign-architectures " in the Terminal and press Enter . It should return " i386 ".
  3. This will complete all your latest updates for the installation.
  4. This installs the official Steam package. Type the following command in the Terminal and press Enter .
    • sudo apt install wget gdebi-core libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386
    • If you are asked if you want to continue with the installation, press Y on the keyboard and press Enter to continue.
  5. This will download the Steam DEB package to your computer. Type the following command in the Terminal and press Enter :
  6. This will install the Steam app from the official DEB package. You can launch Steam on your computer as soon as the install is finished. Steam will likely need to update the first time you launch it.
    • If you are asked if you want to continue, press Y on your keyboard and then press Enter to continue.
  7. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using the RPM Fusion Repository

Download Article
  1. On most Linux distros, you can open the Terminal by press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Terminal. Alternatively, you can press the Super (Windows or Command) key (or click the Dash icon) to open the Dash and type Terminal in the search bar. This method works on RPM-based Linux distros like Fedora.
  2. This updates the dnf repositories on your system.
  3. This ensures your system is up to date. It may take a while depending on how often you update your system.
  4. To restart your computer, either click the power icon on your computer and click Restart or open the Terminal and type " sudo reboot " and press Enter .
  5. Once your computer restarts, open the Terminal once again.
  6. The following command will configure RPM Fusion, which is a third-party repository for apps that don't ship with Fedora or Red Hat. RPM Fusion is only available for 32-bit architectures but should work in 64-bit architectures. Enter the following command in the Terminal and press Enter to configure RPM:
    • sudo dnf install mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
    • Alternatively, if you are using Fedora, you can Launch Fedora Software and click the icon with three horizontal lines ( ☰ ) in the upper-right corner. Click Software Repositories and click Enable next to "Fedora 31 -Nonfree – Steam." [1]
  7. This installs steam on your RPM-based system. Once Steam is finished installing, it will most likely need to update. Then you can log in to your Steam account. [2]
  8. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Installing from Flatpak

Download Article
  1. On most Linux distros, you can open the Terminal by press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Terminal. This method allows you to install Steam using Flatpak. Flatpak works on any Linux distro as long as the Flatpak manager.
  2. This updates the dnf repositories on your system.
  3. This ensures your system is up to date. It may take a while depending on how often you update your system.
  4. To restart your computer, either click the power icon on your computer and click Restart or open the Terminal and type " sudo reboot " and press Enter .
  5. Once your computer restarts, open the Terminal once again.
  6. This installs the Flatpak manager. Some Linux distros already have Flatpak manager installed. If it is already installed, you don't need to install it again.
  7. This installs the Flathub repo pack, which is basically the Flatpak app store. Type the following command and press Enter to install Flathub
  8. This command installs Steam. Once Steam is finished installing, it will need to update. Then you can log in to your Steam account.
  9. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the Dash.
      2. Find and click the Ubuntu Software app.
      3. Click the search bar.
      4. Search " Steam ".
      5. Click Install .

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 152,047 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement