"Set Custom Background/Logo" (and shortcut icon) for non-steam games does not save

[lah7]

Your system information

• Steam client version (build number or date): 1738026274
• Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux (with KDE)
• Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
• Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
• Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
• GPU: Intel, Nvidia

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

When adding a non-steam game to Steam, the context menu to set a custom background or logo does not save any changes. The file picker shows up as expected, but after choosing a file, nothing is saved.

The shortcut icon (via game properties) is also very flaky, but after numerous attempts and restarting Steam, I observed this did save once, but it seems related and equally as problematic.

The title bar of the file picker says xdg-desktop-portal-kde, indicating it may be related to file portals.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Add any non-steam game to Steam.
2. Go to Library → click the non-steam game in the Steam desktop client.
3. Right click the background and choose "Set Custom Background"
4. Select a file (e.g. a JPEG from /usr/share/backgrounds)
5. Additionally, try setting a custom icon in the game shortcut properties.

Custom backgrounds for Steam games are affected too.

To rule out existing installation, I tried a completely clean profile (in /ramdisk) and also under Ubuntu MATE 24.04 (with official .deb) and got the same results. Both systems are using X11.

[Revival8697]

On my system, I can set the hero, background, logo and artwork without any issues.

For icons however, I can only set them for EXE files and they are only applied after a Steam restart. I cannot set icons for native Linux apps (and I should not need to set them in the first place when they can be fetched from desktop files).

[lah7]

Thanks for checking. What distro / desktop are you using?

It's still a problem on my system (Steam version: stable 1747701111). Tried a Linux native non-Steam application and EXE with Proton compatibility checked. Both don't save the custom background or logo, but the icon does after a client restart.

[Revival8697]

Thanks for checking. What distro / desktop are you using?

June 18th update of the Steam Client Beta, CachyOS (desktop and handheld), KDE.

[BlueD]

Same problem. Cachyos steam clent.

[Revival8697]

I just tested on Steam Deck Beta Branch, version 1751930911, everything is working now, icons still need a Steam restart to register.

[ant14181]

I can confirm that changing the icon for a non-Steam game (still) requires the client to be restarted, but I cannot testify what has been said above regarding the grid hero and more.

While using Steam downloaded from the latest Beta branch, I still am unable to choose any custom artwork on a game I have manually imported into my library.

Information

Steam Beta Branch: Steam Beta Update Steam Version: 1753403107 Steam Client Build Date: Fri, Jul 25 1:28 AM UTC -08:00 Steam Web Build Date: Fri, Jul 25 2:13 AM UTC -08:00 Steam API Version: SteamClient022

[Revival8697]

I tried the Steps for reproducing this issue and that is not working. Can you use images in your home directory instead?

Also, I'm using Wayland, but that should not have an effect on this.

[ant14181]

Can you use images in your home directory instead?

Thanks for the heads-up. I can confirm that this issue only persists with images from a different partitions. I would still not classify this issue as fixed, because I would like to keep my custom assets on the game's folder.

[phil9309]

I too have this problem on CachyOS (PC not Steam Deck). My Steam games download to a steam library on another drive. I tried to add the icons manually and via Steam ROM Manager. Steam Rom Manager is able to edit ANY asset (background, artwork etc.) except the icon.

For Elden Ring Coop mod I could fix it by using a symlink to the actual icon path:

The .exe and the icon are at: /mnt/LinuxGaming/Steam/steamapps/common/ELDEN RING/Game/ - I created a symlink (/home/your_name/.local/share/steam-icon-elden-ring/) and the icon worked.

I just tested it again, I can fix any app by symlinking:

Put the icon for Ubisoft Connect in /mnt/LinuxGaming/Lutris/ubisoft-connect/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Ubisoft/Ubisoft Game Launcher/ where my .exe is.

Create symlink somewhere on the root drive where steam is installed via:

ln -s "/mnt/LinuxGaming/Lutris/ubisoft-connect/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Ubisoft/Ubisoft Game Launcher/" ~/.local/share/steam-icon-ubisoft

Then add the icon manually in steam via /home/your_name/.local/share/steam-icon-ubisoft (using "~" does not work) and restart steam.

The game itself does not need to be symlinked, only the icon.

[Revival8697]

This issue should be changed to "unable to set custom artwork from outside user home directory".

[lah7]

Thanks. I can confirm (Client ver. 1751405894) that if the file is physically within the home folder, it works, unless the graphic file is a symlink pointing outside of the home directory. I've added additional to the first issue.

[stevedsross]

This issue should be changed to "unable to set custom artwork from outside user home directory".

Thanks for this. I always kept my SteamGridDB assets in a folder in my main games directory, which I keep on a separate drive.

Interestingly, storing these images on a drive that has a mount point within your home folder works as well.