How To Use Steam For Linux Right Now, Without A Beta Account

Steam for Linux beta has been released today and for now is only available to 1000 lucky users who have applied using the Steam beta survey. But there's a way to run Steam for Linux even if you didn't receive an invitation. Read on!

Download and install Steam for Linux

Ubuntu users can download the Steam deb file from HERE (should work on Ubuntu 12.04 and 12.10). If the installation fails using Ubuntu Software Center, place the downloaded deb into your home folder and install Steam for Linux using the following command:

sudo dpkg -i steam.deb

Arch Linux: you can install Steam using the following AUR package.

Fedora users can add this repository to install Steam for Linux.

Once you install it, launch Steam and wait for the client update to complete.

How to use Steam for Linux without a beta account / invitation

So, how to use Steam even though you don't have a Steam beta account? Some users have reported that you can use Steam for Linux without a beta account, by simply launching Steam from a quicklist. So all you have to do is drag the Steam icon from the desktop / Dash to the Unity launcher, then right click the icon and select any of the available options:

If you're not using Unity, you can also do this from the command line, using:

steam steam://store

Remember, Steam for Linux is currently in beta, and the testing has just started, so you may find bugs or it may not work at all for you (like it's the case for me). Use it carefully and let's hope a stable version will be released soon.


Update: here's a list of games that currently work with Steam for Linux.

Update: Steam For Linux Now Available To All Users


Also see: Steam For Linux: Download The First Ubuntu-Like Skin

thanks to Martin Kozub for the Steam for Linux beta bypass tip