This quick guide walks you through enabling Ubuntu 21.04’s multiverse repository, installing Steam from the official package manager, and patching any missing 32‑bit libraries that can trip up users after a release update. Adding multiverse unlocks Steam—a component that Ubuntu’s default sources omit—and skipping it is often why people see “Steam package not found.” Installing with apt pulls in all dependencies automatically, so you avoid the pitfall of missing 32‑bit libraries that a hand‑downloaded .deb might leave behind. Once Steam launches, if it freezes or shows libGL errors, install i386 packages and optionally run STEAM_RUNTIME=0 to force the system’s libraries, after which you’re ready to dive into gaming.

Getting Steam Running on Ubuntu 21.04 in Three Easy Steps

You’ll learn how to pull the Steam installer from Ubuntu’s own repositories, fix the 32‑bit library hiccup that trips up a lot of people after the Hirsute release, and get your first game launched without fuss.

Enable the Multiverse Repository

Ubuntu’s default repos don’t ship Steam; you need the multiverse component.

sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
sudo apt update

Adding multiverse is a one‑liner that unlocks a handful of community‑supported packages, including Steam. Skipping it is the most common reason people get stuck at “Steam package not found.”

Install Steam from Apt

Now grab Steam straight from Ubuntu’s package cache.

sudo apt install steam

Because Steam ships as an official Debian package, you’ll get all the dependencies resolved automatically. It also means future updates stay in sync with your system’s upgrade cycle.

Why the “apt” route beats downloading a .deb file

When you hand‑download a .deb and double‑click it, Ubuntu will still ask for confirmation but won’t automatically pull in missing 32‑bit libs if they’re not already present. Apt does that for you on install.

##### Fix Missing 32‑Bit Libraries (if needed)

If Steam launches and then immediately exits with “Failed to load libGL.so.1” or “Missing x86_64 libraries”, you probably upgraded the GPU driver last week. Add the required i386 packages:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libc6:i386 libstdc++6:i386 libgcc-s1:i386

These steps ensure Steam’s 32‑bit components can find what they need, a pain that shows up most often after a kernel or driver bump.

Real‑world note

I’ve seen users complain that “Steam just sits on the screen and says ‘loading’ forever” right after upgrading to 21.04. The culprit was always a missing libGL.so.1; installing the i386 libraries fixed it in seconds.

Launch Steam & Enjoy

steam

If it opens, you’re good to go. If you hit a roadblock again, try launching with:

STEAM_RUNTIME=0 steam

This forces Steam to use the system’s shared libs instead of its bundled runtime and can bypass some weird compatibility glitches.