New Steam Client Beta for Linux fixes sluggish update installations

Valve has released a new update for Steam Client Beta, and this patch tackles a frustrating issue for some Linux users: those slow install speeds when the client itself needed an update. Valve indicates this fix should bring those update times back to a much more reasonable duration.

This improvement for the Linux client is particularly noteworthy considering data from the May 2025 Steam Hardware & Software Survey, which showed overall Steam usage on Linux climbing to 2.69%. Interestingly, within that growing Linux user base, Valve's own SteamOS, the foundation of the Steam Deck, saw its share decrease to 30.95%, its lowest point in two years.

Apart from the Linux installation speedup, the recent beta addresses several other areas. Fixes include resolving issues where spoiler sections for events failed to display correctly in the library and ensuring blurred images for adult content games actually appeared blurred. Additionally, links opened from desktop chat will now go directly to the desktop browser instead of taking a detour through the Steam browser first.

The full changelog is given below:

General

• Fixed events not showing spoiler sections when events were being shown in the library.
• Fixed events showing blurred images in the library for games with adult content.
• Fixed links opened from desktop chat opening in Steam browser before opening in desktop browser.

Steam Overlay

• Fixed periodic gameplay lag and freezing in games using Vulkan rendering when running with Steam Overlay disabled.
• Fixed timer continuing to alert after game exit if running in repeat mode.

SteamVR

• Fixed intermittent steamwebhelper crash when exiting VR mode.

Linux

• Improved steam client update installation speed. In some pathological cases this operation could take minutes to complete, when the expected completion time is seconds.

Big Picture

• Fixed X, Y, trigger and other buttons being treated as simulated mouse input on the Steam Store

Over on the Stable channel, there's also an update, with the full list of general changes outlined below:

• Fixed a rare case that could result in multiple prompts to install the same update.
• Fixed a rare case that could result in re-triggering the out of box wizard.
• Fixed the 'Battery Charge Limit' option showing on devices that currently don't support this feature.
• Fixed events showing blurred images in the library for games with adult content.

If you want to install the Steam Client Beta, it is straightforward: fire up your Steam client. Then, click "Steam" in the top-left menu of the Steam window and select "Settings". In the Settings window, navigate to the "Interface" tab. Look for the "Client Beta Participation" section, click the dropdown menu there, and select "Steam Beta Update". Steam will prompt you to restart. Let it do its thing, and it will download the beta client.