[Bug]: Steam not showing up

[MadMacMig]

Describe the Bug

I've installed this container on docker running on ubuntu server, GPU is seen, everything else works fine but steam just wont open at all, when I run the steam command in terminal, I get told its already running but no window shows up.

Steps to Reproduce

No response

Expected Behavior

Steam should show up when the app is clicked.

Screenshots

Relevant Settings

Docker is running insude of an Ubuntu Server VM which is running on Proxmox.
I've got an Nvidia Tesla GPU passed through and it shows up in the container.

Version

2025-12-10 13:09:52,758

Platform

Nvidia - 570.195.03
Docker & Docker compose installed, used docker compose to setup and using Portainer to manage.

Relevant log output

[samdoesknow]

Same tnas default setup with ixvolumes, nvidia 1080, 570 driver. nvidia-smi looks good.

Edit, killed steam and launched via terminal. errors.

i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-gbm.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libgbm.so.1" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-wayland.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libwayland-server.so.0" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-gbm.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libgbm.so.1" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-gbm.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libgbm.so.1" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-wayland.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libwayland-server.so.0" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-wayland.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libwayland-server.so.0" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-wayland.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libwayland-server.so.0" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-gbm.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libgbm.so.1" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-xcb.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libgbm.so.1" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib i386-linux-gnu-capsule-capture-libs: warning: Dependencies of libnvidia-egl-xlib.so.1 not found, ignoring: Missing dependencies: Could not find "libgbm.so.1" in LD_LIBRARY_PATH "/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32:/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/panorama:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/vdpau:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/local/lib:/lib", ld.so.cache, DT_RUNPATH or fallback /lib:/usr/lib exec ./steamwebhelper -nocrashdialog -lang=en_US -cachedir=/home/default/.steam/steam/config/htmlcache -steampid=1612 -buildid=1763795278 -steamid=0 -logdir=/home/default/.steam/steam/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=0 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/default/.steam/clientui -steampath=/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 -use_xcomposite_workaround --valve-enable-site-isolation --enable-smooth-scrolling --disable-gpu-compositing --disable-gpu --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/default/.steam/steam/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --disable-component-update --gaia-url=http://disabled.invalid --disable-features=WinRetrieveSuggestionsOnlyOnDemand,SpareRendererForSitePerProcess,DcheckIsFatal,BlockPromptsIfIgnoredOften,ValveFFmpegAllowLowDelayHEVC reaping pid: 1613 -- sh

[samdoesknow]

fixed my issue by forcing 535 driver

[socratesprime]

Hey Samdoesknow, how can I force the 535 driver?

[samdoesknow]

Hey Samdoesknow, how can I force the 535 driver?

bottom of .env

[isgallagher]

Try updating your docker-compose.yml with this:

# GPU PASSTHROUGH (Old, remove)
runtime: nvidia

# GPU PASSTHROUGH (Updated, add this)
deploy:
  resources:
    reservations:
      devices:
        - driver: nvidia
          count: all # or specify the number of GPUs (e.g., 1) or specific IDs
          capabilities: [gpu]

[OMGButterbee]

I'm also having the steam window not open, but I get different console output than Sam.

Card: GTX1070
Driver: Nvidia 550.142
System: Truenas 25.04.2.6
Docker v27.5.0

[default@steam-headless ~]$ steam
steam.sh[3944]: Running Steam on debian 12 64-bit
steam.sh[3944]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[3982]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[3944]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Startup - updater built Nov 22 2025 07:00:25
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-srt-logger-opened' '-nominidumps' '-nobreakpad'
12/16 17:42:44 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
12/16 17:42:44 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1763795278)/tid(4052)
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] 1. https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 900, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] 2. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 400, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] 3. https://client-update.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Verifying installation...
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Verifying file sizes only
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Process started with command-line: '/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-child-update-ui' '-child-update-ui-socket' '8' '-srt-logger-opened' '-nominidumps' '-nobreakpad'
12/16 17:42:44 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Using update UI: console
12/16 17:42:44 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(4054)
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Create window
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Set percent complete: 0
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Set status message: Verifying installation...
[----] Verifying installation...
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Verification complete
UpdateUI: skip show logo
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] Destroy window

Steam logging initialized: directory: /home/default/.steam/debian-installation/logs

[2025-12-16 17:42:44] ProcessNextMessage: socket disconnected
[2025-12-16 17:42:44] No more messages are expected - exiting
12/16 17:42:44 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
12/16 17:42:44 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steamsysinfo)/version(1763795278)/tid(4060)
Running query: 1 - GpuTopology
Response: gpu_topology {
  gpus {
    id: 1
    name: "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070"
    vram_size_bytes: 8847884288
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_NvidiaProprietary
    driver_version_major: 550
    driver_version_minor: 142
    driver_version_patch: 0
    luid: 0
  }
  gpus {
    id: 2
    name: "llvmpipe (LLVM 15.0.6, 256 bits)"
    vram_size_bytes: 2147483648
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_MesaLLVMPipe
    driver_version_major: 0
    driver_version_minor: 0
    driver_version_patch: 1
    luid: 0
  }
  default_gpu_id: 1
}

Exit code: 0
Saving response to: /tmp/steamBdBHnA - 105 bytes
Fontconfig warning: line 5: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-hinting-slight.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig error: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 72: non-double matrix element
Fontconfig error: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 72: non-double matrix element
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 80: saw unknown, expected number
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-yes-antialias.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/20-unhint-small-vera.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/30-metric-aliases.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/40-nonlatin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/45-generic.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/45-latin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/48-spacing.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/49-sansserif.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/50-user.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/51-local.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/60-generic.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/60-latin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/65-nonlatin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/70-no-bitmaps.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
steamwebhelper.sh[4065]: Starting steamwebhelper under bootstrap steamrt steam runtime via: /home/default/.steam/debian-installation/steamrt64/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
steamwebhelper.sh[4065]: Starting steamwebhelper with steamrt steam runtime at /home/default/.steam/debian-installation/steamrt64/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
Steam Runtime Launch Service: starting steam-runtime-launcher-service
Steam Runtime Launch Service: steam-runtime-launcher-service is running pid 4133
bus_name=com.steampowered.PressureVessel.LaunchAlongsideSteam
exec ./steamwebhelper -nocrashdialog -lang=en_US -cachedir=/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/config/htmlcache -steampid=4052 -buildid=1763795278 -steamid=0 -logdir=/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=0 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/clientui -steampath=/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 -use_xcomposite_workaround --valve-initial-threadpool-size=12 --valve-enable-site-isolation --enable-smooth-scrolling --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/default/.steam/debian-installation/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --disable-component-update --gaia-url=http://disabled.invalid --enable-features=PlatformHEVCDecoderSupport --disable-features=WinRetrieveSuggestionsOnlyOnDemand,SpareRendererForSitePerProcess,DcheckIsFatal,BlockPromptsIfIgnoredOften,ValveFFmpegAllowLowDelayHEVC
reaping pid: 4053 -- sh
/usr/share/themes/Adwaita-dark/gtk-2.0/main.rc:733: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}'
/usr/share/themes/Adwaita-dark/gtk-2.0/hacks.rc:28: error: invalid string constant "normal_entry", expected valid string constant
Desktop state changed: desktop: { pos:    0,   0 size:    0,   0 } primary: { pos:    0,   0 size:    0,   0 }
Caching cursor image for left_ptr, size 24x24, serial 149, cache size = 0
CVRStreamThread: Couldn't create window: Could not find display info
[2025-12-16 17:44:45] Background update loop checking for update. . .
[2025-12-16 17:44:45] Checking for available updates...
[2025-12-16 17:44:45] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2025-12-16 17:44:45] Manifest download: send request
[2025-12-16 17:44:45] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2025-12-16 17:44:46] Manifest download: finished
[2025-12-16 17:44:46] Download skipped: /steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1763795278, installed version 1763795278, existing pending version 0
[2025-12-16 17:44:46] Nothing to do

[socratesprime]

TrueNAS Scale does not provide a straightforward way to modify the docker-compose.yml file directly. Instead, configuration changes must be made through environment variables. To force the container to use the 535 driver, I added the environment variable NVIDIA_DRIVER_VERSION with the value 535.154.05

However, after doing this, the logs indicate that the driver is being downloaded to match the host, which suggests that this environment variable is intended to ensure compatibility between the host and container rather than to override the driver version used by the container. Running nvidia-smi inside the container confirmed that the driver version remained the same as the host’s.

Despite this, the web GUI displays the VNC and Steam Headless logo but fails to load the server UI and ultimately returns the error: “Failed to connect to server.”

[Mikec78660]

I'm seeing the same thing as OMGButterbee .

Running under proxmox. Have tried running the OCI image directly in a container (which is the end goal), have tried running the docker container in an LXC and finally running the docker container on the Proxmox host (debian 13). Having the same issue with each.

It's weird. Everything seems to be starting and running correctly except the steam application is not showing up on the desktop. The container starts and I can connect to the desktop in the browser. I can see it installing the flatpak software, firefox, xfwm4, etc. When it is done the application menu shows up and the window manager starts. A dialog box pops up asking if I want to install steam. I choose yes. A couple of boxes pop up quickly and after a minute or two, I can see steam in the process window but the steam window never opens. I can choose steam from the application window under games or internet and nothing happens. I have removed the -silent arg from the .env thinking maybe it was minimized to a system tray or something but same result. I even tried adding the arg -bigpicture, but same result. I do have an Intel ARC GPU on this machine as well that seems to get recognized somehow but everything seems to be running on NVIDIA GPU 0 as expected and nothing is running on the Intel GPU.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 550.163.01             Driver Version: 550.163.01     CUDA Version: 12.4     |
|-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
| GPU  Name                 Persistence-M | Bus-Id          Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan  Temp   Perf          Pwr:Usage/Cap |           Memory-Usage | GPU-Util  Compute M. |
|                                         |                        |               MIG M. |
|=========================================+========================+======================|
|   0  Tesla P40                      Off |   00000000:04:00.0 Off |                  Off |
| N/A   31C    P8              9W /  250W |     140MiB /  24576MiB |      0%      Default |
|                                         |                        |                  N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
|   1  Tesla P4                       Off |   00000000:0D:00.0 Off |                  Off |
| N/A   40C    P8              7W /   75W |       1MiB /   8192MiB |      0%      Default |
|                                         |                        |                  N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
|   2  Tesla P4                       Off |   00000000:0E:00.0 Off |                  Off |
| N/A   35C    P8              7W /   75W |       1MiB /   8192MiB |      0%      Default |
|                                         |                        |                  N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
|   3  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090        Off |   00000000:15:00.0  On |                  N/A |
| 47%   61C    P0            144W /  420W |    4003MiB /  24576MiB |      2%      Default |
|                                         |                        |                  N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
                                                                                         
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes:                                                                              |
|  GPU   GI   CI        PID   Type   Process name                              GPU Memory |
|        ID   ID                                                               Usage      |
|=========================================================================================|
|    0   N/A  N/A   3958984      G   /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg                            120MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A   3959184      G   xfwm4                                           4MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A   3959413      G   /home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/steam          3MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A   3959630    C+G   ...t/.steam/ubuntu12_64/steamwebhelper          9MiB |
|    3   N/A  N/A      4292      G   /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg                           3104MiB |
|    3   N/A  N/A     18604      G   cinnamon                                      367MiB |
|    3   N/A  N/A    379466      G   ...er/java/java-runtime-delta/bin/java          5MiB |
|    3   N/A  N/A   3678599      G   firefox-esr                                   435MiB |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Here is the output from starting the container:

root@pve:/opt/container-services/steam-headless# sudo docker compose up  --force-recreate
WARN[0000] /opt/container-services/steam-headless/docker-compose.yml: the attribute `version` is obsolete, it will be ignored, please remove it to avoid potential confusion 
[+] up 1/1
 ✔ Container steam-headless-steam-headless-1 Recreated                                                                                                      0.2s 
Attaching to steam-headless-1
steam-headless-1  | Build: [2025-12-24 20:23:50] [master] [f9836a5e35ab8de9451b2e7011a2b83119f8d69c] [debian]
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/10-setup_user.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure default user ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Setting default user uid=1000(default) gid=1000(default)
steam-headless-1  | usermod: no changes
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding default user to any additional required device groups
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding user 'default' to group: 'video'
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding user 'default' to group: 'audio'
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding user 'default' to group: 'input'
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding user 'default' to group: 'pulse'
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding user 'default' to group: 'sudo'
steam-headless-1  |   - Adding user 'default' to group: 'plocate' for device: /dev/uinput
steam-headless-1  |   - Setting umask to 000
steam-headless-1  |   - Create the user XDG_RUNTIME_DIR path '/tmp/.X11-unix/run'
steam-headless-1  |   - Setting ownership of all log files in '/home/default/.cache/log'
steam-headless-1  |   - Setting root password
steam-headless-1  |   - Setting user password
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/11-setup_sysctl_values.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure some system kernel parameters ****
steam-headless-1  | WARNING: Unable to set vm.max_map_count on unprivileged container
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/30-configure_dbus.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure container dbus ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Container configured to run its own dbus
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/30-configure_udev.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure udevd ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Disable udevd - /sys is mounted RO
steam-headless-1  |   - Enable dumb-udev service
steam-headless-1  |   - Ensure the default user has permission to r/w on input devices
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/40-setup_locale.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure local ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Locales already set correctly to en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/50-configure_pulseaudio.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure pulseaudio ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Enable pulseaudio service.
steam-headless-1  |   - Configure pulseaudio to pipe audio to a socket
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/60-configure_gpu_driver.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Found Intel device 'Intel Corporation DG2 [Arc A310] (rev 05)' ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Enable i386 arch
steam-headless-1  |   - Install mesa vulkan drivers
steam-headless-1  | **** No AMD device found ****
steam-headless-1  | **** Found NVIDIA device 'Tesla P40' ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Installing NVIDIA driver v550.163.01 to match what is running on the host
steam-headless-1  |   - Leaving NVIDIA driver stock without patching
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/70-configure_desktop.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure Desktop ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Enable Desktop service.
steam-headless-1  |   - Ensure home directory template is owned by the default user.
steam-headless-1  |   - Installing default home directory template
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/70-configure_xorg.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Generate NVIDIA xorg.conf ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Configure Xwrapper.config
steam-headless-1  |   - Configure container as primary the X server
steam-headless-1  |   - Enabling evdev input class on pointers, keyboards, touchpads, touch screens, etc.
steam-headless-1  |   - Configuring X11 with GPU ID: 'GPU-b14928fd-5db0-b7c6-f78a-a209908e0117'
steam-headless-1  |   - Configuring X11 with PCI bus ID: 'PCI:4:0:0'
steam-headless-1  |   - Writing X11 config with Modeline "2560x1440R"  497.25  2560 2608 2640 2720  1440 1443 1448 1525 +hsync -vsync
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | WARNING: Unable to locate/open X configuration file.
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | Option "ProbeAllGpus" "False" added to Screen "Screen0".
steam-headless-1  | Option "BaseMosaic" "False" added to Screen "Screen0".
steam-headless-1  | Option "AllowEmptyInitialConfiguration" "True" added to Screen "Screen0".
steam-headless-1  | New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/80-configure_flatpak.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure Flatpak ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Flatpak configured for running inside a Docker container
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/90-configure_neko.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure Neko ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Disable Neko server
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/90-configure_steam.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure Steam ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Enable Steam auto-start script
steam-headless-1  |   - Steam config already exists, skipping initialization
steam-headless-1  |   - Steam library config already exists, skipping initialization
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/90-configure_sunshine.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure Sunshine ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Disable Sunshine server
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/90-configure_vnc.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure VNC ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Configure VNC service port '32036'
steam-headless-1  |   - Configure pulseaudio encoded stream port '32037'
steam-headless-1  |   - Enable VNC server
steam-headless-1  |   - Disable audio stream
steam-headless-1  |   - Disable audio websock
steam-headless-1  | DONE
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | [ /etc/cont-init.d/95-setup_wol.sh: executing... ]
steam-headless-1  | **** Configure WoL Manager ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Disable WoL Manager service.
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | **** Starting supervisord ****
steam-headless-1  |   - Logging all root services to '/var/log/supervisor/'
steam-headless-1  |   - Logging all user services to '/home/default/.cache/log/'
steam-headless-1  | 
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/accounts-daemon.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/dbus.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/desktop.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/neko.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/polkit.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/pulseaudio.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/steam.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/sunshine.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/udev.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/vnc-audio.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/vnc.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/wol-power-manager.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/xorg.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,681 INFO Included extra file "/etc/supervisor.d/xvfb.ini" during parsing
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,682 INFO Set uid to user 0 succeeded
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,684 INFO RPC interface 'supervisor' initialized
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,684 CRIT Server 'unix_http_server' running without any HTTP authentication checking
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:08,684 INFO supervisord started with pid 1
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,686 INFO spawned: 'dbus' with pid 536
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,687 INFO spawned: 'udev' with pid 537
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,688 INFO spawned: 'polkit' with pid 538
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,689 INFO spawned: 'accounts-daemon' with pid 539
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,689 INFO spawned: 'xorg' with pid 540
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,690 INFO spawned: 'frontend' with pid 542
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,691 INFO spawned: 'pulseaudio' with pid 543
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,691 INFO spawned: 'x11vnc' with pid 544
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,692 INFO spawned: 'desktop' with pid 551
steam-headless-1  | PULSEAUDIO: Starting pulseaudio service
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:09,701 INFO reaped unknown pid 577 (exit status 0)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: dbus entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: udev entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: polkit entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: accounts-daemon entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: xorg entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: frontend entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: pulseaudio entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: x11vnc entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:10,697 INFO success: desktop entered RUNNING state, process has stayed up for > than 1 seconds (startsecs)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:30:11,547 INFO reaped unknown pid 627 (exit status 1)
steam-headless-1  | 2025-12-27 07:35:14,019 INFO reaped unknown pid 677 (exit status 0)

Here is the output if I kill the steam process and restart it from a terminal in the webui:

[default@SteamHeadless ~]$ killall steam
[default@SteamHeadless ~]$ steam
steam.sh[2397]: Running Steam on debian 13 64-bit
steam.sh[2397]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[2436]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[2397]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Startup - updater built Dec 23 2025 00:47:59
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-srt-logger-opened' '-nominidumps' '-nobreakpad'
12/27 08:07:46 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
12/27 08:07:46 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1766451605)/tid(2509)
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Process started with command-line: '/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-child-update-ui' '-child-update-ui-socket' '8' '-srt-logger-opened' '-nominidumps' '-nobreakpad'
12/27 08:07:46 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Using update UI: console
12/27 08:07:46 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(2511)
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Create window
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/default/.steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Failed to load cached hosts file (File 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' not found), using defaults
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] 1. https://client-update.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Verifying installation...
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Verifying file sizes only
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Set percent complete: 0
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Set status message: Verifying installation...
[----] Verifying installation...
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Verification complete
UpdateUI: skip show logo
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] Destroy window

Steam logging initialized: directory: /home/default/.steam/steam/logs

[2025-12-27 08:07:46] ProcessNextMessage: socket disconnected
[2025-12-27 08:07:46] No more messages are expected - exiting
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
12/27 08:07:46 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
12/27 08:07:46 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steamsysinfo)/version(1766451605)/tid(2517)
Running query: 1 - GpuTopology
Response: gpu_topology {
  gpus {
    id: 1
    name: "Tesla P40"
    vram_size_bytes: 25769803776
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_NvidiaProprietary
    driver_version_major: 550
    driver_version_minor: 163
    driver_version_patch: 1
    luid: 0
  }
  gpus {
    id: 2
    name: "Tesla P4"
    vram_size_bytes: 8847884288
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_NvidiaProprietary
    driver_version_major: 550
    driver_version_minor: 163
    driver_version_patch: 1
    luid: 0
  }
  gpus {
    id: 3
    name: "Tesla P4"
    vram_size_bytes: 8847884288
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_NvidiaProprietary
    driver_version_major: 550
    driver_version_minor: 163
    driver_version_patch: 1
    luid: 0
  }
  gpus {
    id: 4
    name: "llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7, 256 bits)"
    vram_size_bytes: 3221225472
    driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_MesaLLVMPipe
    driver_version_major: 0
    driver_version_minor: 0
    driver_version_patch: 1
    luid: 0
  }
  default_gpu_id: 1
}

Exit code: 0
Saving response to: /tmp/steamlBLDDk - 156 bytes
Fontconfig warning: line 5: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-hinting-slight.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig error: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 72: non-double matrix element
Fontconfig error: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 72: non-double matrix element
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 80: saw unknown, expected number
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-sub-pixel-none.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-yes-antialias.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/20-unhint-small-vera.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/30-metric-aliases.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/40-nonlatin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/45-generic.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/45-latin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/48-spacing.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/49-sansserif.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/50-user.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/51-local.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/60-generic.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/60-latin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/65-nonlatin.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/70-no-bitmaps-except-emoji.conf", line 4: unknown element "description"
steamwebhelper.sh[2522]: Starting steamwebhelper under bootstrap steamrt steam runtime via: /home/default/.steam/steamrt64/pv-runtime/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
steamwebhelper.sh[2522]: Starting steamwebhelper with steamrt steam runtime at /home/default/.steam/steamrt64/pv-runtime/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
SaveRegistryVDF
SaveRegistryVDF completed successfully
exec ./steamwebhelper -nocrashdialog -lang=en_US -cachedir=/home/default/.steam/steam/config/htmlcache -steampid=2509 -buildid=1766451605 -steamid=0 -logdir=/home/default/.steam/steam/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=0 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/default/.steam/clientui -steampath=/home/default/.steam/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 -use_xcomposite_workaround --valve-initial-threadpool-size=12 --valve-enable-site-isolation --enable-smooth-scrolling --disable-gpu-compositing --disable-gpu --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/default/.steam/steam/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --disable-component-update --gaia-url=http://disabled.invalid --disable-features=WinRetrieveSuggestionsOnlyOnDemand,SpareRendererForSitePerProcess,DcheckIsFatal,BlockPromptsIfIgnoredOften,ValveFFmpegAllowLowDelayHEVC
Steam Runtime Launch Service: starting steam-runtime-launcher-service
Steam Runtime Launch Service: steam-runtime-launcher-service is running pid 2706
bus_name=com.steampowered.PressureVessel.LaunchAlongsideSteam
reaping pid: 2510 -- sh

[isgallagher]

I’m running OCI in docker on a VM on Proxmox and with the changes to docker-compose.yml, it’s working normally for me.

[Mikec78660]

I’m running OCI in docker on a VM on Proxmox and with the changes to docker-compose.yml, it’s working normally for me.

I'm trying to get the native docker image to run as a container with the native docker image option now in Proxmox. So no VM, No LXC overhead even. That's the dream anyway. But currently I can't even get it to work just using docker compose on the Proxmox host. It's weird. I can install any other software in the WebUI of the container, Firefox works fine, gimp, even steam link installs and works. But for some reason the steam window just doesn't seem to show up. I have tried uninstalling it, reinstalling it, installing it from flatpak, from .deb. They all show the process running just no window. Have tried in a privileged and unprivileged container.

[proJM-Coding]

I am facing the same problems as @OMGButterbee and @Mikec78660, did you either ever find a fix? I can't seem to get it to work no matter what I do. I'm using normal docker compose.

[Alaric323]

Hi all, I was receiving the same error where the desktop would spawn but steam would fail to run. A privileged container DID solve the issue for me. RTX3090, Scale 25.04, 550 driver. It also solved my missing display issue with Sunshine/Moonlight connectivity.

[jr551]

One thing I hit live on a Proxmox setup was that steam could be running but the real blocker was not GPU/Xorg at all, it was the hidden Debian Steam installer / first-run bootstrap path.

So if the process exists but no real Steam window appears, I would check whether this is actually one of these cases:

• a hidden installer / license dialog
• the Debian /usr/games/steam launcher path getting stuck during first run
• Steam bootstrap files not being initialized cleanly in the persistent home

In my case, once I bypassed the hidden installer/bootstrap path, Steam progressed normally through:

• Update complete, launching...
• Unpacking Steam Runtime

Before that, it looked a lot like "Steam is running but no window shows up".

So I would try launching from a terminal inside the desktop session and watch specifically for installer/bootstrap behavior rather than only GPU errors.

Since you are on Proxmox as well, I would not rule out the same first-run/hidden-dialog issue just because the GPU looks healthy.