Cannot run Steam; missing libc.so.6

Question

Like the title says, I have problems starting Steam.

Dishes out error; You are missing the following 32-bit libraries, and Steam may not run: libc.so.6

Intel i5-6600k , 64-bit system, 16GB Ram, Nvidia 1070 (470 driver) - Running Elementary 6 Odin

What I've tried, with no success;

sudo apt install libc6-i386

Tried running flatpak update, shows me this error;

~$ flatpak update

1. [✗] org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386 20.08  i  flathub 1.0 kB / 152.6 MB

Warning: While trying to checkout c112a40c3697c2c12149f1041ca32da1cca7e309ff3dfb709b94fbde77beca08

into

/.local/share/flatpak/runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386/x86_64/20.08/.c112a40c3697c2c12149f1041ca32da1cca7e309ff3dfb709b94fbde77beca08-0FRZ80:

Opening content object da544d3558d79dd2f8e90178c902232d4879d603d2f51484aa66f4bf5e9e6678:

Couldn't find file object 'da544d3558d79dd2f8e90178c902232d4879d603d2f51484aa66f4bf5e9e6678'

Installation complete.

Running flatpak uninstall unused produces;

~$ flatpak uninstall --unused

These runtimes in installation 'system' are pinned and won't be removed; see flatpak-pin(1):
runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default/x86_64/20.08

These runtimes in installation 'user' are pinned and won't be removed; see flatpak-pin(1):
runtime/com.valvesoftware.Steam.CompatibilityTool.Proton/x86_64/stable

Nothing unused to uninstall

Trying to locate libc.so.6 produces;

~$ locate libc.so.6

/.local/share/flatpak/runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform/x86_64/20.08/63c4b310325615c74b8b5b2576733e3e7b751026cb5bf458c98ffacd7bfc6235/files/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6

/.local/share/flatpak/runtime/org.kde.Platform/x86_64/5.15/a0d4fa5ab86c591aeb9359410f75a86125a1b6114cc3bb453c487f85c7ccd83a/files/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6

/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6

/var/lib/flatpak/runtime/io.elementary.Platform/x86_64/6/f6458cfe79a53d649c33716c75262c1a2027121f0290b529644adee9a809d39e/files/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6

Running apt search libc6-i386 produces this result;

~$ apt search libc6-i386

Sorting... Done

Full Text Search... Done

libc6-i386/focal-updates,now 2.31-0ubuntu9.2 amd64 [installed] GNU C Library: 32-bit shared libraries for AMD64

libc6-i386-amd64-cross/focal-updates 2.31-0ubuntu9.2cross1 all GNU C Library: 32-bit shared libraries for AMD64 (for cross-compiling)

libc6-i386-cross/focal-updates 2.31-0ubuntu9.2cross1 all GNU C Library: Shared libraries (for cross-compiling)

libc6-i386-x32-cross/focal 2.31-0ubuntu7cross1 all GNU C Library: 32-bit shared libraries for AMD64 (for cross-compiling)

//

Ran

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install libc6:i386 libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386

Did not fix the issue.

Uninstalled Steam flatpak and installed the .deb from Steam.

Updater starts and finishes.

New error occurs;

~$ steam Package xterm needs to be installed

Running Steam on elementary 6 64-bit

STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically

Steam runtime environment up-to-date!

Steam client's requirements are satisfied

WARNING: Using default/fallback debugger launch

/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Startup - updater built Jul 20 2021 22:25:51

Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1626824053)

libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found

libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast

SteamUpdateUI: An X Error occurred

X Error of failed request: BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)

Major opcode of failed request: 151 (GLX)

Minor opcode of failed request: 3 (X_GLXCreateContext)

Value in failed request: 0x0

Serial number of failed request: 44

xerror_handler: X failed, continuing

Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Loading cached metrics from disk (/.local/share/Steam/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Failed to load cached hosts file (File 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' not found), using defaults

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] 1. http://media.steampowered.com, /client/, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'

Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1626824053)

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Checking for update on startup

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Checking for available updates...

[2021-08-25 10:05:39] Downloading manifest:

http://media.steampowered.com/client/steam_client_ubuntu12 Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(1626824053)

[2021-08-25 10:05:40] Download skipped: /client/steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1626824053, installed version 1626824053, existing pending version 0

[2021-08-25 10:05:40] Nothing to do

[2021-08-25 10:05:40] Verifying installation...

[2021-08-25 10:05:40] Performing checksum verification of executable files

[2021-08-25 10:05:40] Verification complete

Loaded SDL version 2.0.15-6655637

Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "gail"

Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "atk-bridge"

libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found

libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast

Steam: An X Error occurred

X Error of failed request: BadMatch (invalid parameter attributes)

Major opcode of failed request: 151

Serial number of failed request: 50

xerror_handler: X failed, continuing

assert_20210825100539_1.dmp[16124]: Uploading dump (out-of-process)

/tmp/dumps/assert_20210825100539_1.dmp

/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 772: 16089 Segmentation fault
$STEAM_DEBUGGER $DEBUGGER_ARGS "$STEAMROOT/$STEAMEXEPATH" "$@"

Running

sudo apt install libnvidia-gl-(your driver version here):i386
    
sudo apt-get install libatk-adaptor:i386 libgail-common:i386
    
sudo reboot

Problem was fixed. Can run steam now.

Answer 1

Thank you for your work. I wouldn't have figured it out without it.

I am running Elementary 6 Odin on the following system: Intel i7-7700K , 64-bit system, 16GB Ram, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB (470 driver)

My only suggestion is that the process can be simplified, and it is what worked for me a the time of writing, to the following commands:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install steam libatk-adaptor:i386 libgail-common:i386
sudo apt install libnvidia-gl-(your driver version here):i386

---

Note for all with this problem: It is possible to install Steam through Flathub, yet due to restrictions of Flatpak (mainly File System access) it is better to install the package through APT, which requires some extra steps, in this case is allowing the installation of x86 architecture packages and installation of missing dependencies.

Extra note: if you are running Open Source Drivers (MESA), you shouldn't install the libnvidia, instead install the following packages (information taken from here):

sudo apt install mesa-utils libgl1-mesa-glx