Valve released the data for the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for July 2025, showing the Linux user share making gains towards hitting 3%.
We continue to see the slow but steady increase in the overall Linux user share on the desktop, good news for the health of the platform as more people realise just how good Linux is now.
Here's the current operating system share on Steam for July 2025:
- Windows 95.23% -0.44%
- Linux 2.89% +0.32%
- macOS 1.88% +0.12%
If you take a look at our dedicated Steam Tracker page for the charts, we can see that steady increase.
Plus the breakdown of Linux distributions that were popular across July 2025 on Steam. This is possibly the most expansive list Valve has given for the distribution breakdown yet.
- SteamOS Holo 64 bit 28.31% -2.73%
- Arch Linux 64 bit 10.82% +0.33%
- Linux Mint 22.1 64 bit 7.83% -0.07%
- Freedesktop SDK 24.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit 6.54% -0.08%
- Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS 64 bit 4.44% +0.23%
- CachyOS 64 bit 4.21% +1.03%
- Ubuntu Core 22 64 bit 4.17% -0.23%
- Bazzite 42 (FROM Fedora Kinoite) 64 bit 3.20% +0.83%
- Manjaro Linux 64 bit 2.46% 0.00%
- EndeavourOS Linux 64 bit 2.33% -0.07%
- Fedora Linux 42 (Workstation Edition) 64 bit 2.21% +2.21%
- Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS 64 bit 2.14% +0.08%
- Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm) 64 bit 1.96% -0.02%
- Fedora Linux 42 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition) 64 bit 1.79% +1.79%
- Other 17.58% -3.29%
And a snapshot again from our Steam Tracker with our combined distribution chart.
Source: Valve
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
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skinnyraf a day ago
It would make sense to have two linear fits: one before the Steam Deck release, and another after the release. There is a hint of further acceleration, but I don't think it warrants a third linear fit. Or perhaps some kind of log fit instead?
1 Likes
I like to think I'll be among them, except my squad mostly plays Warzone, PUBG, and is looking at BF6. I keep telling myself next update (a year or two) I'll dual boot. But we'll see.
3 Likes
scaine a day ago
@Jeffool
I keep telling myself next update (a year or two) I'll dual boot. But we'll see.I dual-booted for nearly a decade before making the jump. It was a sudden realisation that I hadn't booted into Windows for nearly a year. When I finally did, the update process failed and blue-screened and instead of trying to fix it, I went back into Linux, cut a live-USB and blasted the whole system, installing Linux fully. Very cathartic. I haven't had to deal with Microsoft's or Apple's bullshit since 2013.
20 Likes
The results show that Tumbleweed is a very underrated system for gaming purposes. Aeon will never be there because it's tied to Flatpak.
1 Likes
ScottCarammell a day ago
I like to think I'll be among them, except my squad mostly plays Warzone, PUBG, and is looking at BF6. I keep telling myself next update (a year or two) I'll dual boot. But we'll see.
I'd recommend dual-booting sooner than later, personally. Linux isn't something you want to rush into; you need to get a feel for it first, make sure you're comfortable using it. If you rush into it, most likely you'll find it too difficult in the beginning and quit; I know too many people who've fallen into that trap. Just get a feel for how things work for a bit, troubleshoot, figure out how to do the things you want to do, figure out what does and doesn't work, stuff like that.
Then as time goes on you can use Windows less and less, until you're only using it for those select games that choose never to cross over, or ideally not at all. Take your time with it and don't just bang your head at the wall like I did for a while - unless you've got a buddy already comfortable with Linux. That tends to make headbanging a lot more manageable.
8 Likes
Linas a day ago
Ha ha, I thought it said:
Windows 95 23% -0.44%
Windows 95 23% -0.44%
5 Likes
Naib a day ago
Well I will be adding another linux steam user in the next month as my daughter inherits my present build (new case as this one is messed up) as I build a complete new machine as a belated bday present
During a best-fit with a sigmoid:
https://i.ibb.co/XkNJVc6f/output.png
Last edited by Naib on 2 Aug 2025 at 1:38 pm UTC
During a best-fit with a sigmoid:
https://i.ibb.co/XkNJVc6f/output.png
Last edited by Naib on 2 Aug 2025 at 1:38 pm UTC
4 Likes
elmapul a day ago
Ubuntu Core ??
0 Likes
_Mars a day ago
SteamOS only being 28% is very interesting. Means that market share is not just being carried by the Steam Deck but instead more people are interested in trying a large variety of distros.
Also a full percent growth over 18 months if we reach 3% by the end of the year. Not too shabby.
Also a full percent growth over 18 months if we reach 3% by the end of the year. Not too shabby.
4 Likes
CachyOS 🥳
2 Likes
CatKiller a day ago
Ubuntu Core ??
Steam snap.
SteamOS only being 28% is very interesting. Means that market share is not just being carried by the Steam Deck but instead more people are interested in trying a large variety of distros.
https://i.ibb.co/1tJys5sC/Steam-Deck.png
1 Likes
lucinos a day ago
Ubuntu Core ??
For anyone wondering, Ubuntu Core means they installed steam with snap. In theory like Flatpak it could be any distribution but I expect 100% of these are ubuntu users that don't know better. (snap is not the recommended way).
This is possibly the most expansive list Valve has given for the distribution breakdown yet.For any distribution to be included it needs 0.05% of the total.
Last edited by lucinos on 2 Aug 2025 at 3:52 pm UTC
1 Likes
PixelDrop a day ago
I really wished Valve would just do a global survey ask so we could get real numbers. These are always kind of interesting but not really. I've still never been asked on my any Linux or macOS systems that I have steam installed on and use it on, only my windows systems.
0 Likes
Liam Dawe a day ago
Not everyone is going to be asked, it’s just how a survey works. It’s to give a general overview.
1 Likes
Caldathras a day ago
@Linas
@PixelDrop
Last edited by Caldathras on 2 Aug 2025 at 5:23 pm UTC
Ha ha, I thought it said:That was my first thought too. I had to reread the line to clarify.
Windows 95 23% -0.44%
@PixelDrop
I've still never been asked on my any Linux or macOS systems that I have steam installed on and use it on, only my windows systems.Funny. My experience has been the opposite. I've been asked on all my installations except Windows. It seems to be quite random. I always say yes.
Last edited by Caldathras on 2 Aug 2025 at 5:23 pm UTC
0 Likes
Highball a day ago
Dang, English language only, 6.31%. I'm sure there will be some sort of regression next month but, that network affect is starting to kick in.
3 Likes
Always great to see progress towards 3% for Linux as more and more people are starting to ditch Windows. It would be nice to have a CachyOS avatar since I've been using it more and more on my systems.
0 Likes
It's pretty wild, the tone around Linux among gamers has changed dramatically in the last twelve months.
All over Reddit, all the cool kids are running Linux.
The biggest thing I've noticed, is in lots of conversations that basically go "but I can't do $x, Linux will always be a toy" the response is often just "that's fine, the growth is so fast now, it's totally cool if you run Windows, no one cares" and the conversation just sort of stops, often that guy comes back like "no no I can still run it, I'm cool too." A year ago, that would have baited a bunch of people to talk about how you just have to install such and such for hours.
All over Reddit, all the cool kids are running Linux.
The biggest thing I've noticed, is in lots of conversations that basically go "but I can't do $x, Linux will always be a toy" the response is often just "that's fine, the growth is so fast now, it's totally cool if you run Windows, no one cares" and the conversation just sort of stops, often that guy comes back like "no no I can still run it, I'm cool too." A year ago, that would have baited a bunch of people to talk about how you just have to install such and such for hours.
5 Likes
tuubi a day ago
@mattaraxia
All the cool kids were running Linux 25 years ago, in my very humble and impartial opinion.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
All over Reddit, all the cool kids are running Linux.
All the cool kids were running Linux 25 years ago, in my very humble and impartial opinion.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
11 Likes
Mohandevir 
a day ago
Great news!
I'm just wondering how many of these new Linux users are running old pcs that will be left unsupported by Win11, when Win10 will have been buried by Microsoft.
I'm just wondering how many of these new Linux users are running old pcs that will be left unsupported by Win11, when Win10 will have been buried by Microsoft.
2 Likes
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