Steam flatpak doesn't start on Fedora Silverblue 44, needed "Background" permission.

Steam flatpak doesn't start on Fedora Silverblue 44

My solution: Give background permission using Flatseal. Is that a bug?

Reporting in case it's an error. And it might be a solution for anyone else having problems.

Possible cause:
[The update window isn't showing anymore](https://github.com/flathub/com.valvesoftware.Steam/issues/1518), now Flatpak thinks it's in the background and kills it if nothing happens within X seconds.
I'm totally pulling this out of my behind so I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense.

See below for what the log looked like when starting from the console.

```
❯ flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam --help
INFO:root:https://github.com/flathub/com.valvesoftware.Steam/wiki
INFO:root:Will set XDG dirs prefix to /var/home/starquake/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam
DEBUG:root:Checking input devices permissions
INFO:root:Overriding TZ to Europe/Amsterdam
DEBUG:root:Addding /usr/lib/extensions/vulkan/gamescope/bin to PATH
steam.sh[2]: Running Steam on org.freedesktop.platform 25.08 64-bit
steam.sh[2]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[52]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[2]: Log already open
steam.sh[2]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Startup - updater built Sep 12 2025 03:55:50
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/var/home/starquake/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-srt-logger-opened' '-no-cef-sandbox' '--help'
07/04 20:32:50 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
07/04 20:32:50 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(96)
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Failed to load cached hosts file (File 'update_hosts_cached.vdf' not found), using defaults
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] 1. https://client-update.steamstatic.com/, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Checking for update on startup
ILocalize::AddFile() failed to load file "public/steambootstrapper_english.txt".
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Checking for available update...
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Process started with command-line: '/var/home/starquake/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-child-update-ui' '-child-update-ui-socket' '8' '-srt-logger-opened' '-no-cef-sandbox' '--help'
07/04 20:32:50 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Using update UI: console
07/04 20:32:50 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(97)
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Create window
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Set percent complete: 0
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Set status message: Checking for available update...
[ 0%] Checking for available update...
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Set percent complete: -1
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: finished
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Downloaded new manifest: /steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1782866176, installed version 0, existing pending version 0
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file webkit_ubuntu12.zip.vz.b47a2e526c9a5dec38f46ec651d991bde3230762_89724917 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file runtime_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.f7326f3900525f380207e474a31240d433483ed4_79430095 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file bins_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.ed89e4849a1b1ef75b471e72d56db38fb51c725b_60591660 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file bins_codecs_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.06d30405f28650c005608d73b25689e73fc263cd_7522687 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file bins_misc_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.0ae48da2d448342e71c8ed1eae81b07cb30a0b28_788129 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file webkit_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.c6b5282a313a4ba1558fb9c53c905d283645b590 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file sdl3_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.c79773f2ff09565c0c80308f270971156958648c missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Package file steam_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.3f50401c077b2c2dcc79da1f80f335b57ae6a0e8_3587128 missing or incorrect size
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/webkit_ubuntu12.zip.vz.b47a2e526c9a5dec38f46ec651d991bde3230762_89724917
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/runtime_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.f7326f3900525f380207e474a31240d433483ed4_79430095
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/bins_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.ed89e4849a1b1ef75b471e72d56db38fb51c725b_60591660
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/bins_codecs_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.06d30405f28650c005608d73b25689e73fc263cd_7522687
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/bins_misc_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.0ae48da2d448342e71c8ed1eae81b07cb30a0b28_788129
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/webkit_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.c6b5282a313a4ba1558fb9c53c905d283645b590
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/sdl3_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.c79773f2ff09565c0c80308f270971156958648c
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Add pending download: https://client-update.steamstatic.com/steam_steamrt_ubuntu12.zip.vz.3f50401c077b2c2dcc79da1f80f335b57ae6a0e8_3587128
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Manifest download: send request
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Downloading update (2,983 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Set status message: Downloading update (2,983 of 235,992 KB)...
[----] Downloading update (2,983 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:50] Set percent complete: 1
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Downloading update (9,435 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set status message: Downloading update (9,435 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 1%] Downloading update (9,435 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set percent complete: 3
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Downloading update (15,636 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set status message: Downloading update (15,636 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 3%] Downloading update (15,636 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set percent complete: 6
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Downloading update (22,517 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set status message: Downloading update (22,517 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 6%] Downloading update (22,517 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set percent complete: 9
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Downloading update (28,828 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set status message: Downloading update (28,828 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 9%] Downloading update (28,828 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:51] Set percent complete: 12
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Downloading update (35,470 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set status message: Downloading update (35,470 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 12%] Downloading update (35,470 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set percent complete: 15
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Downloading update (41,671 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set status message: Downloading update (41,671 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 15%] Downloading update (41,671 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set percent complete: 17
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Show window
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Downloading update (48,412 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set status message: Downloading update (48,412 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 17%] Downloading update (48,412 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set percent complete: 20
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Downloading update (54,687 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set status message: Downloading update (54,687 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 20%] Downloading update (54,687 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:52] Set percent complete: 23
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Downloading update (61,447 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set status message: Downloading update (61,447 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 23%] Downloading update (61,447 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set percent complete: 26
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Downloading update (68,116 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set status message: Downloading update (68,116 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 26%] Downloading update (68,116 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set percent complete: 28
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Downloading update (74,394 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set status message: Downloading update (74,394 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 28%] Downloading update (74,394 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set percent complete: 31
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Downloading update (81,570 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set status message: Downloading update (81,570 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 31%] Downloading update (81,570 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:53] Set percent complete: 34
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Downloading update (88,047 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set status message: Downloading update (88,047 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 34%] Downloading update (88,047 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set percent complete: 37
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Downloading update (94,743 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set status message: Downloading update (94,743 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 37%] Downloading update (94,743 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set percent complete: 40
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Downloading update (101,132 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set status message: Downloading update (101,132 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 40%] Downloading update (101,132 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set percent complete: 42
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Downloading update (107,700 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set status message: Downloading update (107,700 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 42%] Downloading update (107,700 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:54] Set percent complete: 45
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Downloading update (114,314 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set status message: Downloading update (114,314 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 45%] Downloading update (114,314 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set percent complete: 48
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Downloading update (121,037 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set status message: Downloading update (121,037 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 48%] Downloading update (121,037 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set percent complete: 51
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Downloading update (127,434 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set status message: Downloading update (127,434 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 51%] Downloading update (127,434 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set percent complete: 53
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Downloading update (134,148 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set status message: Downloading update (134,148 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 53%] Downloading update (134,148 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:55] Set percent complete: 56
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Downloading update (140,421 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set status message: Downloading update (140,421 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 56%] Downloading update (140,421 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set percent complete: 59
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Downloading update (146,757 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set status message: Downloading update (146,757 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 59%] Downloading update (146,757 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set percent complete: 62
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Downloading update (153,453 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set status message: Downloading update (153,453 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 62%] Downloading update (153,453 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set percent complete: 65
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Downloading update (159,650 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set status message: Downloading update (159,650 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 65%] Downloading update (159,650 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:56] Set percent complete: 67
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Downloading update (165,850 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Set status message: Downloading update (165,850 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 67%] Downloading update (165,850 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Set percent complete: 70
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Downloading update (171,968 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Set status message: Downloading update (171,968 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 70%] Downloading update (171,968 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Set percent complete: 72
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Downloading update (178,276 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Set status message: Downloading update (178,276 of 235,992 KB)...
[ 72%] Downloading update (178,276 of 235,992 KB)...
[2026-07-04 20:32:57] Set percent complete: 75
~ took 7s
```

Start by reproducing the failure with `flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam --help` on Fedora Silverblue 44 and compare behavior with and without the Background permission in Flatseal. Read the linked issue 1518 and the supplied startup log to determine whether the missing update window causes the app to be treated as background work. Done means the cause is confirmed and Steam starts without requiring a manual permission change.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.