Steam (developed by Valve Corporation) is a digital distribution service for video games. It allows you to buy, install, and play games on your system. Steam is a cross-platform solution that is available for Windows Linux and MacOS. It offers you a store with plenty of games, video streaming, and other social networking services. In order to use Steam, you will need to install its client application on your system. In this article, we will explain how to install Steam on the Ubuntu system.
We will explain the installation of the Steam application through the following ways:
- Through dpkg (Command Line)
- Through Ubuntu Software Center (GUI)
Prerequisites
- Ubuntu 22.04 or Ubuntu 20.04 system
- User with sudo privileges
- Curl and gdebi-core packages
Note:
- We have run the procedure and commands on Ubuntu 20.04 LST OS. More or less the same procedure can be followed in the Debian and previous Ubuntu releases.
Install Steam through dpkg (Command Line)
In the following method, we will download the Steam deb package and install it using dpkg command. We will be using the command line Terminal application for the installation process. To open the command line Terminal, you can use the Ctrl Alt T keyboard shortcut.
Follow the below steps in order to install Steam in Ubuntu:
Step 1: Install prerequisites
First, you will need to install the prerequisite packages (Curl and gdebi-core) that are required for the installation of Steam. Issue the following command in Terminal to do so:
$ sudo apt install curl gdebi-core
When prompted for the password, provide sudo password.
Step 2: Download Steam from official website
The next step is to download the Steam deb package from the official website. You can use the following command in Terminal to do so:
$ wget https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/archive/precise/steam_latest.deb
Step 3: Install Steam
Now install the downloaded file using the following command in Terminal:
$ sudo dpkg -i steam_latest.deb
<img alt="Install Steam Ubuntu package" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1144.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="255" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”817″>
The installation of Steam will be started and once completed, move on to the next step.
Now, issue the following command in the Terminal to start the Steam launcher.
$ steam
When you run this command for the first time, it will install some necessary packages required for the proper running of the Steam package. When prompted for the password, type sudo password and press Enter.
<img alt="Install dependencies" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1145.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="137" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”735″>
Wait for a while until the process is completed.
<img alt="Steam getting installed" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1146.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="230" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”613″>
Step 4: Launch Steam
Now, you are ready to launch and use the Steam application. Type the following command in Terminal to launch Steam application:
$ steam
The following window will appear. If you already have an account, then click the LOGIN TO AN EXISTING ACCOUNT button and provide the username and password to sign in to your Steam account.
However, if you do not have a Steam account, you can click the CREATE NEW ACCOUNT button to sign up for a new account.
<img alt="Launch Steam" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1147.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="433" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”427″>
After signing in to your Steam account, you will see the Steam window with the similar view:
<img alt="Steam on Linux" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1148.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="665" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1135″>
Remove Steam
In case you want to remove Steam application from your system, you can do so with the following command in Terminal:
$ sudo apt remove steam-launcher
<img alt="Remove Steam launcher" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1149.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="278" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”830″>
Then issue the following command to remove the packages that were automatically installed as dependencies:
$ sudo apt autoremove
Install Steam through Ubuntu Software Center
If you are not comfortable with the command line, you can use the GUI method for installing the Steam application in your system. Follow the below steps to do so:
Step 1: Download Steam
Download Steam deb package from the following link:
https://repo.steampowered.com/steam/archive/precise/steam_latest.deb
Step 2: Install Steam
Open File manager and locate the downloaded package. Then right-click the Steam deb package and select Open With Software Install.
<img alt="Open Software install" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1150.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="474" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”860″>
The package will open in Software Center window and you will see the following view Click the Install button in order to install the package.
<img alt="Install Steam Launcher" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1151.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="393" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”729″>
Then you will prompted for the authentication. Enter password for authentication and click the Authenticate button.
<img alt="Authenticate as admin user" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1152.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="377" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”403″>
Now the installation will start and once finished, you will see the following view:
<img alt="Steam successfully installed on Ubuntu" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1153.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="357" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”733″>
Now, hit super key on your keyboard and type steam in the search bar. When the search result appears, click on the Steam application icon to launch the installer. When you run the Steam for the first time, it will install some necessary packages required for proper running of the Steam package. When prompted for the password, type sudo password and press Enter.
<img alt="Install dependent packages" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1154.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="137" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”735″>
Wait for a while until the process is completed.
<img alt="Installation progress" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1155.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="230" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”613″>
Step 3:Launch Steam
Now, you are ready to launch and use the Steam application. Hit super key on your keyboard and type steam in the search bar. When the search result appears, click on the Steam application icon to launch it.
<img alt="Steam Icon on Desktop" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1156.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="267" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”465″>
The following window will appear. If you already have an account, then click the LOGIN TO AN EXISTING ACCOUNT and provide the username and password to sign in to your Steam account.
However, if you do not have a Steam account, you can click the CREATE NEW ACCOUNT button to sign up for a new account.
<img alt="Steam is starting up" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1157.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="433" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”427″>
After signing in to your Steam account, you will see the Steam window with the similar view:
<img alt="Steam on Ubuntu" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1158.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="665" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1135″>
Remove Steam
In case, you want to remove the Steam application from your system, you can do so through the Ubuntu Software Center.
First, launch Ubuntu Software Center in your system. Go to the Installed tab. Here you will see a list of installed applications. Click the Remove button in front of the Steam-launcher application.
<img alt="Software removal" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1159.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="437" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”726″>
When you are asked for confirmation, click the Remove button.
<img alt="Confirm removal" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1160.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="164" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”527″>
Then the following authentication dialog will appear. Provide the authentication password and click the Authenticate button, after which the Steam application will be removed from your system.
<img alt="Authenticate as admin" data-ezsrc="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/echo/word-image-1161.png" data-ez ezimgfmt="rs rscb10 src ng ngcb10 srcset" height="361" loading="lazy" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”407″>
That is all there is to it! In this article, you have learned how to install Steam in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. We have discussed the installation of the Steam application in two ways including the command line and the GUI. You can use either of the methods based on your convenience and ease of installation.
