How to Install Steam on Debian 12

Introduction

Before we begin talking about how to install Steam on Debian 12, let's briefly understand – What is Steam?

Steam is a popular digital distribution platform for video games, developed by Valve Corporation. It allows gamers to access a vast library of games, purchase and download them to their devices. Providing both free and paid games, Steam offers a seamless user experience with features like multiplayer capability and automatic game updates.

With millions of active users worldwide, Steam has revolutionized the gaming industry by providing a convenient and efficient way to discover and enjoy a wide range of games.

In this tutorial, you will install Steam on Debian 12. We will also address a few FAQs on how to install Steam on Debian 12.

Advantages of Steam

1. Extensive Game Library: Access a massive collection of games, including both free and paid titles.
2. Easy Purchasing and Downloading: Seamlessly buy and install games directly to your device.
3. Multiplayer Capability: Play games with friends online, fostering a social gaming experience.
4. Automatic Updates: Enjoy hassle-free updates for your games, ensuring they're always up-to-date.
5. Community and Support: Connect with fellow gamers, join forums and get assistance, making your gaming journey more interactive.

Steam Pre-installation Steps on Debian 12

Step 1: Update Debian Before Steam Installation

Prior to beginning the Steam installation process, make sure your Debian system is up-to-date. By doing this, you can lessen the chance of any package conflicts when installing Steam. Here are the steps to take this:

Run the following command in an open terminal window to update all of your system packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Initial Steam Packages

Installing a few more packages will help you install Steam on your Debian system after that. These packages are frequently found on the majority of Linux distributions and are widely used. Use the following command in your terminal to install them:

sudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https dirmngr ca-certificates curl -y

These packages ensure a seamless installation process by offering necessary features like HTTPS support, certificate management, and secure APT.

Step 3: Enable 32-bit Support (Optional)

To make sure that their games work with both 32- and 64-bit versions in Steam's vast library, players can benefit from turning on 32-bit support. While the additional packages won't have any negative effects on high-powered systems, this can be especially helpful for lower-end systems that frequently play 32-bit games.

Run the following command in your terminal to allow 32-bit support on your Debian system:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

No matter what kind of system requirements a game has, you can play it on your Debian system by turning on 32-bit support. This guarantees a more varied and inclusive gaming experience.

Install Steam on Debian 12 via APT

Option 1: Install Steam with the Default Repository

Using the default repository is the first step in installing Steam on a Debian system. Although this is the most widely advised method, you may not receive the most recent stable release of the Steam client using this method. If you would rather use the newest version, you can choose the second approach.

Enter the following command in your terminal to install Steam using the default repository:

sudo apt install steam-installer steam-devices -y

Using the Debian default repository, this command installs the necessary device packages and the Steam installer.

Option 2: Install Steam with Steam Repository

Using the APT package manager, import the official Steam repository to install Steam on your Debian system is the second way. This method guarantees that you always have the most recent version of Steam straight from the source, even though it involves a few extra steps.

To install Steam using the official repository, take the following actions:

Step 1: Import Steam GPG Key

The GPG key that confirms the legitimacy of the Steam package installer must first be imported. Execute the subsequent command within your terminal:

curl -s http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/archive/stable/steam.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg > /dev/null

The GPG key is safely downloaded and saved in your system's keyring by using this command.

Step 2: Add STEAM APT Repository

Next, run the following command to add the official Steam repository to your system:

echo deb [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list

By adding the official Steam repository to your list of APT sources, this command makes sure that you are able to install packages.

Step 3: Update APT Package Information

In order for the newly imported repository to be recognized, update the APT package information now:

sudo apt update

The packages from the recently added Steam repository are now included in the package information of your system thanks to this command.

Step 4: Install the Steam Launcher on Debian via APT Command

Lastly, use the following command to install the Steam Launcher and any necessary dependencies:

sudo apt install \
  libgl1-mesa-dri:amd64 \
  libgl1-mesa-glx:amd64 \
  steam-launcher

Installing the Steam Launcher and required OpenGL libraries for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures is done with this command.

Step 5: Verify the Installed Version

Examine the installed version with the apt-cache policy command:

apt-cache policy steam-launcher

You can confirm that the installation was successful by looking at the Steam Launcher version that is installed thanks to this command.

Fix Steam Extra Sources List

During the installation, Steam might have added two extra new sources.list files for the stable and beta client. These need to be removed, or you cannot update and upgrade your packages.

Step 1: List Extra Sources Lists

To view a list of all available Steam sources lists in your /etc/apt/sources.list.d repository, run the following command:

ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam*

The Steam sources lists that are located in your /etc/apt/sources.list.d directory will be shown by this command. The additional imported Steam sources on Debian are displayed in the example output below:

Step 2: Remove Extra Sources

Three files are now visible to you. You correctly imported the "steam.list" at the beginning of this guide. The others are redundant but not necessarily wrong. Although some users might consider using the beta version, it frequently lags behind the most recent stable version of Steam. Installing Steam from beta is not advised unless a real beta is made available and publicized.

To get rid of the extra sources, type the following command into your terminal:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-beta.list
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-stable.list

Your system will be free of the pointless Steam sources lists after running this command.

Reimport the sources list at the start of the section from this guide if you unintentionally erased all three.

After that, perform an APT update to make sure your package list is operational again:

sudo apt update

This command modifies the package information on your system to reflect the removal of the additional Steam source lists.

With the proper Steam sources list installed, your Debian system is now properly configured, and you can update and upgrade your packages without any problems.

Launch Steam Client UI on Debian 12

There are various ways to launch the Steam client on your Debian system after you have successfully installed the Steam Launcher using one of the methods described above.

First, you can use the following command to quickly launch Steam if you're already working in your terminal:

steam

On a Debian system, there are multiple ways to launch the Steam client after installing the Steam Launcher successfully using one of the methods described above.

The following command can be used to rapidly launch Steam if you are currently working in your terminal:

1. Depending on the Debian desktop environment you are using, click the "Activities" or "Applications" menu.
2. Look up "Steam" using the search bar.
3. To open the application, click the "Steam" icon.

First-time Setup

Step 1: Download and Update Steam Components

When Steam launches, you'll see a sequence of pop-up windows that appear automatically, indicating that Steam is updating and downloading its components. All that's left to do is relax and bide your time until the procedure is completed. This update should only take a few minutes for the majority of users.

Step 2: Log in or Create a New Steam Account

The Steam Launcher login window will appear after the updates are finished. You have the option to sign in using your current Steam account or, if you don't already have one, to create a new one right here.

Step 3: Enjoy Gaming on Steam

If you haven't already, you can either create a new Steam account or sign in with your current one. After completing the Steam installation process and logging in or registering, you can now take advantage of the platform's enormous selection of games and features.

Tips for Getting Started with Steam on Debian 12

There are a few tricks and tips to improve your gaming experience after you've installed and started the Steam client on your Debian system. To get the most out of Steam on Debian Linux, this section will cover general advice, customization options, and other useful tips.

General Steam Tips with Debian

• Enable Steam Play: Steam Play lets you use Proton, a Wine-based compatibility layer, to run Windows-only games on your Debian system. Navigate to Steam > Settings > Steam Play > Check Enable Steam Play for all other titles > Select the latest Proton version from the dropdown menu > Click OK.
• Monitor System Performance: Keeping an eye on your system resources is essential when gaming. Track CPU, RAM, and GPU usage with system monitoring tools like glances or htop. You can install glances with sudo apt install glances, or htop with sudo apt install htop.
• Optimize Game Settings: For optimal performance, adjust the game's settings to correspond with your hardware. If you're having trouble with performance, think about reducing the graphics settings or resolution.

Steam Customization Tips with Debian

• Change Steam Skin: Apply custom skins to your Steam client to make it uniquely yours. After obtaining reputable sources for Steam skins, go to Steam > Settings > Interface > Select the skin you wish Steam to use > Click OK and restart Steam.
• Steam Big Picture Mode: By selecting the gamepad icon located in the upper-right corner of the Steam client, you can enter Big Picture Mode and enjoy a more console-like experience. When using a game controller to navigate Steam, this mode is especially helpful.

Other Steam Tips with Debian

• Backup and Restore Games: You can backup your installed games by selecting Backup Game Files from the context menu when you right-click on the game in your library to conserve bandwidth and time. To restore a backup, go to Steam > Backup and Restore Games > Restore a previous backup > Locate the backup folder and follow the prompts.
• Family Sharing: Turn on Family Sharing to share your Steam library with loved ones. Navigate Steam > Settings > Family > Check Authorize Library Sharing on this computer > Select the user accounts you want to share with.

Additional Commands For Steam on Debian 12

Update Steam on Debian

The majority of the time, Steam can update itself; however, desktop users who have properly configured the APT package manager should receive notifications of updates resulting from all methods. Nevertheless, since the terminal command never fails, we advise using it to periodically check for updates to make sure you are downloading all of them.

First, use the following command to see if there are any updates:

sudo apt update

Run the following command to see if there are any Steam updates available or if there are any system updates available:

sudo apt upgrade

Remove Steam From Debian

The steps listed below can be used to remove the Steam software from your computer.

Step 1: Uninstall Steam

To uninstall Steam, type the following command into your terminal:

sudo apt autoremove steam*

Step 2: Remove the Repository

Use the following command to remove the repository if you installed the Steam APT repositories:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam*

Step 3: Remove the Imported GPG Key

Finally, the following command can be used to remove the imported GPG key for users who remove Steam and can switch between the beta and stable versions of the Steam APT repository:

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/steam*

You can update or uninstall Steam from your Debian system by following these instructions.

FAQs to Install Steam on Debian 12

Conclusion

We hope this tutorial helped you understand how to install Steam on Debian 12.

If you have any queries, please leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to respond to them for sure.