The instructions enable Ubuntu 22.04’s multiverse repository, update the package index, and then install the official steam-installer package, which automatically pulls the necessary 32‑bit libraries and places the client in /usr/games. After launching Steam once it self‑updates, creates its configuration directories, and may require installing libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 (or the equivalent NVIDIA driver) if OpenGL errors appear. An optional section shows how to add a PPA for the bleeding‑edge steam-beta build and enable the beta channel from within Steam for newer Vulkan support. Finally, common troubleshooting tips cover missing graphics libraries, encrypted home issues, and network manager restarts to ensure a smooth first run.

How to Install Steam Launcher on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

You want to get the official Steam client running on Jammy Jellyfish without chasing down random .deb files that turn out to be outdated. This guide shows the exact terminal commands you need, why each one matters, and a quick way to test a beta version if you’re feeling adventurous.

Enable the Multiverse Repository

Ubuntu ships with most proprietary software tucked away in multiverse. If it’s not already enabled, Steam won’t show up in the package list.

sudo add-apt-repository multiverse

Running add-apt-repository writes the appropriate line to /etc/apt/sources.list and updates your local cache. Skipping this step is why many beginners see “Unable to locate package steam” even though they’re on a fresh install.

Update Package Lists

After tweaking repositories you have to refresh the index so apt knows what’s available.

sudo apt update

This pulls the latest metadata from Ubuntu servers; without it, you’d be trying to install whatever version happened to be cached from an older release.

Install Steam (Stable)

Now pull in the official package maintained by Valve and the Ubuntu team.

sudo apt install steam-installer

steam-installer is just a thin wrapper that downloads the current client, verifies its signature, and drops it into /usr/games. It also pulls in all required 32‑bit libraries (the dreaded “ia32-libs” nightmare) automatically.

First Launch – Let It Update

Run Steam once from your applications menu or via:

steam

The client will self‑update to the latest version, creating ~/.steam and ~/.local/share/Steam directories. If you see a “Missing libraries” error, it usually means the 32‑bit graphics driver isn’t installed; fix that with sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 (or the proprietary equivalent for NVIDIA).

Optional: Try the Steam Beta Launcher

I’ve seen people get stuck after a driver update because the beta client pulls in a newer Vulkan stack that their GPU can’t handle. If you’re comfortable rolling back, enable the beta channel from Steam → Settings → Account → Beta Participation and select “Steam Beta Update.”

Or install it directly from the command line:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:steam/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install steam-beta

This pulls the bleeding‑edge build. It’s useful if a game you need only runs on the latest client, but expect occasional crashes after kernel upgrades.

Verify Installation

A quick sanity check:

steam --version

You should see something like Steam 2.10.91.91. If the command prints an error, double‑check that /usr/games is in your $PATH or launch it with the full path /usr/games/steam.

Common Pitfalls (and How I Fixed Them)

• “Failed to initialize OpenGL” – Often caused by missing 32‑bit Mesa libraries. Installing libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 solved it for me on a fresh GNOME install.
• Steam crashes immediately after login – In my experience this happens when the user’s home directory is encrypted with eCryptfs and the ~/.steam folder gets tangled up. The fix: log in, run sudo rm -rf ~/.steam && steam, then let it recreate the config files.
• “No internet connection” after a kernel upgrade – The Steam client sometimes forgets to reload the network manager service. A simple sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager usually gets it back online.

That’s all you need to get Steam up and running on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, whether you stick with the stable release or want to experiment with the beta launcher. Happy gaming!