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docs(console): separate the two Steam picker faults

Browse Source 
The library-folder picker does open and Steam does create the directory
structure; the library simply never appears in the Storage UI. That rules
out the portal FileChooser for this symptom and points at the
write-and-execute probe Steam runs before recording the folder in
libraryfolders.vdf (ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#8450). Document how to
reproduce that probe inside Steam's FHS sandbox with steam-run, and keep
library_folder_add as the route that reports a reason.

The Add a Non-Steam Game dialog is a separate symptom and keeps the
portal explanation.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
Emma Thorpe
2026-09-01 10:32:24 +01:00
co-authored by Claude Opus 5
parent 46c03df06d
commit 3311f64c6a
1 changed files with 59 additions and 22 deletions
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docs/hosts/console.md
+56 -19
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@@ -150,13 +150,12 @@ Steam titles. Added as Steam shortcuts they appear in Big Picture and inherit
Steam Input, so the controller works in them without further configuration. Steam Input, so the controller works in them without further configuration.
Steam's own **Games → Add a Non-Steam Game** is the documented route and is also Steam's own **Games → Add a Non-Steam Game** is the documented route and is also
the one that tends not to work. Both that dialog's **Browse** button and the the one that does not work here: the dialog never appears at all. That dialog's
library-folder picker below go through the XDG desktop portal `FileChooser` file browsing goes through the XDG desktop portal `FileChooser` interface, and
interface; when the portal is unreachable the client silently falls back to a when the portal is unreachable the client falls back to a legacy chooser that is
legacy chooser that is blank or inert — Valve blank or inert — Valve
[#9447](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/9447) and [#9447](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/9447), not fixed.
[#10415](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10415), neither Check the portal side before blaming the client:
fixed. Check the portal side before blaming the client:
```sh ```sh
busctl --user introspect org.freedesktop.portal.Desktop \ busctl --user introspect org.freedesktop.portal.Desktop \
@@ -297,21 +296,55 @@ RetroArch is pointed at these paths declaratively. The other two have to be told
once, in their own UIs: once, in their own UIs:
- **Steam** — Settings → Storage → the `+` control → add `/srv/games/steam` as a - **Steam** — Settings → Storage → the `+` control → add `/srv/games/steam` as a
library folder. Games installed there survive a reinstall of the OS. That library folder. Games installed there survive a reinstall of the OS. See
picker is the broken one described under [When Steam will not register the library folder](#when-steam-will-not-register-the-library-folder)
[Adding non-Steam titles to Big Picture](#adding-non-steam-titles-to-big-picture); below; it does not currently take.
when it comes up blank, use Steam's own console instead — open Steam with
`steam -console`, pick the **CONSOLE** tab and run: - **Clone Hero** — set the song library path to `/srv/games/clonehero/songs` from
its settings screen. Clone Hero keeps its own config in `~/.clonehero`.
### When Steam will not register the library folder
Current behaviour on this host: the file picker opens, Steam creates the
directory structure at `/srv/games/steam`, and the library then never appears in
the Storage UI. So this is not the portal problem the non-Steam-game dialog has
— the picker works and Steam can write. The failure is in the validation Steam
runs before it records the folder in `libraryfolders.vdf`.
That validation is a write-and-execute probe: Steam drops a
`.steam_exec_test.sh` in the candidate folder, marks it executable and runs it.
If either step fails the folder is silently dropped, which is
[#8450](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/8450) and is
usually a `noexec` mount or an ownership problem — neither of which is obviously
true here, since `/srv` is on the ext4 root and the tree is
`lyrathorpe:users` 2775.
Reproduce the probe **inside Steam's FHS sandbox**, which is where the client
actually runs it — `steam-run` is installed by the steam module for exactly this
kind of thing:
```sh
steam-run sh -c '
printf "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n" > /srv/games/steam/.steam_exec_test.sh &&
chmod +x /srv/games/steam/.steam_exec_test.sh &&
/srv/games/steam/.steam_exec_test.sh &&
echo "probe ok"
'
rm -f /srv/games/steam/.steam_exec_test.sh
```
Then ask the client directly. Steam's console reports a reason where the UI
says nothing — open Steam with `steam -console`, pick the **CONSOLE** tab and
run:
``` ```
library_folder_add /srv/games/steam library_folder_add /srv/games/steam
``` ```
The directory must already exist and be writable by the user Steam runs as, The directory must already exist and be writable by the user Steam runs as,
which `systemd.tmpfiles` guarantees. The command does not create it. which `systemd.tmpfiles` guarantees; the command does not create it. Whatever it
prints, plus `~/.steam/steam/logs/content_log.txt`, is the evidence to work
- **Clone Hero** — set the song library path to `/srv/games/clonehero/songs` from from.
its settings screen. Clone Hero keeps its own config in `~/.clonehero`.
## Steam and Proton ## Steam and Proton
@@ -407,9 +440,13 @@ The machine is installed and Sway works. Still outstanding:
and `__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia`, the standard fix, but the combination and `__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia`, the standard fix, but the combination
has a history of needing more. Read `journalctl -b -t steam-session` first — has a history of needing more. Read `journalctl -b -t steam-session` first —
see [When the television lands on ReGreet instead of Steam](#when-the-television-lands-on-regreet-instead-of-steam). see [When the television lands on ReGreet instead of Steam](#when-the-television-lands-on-regreet-instead-of-steam).
- **Steam's file pickers do not open** — both the non-Steam-game **Browse** - **Steam will not register `/srv/games/steam` as a library folder.** The picker
dialog and the library-folder picker. Upstream client bugs with usable opens and the directory structure gets created; the library never appears in
workarounds; see the two sections above. the Storage UI. Not the portal — see
[When Steam will not register the library folder](#when-steam-will-not-register-the-library-folder).
- **Steam's Add a Non-Steam Game dialog never appears.** Separate symptom,
probably the portal `FileChooser`; `steamtinkerlaunch` writes the shortcuts
without it in the meantime.
- **Boot into Big Picture has not been exercised**, since autologin has not run. - **Boot into Big Picture has not been exercised**, since autologin has not run.
- **Television resolution and refresh.** gamescope takes the output's native - **Television resolution and refresh.** gamescope takes the output's native
mode by default. Add `gamescopeSession.args = [ "-W" "3840" "-H" "2160" "-r" mode by default. Add `gamescopeSession.args = [ "-W" "3840" "-H" "2160" "-r"