after update steam client to version 1676680477 scaling being broken on pages (game library and chat)

[NTMan]

Your system information

• Steam client version (build number or date): 1676680477
• Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Fedora Rawhide
• Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
• Have you checked for system updates?: Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

after update steam client to version 1676680477 scaling being broken on pages (game library and chat)

last good version for me is 1675997500

Steps for reproducing this issue:

[CoelacanthusHex]

An Off-topic question: How do you downgrade steam to the previous beta version?

[cprn]

Same issue on up-to-date Manjaro with updated Steam client and beta opt-in (NVIDIA proprietary driver). Can't read game titles in 4K without scaling and with Deck UI running at about 3fps it's very cumbersome to start a game.

Workarounds:

1. opting out of beta fixes the main window scaling (Deck UI is still a slideshow)
2. alt+enter starts a good-old Big Picture mode that works flawlessly (for now)

[hoxu]

I just upgraded to 1676836260, and HiDPI scaling is indeed now broken.

Opting out of the beta participation fixes the problem, as expected.

Please add an automated regression test for HiDPI.

[TheGhostHybrid]

Chiming in to say I have the same issue. The window is fine, but the content within the viewport no longer scales properly. In addition, I have this issue that happens whenever I view a non-Library page:

It seems to resolve itself when I close the window and re-open from the system tray. However, when freshly started, the issue comes back.

[Anarch157a]

Chiming in to say I have the same issue. The window is fine, but the content within the viewport no longer scales properly. In addition, I have this issue that happens whenever I view a non-Library page: (...) It seems to resolve itself when I close the window and re-open from the system tray. However, when freshly started, the issue comes back.

I have this issue too, I don't need to close the window and re-open from the tray icon, changing the page to Library, then back to the previous one makes it render properly. This is much quicker than re-opening

[NTMan]

In the version 1678845529 fixed scaling in library, but scaling still not working in "game properties" and "steam library folders"

Also scaling didn't work in windows "big picture configuration", "desktop configuration" and "guide button chord configuration"

[frikisama]

Is it just me, or does the newly enabled scaling look like actual high DPI rendering instead of simple 2x scaling? It looks very crisp now, where it was a bit blurry before, IIRC.

Thanks to whoever was involved! :)

[Lastique]

@kisak-valve Is there a workaround? The game properties window is barely readable.

[Seegras]

For me, the scaling issue is fixed on the Library with 1679024366, but still present in the properties window.

[friedc]

scaling still not working in "game properties" and "steam library folders"

Also scaling didn't work in windows "big picture configuration", "desktop configuration" and "guide button chord configuration"

I can confirm that for me the mentioned windows are also too small (not scaled to 2x size). I do not participate in the Beta.

About Steam

Steam client application:
Built: Mar 24 2023, at 17:20:43
Steam API: v020
Steam package versions: 1679680416

[NTMan]

And again scaling is broken since 1679950905 version.
Is it really is no one developer at Valve having 4K monitor with scaling?

[yhojann-cl]

This problem has not been assigned to anyone for more than two months. Is there any news?, this problem also happens in the latest stable version 1679680416

[Grauiton]

FYI for Valve:

GTK4 dropped usage of GDK_DPI_SCALE.

KDE Plasma followed this by dropping the use of GDK_SCALE / GDK_DPI_SCALE starting with Plasma version 5.27. KDE Plasma instead recommends using xsettingsd to communicate scaling settings to GTK applications in X11 sessions.

[arazilsongweaver]

Wayland DPI scaling is completely broken as of the "big" Steam beta update released on 2023-04-27. Everything appears very tiny on a 4K screen and it is extremely difficult to use.

Example screenshot from the 2023-04-27 update:

[NTMan]

With update 1682634349 in addition to library broken scaling on store pages.

[TheGhostHybrid]

The Steam window over top of a properly-scaled window (Quod Libet) to show the stark scaling difference.

[anyoneyun]

Same issue here on Manjaro KDE, it has been a problem for months now, as a comment stated earlier, kde changed the way scaling works and now it doesn't use GDK scale anymore. This has been true since kde 5.27

[Grauiton]

The solution for Valve is really simple:

If the GDK_SCALE environment variable is zero-length or not set, then instead use the value for Gdk/WindowScalingFactor in ~/.config/xsettingsd/xsettingsd.conf.

That's it.

[yhojann-cl]

Why not use the same window to render all the others instead of doing it separately? In this way the scaling would depend on a single window instead of fighting with the rest. For example, I use two monitors and when a window opens like the update window, news, launcher, etc., they open on a different monitor than the one where steam is running. They could solve all those problems including the scaling thing if they integrated all the other windows inside of steam and not outside of it.

[Arcitec]

What is this? A GUI for ANTS?!

🐜

Tried the latest beta today. Totally unusable. Switched back immediately.

[MartinVonReichenberg]

I just found STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=1.5 steam which WORKS!

You looked far: It is mentioned here, but lost in thread . . .

That variable is not mentioned in that post.

No it is not - my bad.

The issue, however, can vary from distro to distro as Arch+ uses Steam Native and Stream Runtime in which -forcedesktopscale might work only for one of those. Also, there have been changes to libraries after several months which potentially affected this issue and its 'temporary solution(s)'. So it is easy to 'get lost'. 😵

[Lucretia]

I just found STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=1.5 steam which WORKS!

You looked far: It is mentioned here, but lost in thread . . .

That variable is not mentioned in that post.

No it is not - my bad.

The issue, however, can vary from distro to distro as Arch+ uses Steam Native and Stream Runtime in which -forcedesktopscale might work only for one of those. Also, there have been changes to libraries after several months which potentially affected this issue and its 'temporary solution(s)'. So it is easy to 'get lost'. 😵

As I said, that option does not work here (Gentoo).

[Woovie]

Using Arch, flatpak Steam. In order to use the env var, I had to copy the generated .desktop and modify the Exec.

In ~/.local/share/applications/ there is this symlink:

com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop -> /var/lib/flatpak/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/current/active/export/share/applications/com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop

I copied the file into the same directory, named it something else, and made these changes:

❯ diff com.valvesoftware.Steam.desktop steam-fixed.desktop
30c30
< Exec=/usr/bin/flatpak run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=/app/bin/steam --file-forwarding com.valvesoftware.Steam @@u %U @@
---
> Exec=/usr/bin/flatpak run --env=STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=1.5 --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command="/app/bin/steam" --file-forwarding com.valvesoftware.Steam @@u %U @@

Note the usage of --env, you cannot simply quote the command and add it to that flag.

[vmatare]

Runnig with the env var STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=1.5 and enabling "Scale Text ..." in the Interface settings finally fixed it for me.

[Shallrath]

Since a long time (months, if not years) Steam did correctly detect my display resolution and scale accordingly just by enabling the scale option in the settings.

Today's update of steam broke it, everything is tiny and I have to use STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 as a workaround again.

Arch Linux, XFCE, 32" UHD (140 ppi)

[OdinVex]

Valve devs think setting a single multiplier somehow fixes different pixel densities and such (edit: 4K 28" is entirely different from 4K 32", etc). They're just delaying the inevitable, user-controlled scaling using user-controlled multiplier in the GUI.

[escape0707]

One-liner to edit and add STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 to your .desktop file (for Arch users):

desktop-file-install --dir=$HOME/.local/share/applications --set-key=Exec --set-value="env STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 /usr/bin/steam-runtime %U" /usr/share/applications/steam.desktop

[perroboc]

One-liner to edit and add STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 to your .desktop file (for Arch users):

desktop-file-install --dir=$HOME/.local/share/applications --set-key=Exec --set-value="env STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 /usr/bin/steam-runtime %U" /usr/share/applications/steam.desktop

EDIT: For Fedora, use:

desktop-file-install --dir=$HOME/.local/share/applications --set-key=Exec --set-value="env STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2.0 /usr/bin/steam %U" /usr/share/applications/steam.desktop

[BinaryShrub]

One-liner to edit and add STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 to your .desktop file (for Arch users):

desktop-file-install --dir=$HOME/.local/share/applications --set-key=Exec --set-value="env STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=2 /usr/bin/steam-runtime %U" /usr/share/applications/steam.desktop

You should copy into your own home before making modifications so it doesnt get overwritten on update:

cp /usr/share/applications/steam.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/steam.desktop

then update your .local copy

[perroboc]

You should copy into your own home before making modifications so it doesnt get overwritten on update

Isn't that what the --dir=$HOME/.local/share/applications argument does?

[BinaryShrub]

You should copy into your own home before making modifications so it doesnt get overwritten on update

Isn't that what the --dir=$HOME/.local/share/applications argument does?

I'm a noob, thank you.

[REDxMisfit]

I am having the problem today.

I saw this bug mostly on the contact window before. My steam main window was alright, and the contact window had the text not scaled for 4K display, all i had to do was switch it to fullscreen, then to back to window and the UI scaled back to what it should have display on first opening.
But today it is happening to the main window, i am not on a beta branch and using Windows 11 up-to-date with 200% scaling set.

You can see that the menu "drop down" is not affected by the scale problem (albeit not being displayed below the profile name "RED.MISFIT") and still rendering at the correct size. All the other text is smaller than it should be, and the shop page is somehow bigger and out of the window completely.

[OdinVex]

I am having the problem today.

This thread is about the Linux client, completely different means of doing DPI-related stuff.

[REDxMisfit]

I know, but there is no "Steam-for-Windows" repositery. And at least the problem can affect way more players if it shows on Windows now. So maybe Valve would wake up to do something about it.

[kakra]

I know, but there is no "Steam-for-Windows" repositery. And at least the problem can affect way more players if it shows on Windows now. So maybe Valve would wake up to do something about it.

I think the way to go is using their support forums inside Steam. Knowing that this about Linux and still using it for Windows issues, is going to help no one: I even don't run Windows, probably many others don't, too. No one will be able to help you here. It's just noise for a lot of people subscribed here.

[OdinVex]

I know, but there is no "Steam-for-Windows" repositery. And at least the problem can affect way more players if it shows on Windows now. So maybe Valve would wake up to do something about it.

I think the way to go is using their support forums inside Steam. Knowing that this about Linux and still using it for Windows issues, is going to help no one: I even don't run Windows, probably many others don't, too. No one will be able to help you here. It's just noise for a lot of people subscribed here.

It's not the same problem though, that's just it. This is a completely different issue (it may seem similar but it's like comparing "my vehicle won't go" and we're talking cars vs a bicycle...completely different reasons for why they won't go). @kakra is right. Valve doesn't even really give a #*$& about these Issues, we mostly fix what we can by ourselves and they just keep taking money for it all. Alternatives for Steam Clients for non-VAC games are slowly stepping out. I can only hope we get some quality like Heroic Launcher...though perhaps more 'classic' Steam-ish.

[D-Code]

Finally, scaling behaves correct for me now after a recent Steam client update:

Steam Beta Branch:  Stable Client
Steam Version:  1726088054
Steam Client Build Date:  Wed, Sep 11 22:40 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Wed, Sep 11 20:53 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient021

[dafzor]

Same, on KDE Plasma 6.1.5 no longer need to set variables for Steam to s scale correctly on boot. However it still doubles the scaling after exiting Big picture so still not fully issue free.

[pohmelie]

@D-Code @dafzor
Nah, still broken for me.

Steam Beta Branch:  Stable Client
Steam Version:  1726256783
Steam Client Build Date:  Fri, Sep 13 09:23 UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Wed, Sep 11 22:53 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient021

[OdinVex]

Same, on KDE Plasma 6.1.5 no longer need to set variables for Steam to s scale correctly on boot. However it still doubles the scaling after exiting Big picture so still not fully issue free.

It is 100% impossible for it to correctly guess what size to be. The float multiplier just needs to be exposed. That will end up being the answer after all this time is wasted. It's the nature of display sizes and resolutions being able to be whatever people want, it can create almost any DPI ratio which will throw any DPI rendering off in some scenario or another. It may work for many or even a majority but sadly not everyone. Float multipler? Everyone and right away.

[hypertxtc]

Still has the same behaviour for me. I'm running Fedora Kinoite, Steam Flatpak, AMD GPU.

What is interesting is that if I run the same OS in a VM using Boxes, Steam scales correctly if hardware acceleration on the VM is turned off (you can tell with llvmpipe)

but if I enable hardware acceleration on the VM, Steam continues to scale incorrectly, as shown in the following screenshot (virgl is being used)

[ninja-]

adding STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING=1.75 to flatseal env worked for me too.
but I am surprised that even at non-fractional 200%, it's not detected from Xwayland settings on KDE and it just renders at 100% in all cases without the env

[Mshmaitelly]

It is not working on my machine using the latest update client in Beta mode. Running on EOS with latest official packs. Scaling does not work on the 4K Ultra wide next to the main display in 1080p in portrait mode.

[polluxau]

i also need to use STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING= for this to work on kde plasma, i thought this was solved but guess not as the option in settings doesnt do anything

[hypertxtc]

i also need to use STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING= for this to work on kde plasma, i thought this was solved but guess not as the option in settings doesnt do anything

What distro are you using. Fedora KDE here and scaling works fine now.

[Mshmaitelly]

@polluxau
You need to edit the local file of the desktop app in the following path
/home/username/.local/share/applications

[polluxau]

@polluxau You need to edit the local file of the desktop app in the following path /home/username/.local/share/applications

i also need to use STEAM_FORCE_DESKTOPUI_SCALING= for this to work on kde plasma, i thought this was solved but guess not as the option in settings doesnt do anything

What distro are you using. Fedora KDE here and scaling works fine now.

endeavour os, kde plasma 6.2.4

[polluxau]

@polluxau You need to edit the local file of the desktop app in the following path /home/username/.local/share/applications

Wdym edit the local file of the desktop app in the following path?

If i need to edit a shortcut or add a environment variable the issue isnt fixed as it should do it automatically for you, but as i said i need to use that environment variable for steam to upscale properly

The problem im getting is when i upscale my main monitor to 120%, steam on my other monitor gets downscaled and looks blurry

Scaling works on the monitor that is scaled, but steam doesnt scale back to the normal scale that it should go to on a 1080p monitor

So what i should be doing is opening a separate issue if one hasn't been opened already about it

EDIT: nvm i solved the issue myself lol, scaled by the system fixed it in plasma, but now steam looks blurry on the scaled monitor...

[Mshmaitelly]

Yes, I agree. Steam cannot detect the monitor resolution and adjusted the scaling automatically when launched on the current HiDPI screen.
The only solution is either set do the fix as sated above by perroboc or the global evn variable.