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Asked: 2024-09-25T17:29:27+05:30 In:

How can I configure Steam on Linux to work properly when I am behind a proxy server?

I’ve been trying to get Steam running on my Linux machine, but I keep hitting a brick wall because I’m stuck behind a proxy server. I know a lot of people use Linux for gaming, and it seems like there are tons of guides out there for setting it up on a direct connection, but not much for those of us who have to deal with proxies. It’s really frustrating because I just want to play my games without having to jump through hoops.

So, here’s the deal: I’ve already installed Steam via my package manager, and it’s running, but every time I try to log in or download a game, I get these mysterious error messages. I’ve tried a few hacks, like messing around with the Steam options in the launcher, but nothing seems to work. I’ve also looked into configuring the system-wide proxy settings in Linux, especially since I use Ubuntu, but those settings don’t seem to affect Steam at all.

I’ve heard there’s a way to configure Steam to recognize and use a proxy server through launch options, but I’m not sure how to do that exactly. Should I be using something like a SOCKS proxy, or will an HTTP proxy do the trick? And what about authentication? If my proxy requires a username and password, how do I set that up? I’m really puzzled!

If anyone’s managed to get Steam running smoothly under these conditions, I’d love to hear about your process. Did you have to use any specific scripts or tools to help with the configuration? Are there any common pitfalls to avoid? I feel like I’m missing something really basic that could fix this whole situation, but I just can’t see it! Any tips or step-by-step guides would be greatly appreciated. Let’s help each other out here—gaming should be fun, not a headache!

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    2 Answers



    1. Steam on Linux Behind a Proxy

      Getting Steam to Work Behind a Proxy on Linux

      Okay, I totally get your frustration! Setting up Steam with a proxy can be a pain in the neck. Here’s a few things you can try!

      1. Launch Options for Proxy

      You can try launching Steam with specific proxy settings. Here’s how:

      1. Right-click on the Steam shortcut or icon.
      2. Select Properties.
      3. In the Target field, add the following at the end (after quotes):
        4.  -http_proxy http://username:password@proxy_address:port
      4. Make sure to replace username, password, proxy_address, and port with your actual info.
      5. If your proxy doesn’t need authentication, just skip the username:password@ part.
      6. If you are trying a SOCKS proxy, the command will look like this:
        7.  -socks_proxy socks5://proxy_address:port
      7. Click OK and try launching Steam again!

      2. System-wide Proxy Settings

      Even though you mentioned they didn’t seem to help, make sure you set them correctly:

      1. Open your terminal and enter this command:
        2. export http_proxy="http://username:password@proxy_address:port"
      2. And for HTTPS, do this:
        3. export https_proxy="http://username:password@proxy_address:port"
      3. Don’t forget to replace the placeholders. You can add these exports to your ~/.bashrc file so they apply whenever you start a terminal.

      3. Common Pitfalls

      Here are a few things you might want to consider:

      • Check if your proxy requires special configurations in your network settings. Sometimes, they have specific rules that need to be followed.
      • Don’t forget about firewall settings that might be blocking Steam’s traffic.
      • Steam’s servers may be limited based on region; make sure that your location settings are correct.

      4. Extra Tools

      If nothing works, some folks use VPNs to bypass proxy issues. It might sound like overkill, but it could be worth a shot!

      Hopefully, these tips help you get back to gaming without the headaches! Good luck!



    2. To configure Steam to work behind a proxy server on Linux, especially on Ubuntu, you can set specific launch options that tell Steam how to connect through your proxy. First, if you’re using an HTTP proxy, you can set it in Steam by right-clicking on the Steam shortcut and selecting ‘Properties’. In the launch options field, add the following line (replacing and with your details): PROXY_SERVER=:. Additionally, if your proxy requires authentication, you’ll need to use a URL format: http://username:password@proxy_address:proxy_port. If you’re considering a SOCKS proxy, you can use the SOCKS_PROXY_SERVER environment variable in a similar way.

      A common pitfall is neglecting the environment variables; you may want to set them globally in your shell configuration file (like .bashrc or .bash_profile). After setting up your proxy settings, make sure to restart Steam for the changes to take effect. If you’re encountering persistent connection issues, check that your network allows traffic on the necessary ports for Steam, which are usually 27015-27050. Also, consider looking into tools like cntlm if your proxy server requires NTLM authentication. It would provide a local proxy that handles the authentication part for you, making it easier for Steam to connect without additional configuration.


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