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Linux accounted for a reported 2.69% of Steam users in May 2025, up 0.42 percentage points from April. The monthly result was described as the platform’s highest share in years, but the available historical comparisons support that wording specifically against May 2024 and May 2023—not an all-time record.
What percentage of Steam users used Linux in May 2025?
Phoronix reported a 2.69% Linux share in Valve’s May 2025 Steam Hardware & Software Survey, published in a June 1, 2025 article. That was a 0.42 percentage-point increase from the previous month. A percentage-point change describes the difference between two shares; it is not the same as a 0.42% relative increase. Phoronix’s May 2025 report is the source for these historical figures.
How did Linux compare with Windows and macOS?
The same May 2025 report put Windows at 95.45% and macOS at 1.85%. The three reported operating-system shares add to 100%.
| Operating system | Reported Steam share, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Windows | 95.45% |
| Linux | 2.69% |
| macOS | 1.85% |
These are shares within Steam’s survey, not estimates of operating-system use across all desktop computers. The populations and methods differ, so the Steam figures should not be read as general PC market-share measurements.
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Why was it described as the highest in years?
Phoronix compared May 2025’s 2.69% Linux share with 2.32% in May 2024 and 1.47% in May 2023. Those same-month comparisons support a higher reading than the cited prior years. They do not establish that May 2025 was higher than every intervening month or an all-time peak.
| Survey month | Linux share reported by Phoronix |
|---|---|
| May 2023 | 1.47% |
| May 2024 | 2.32% |
| May 2025 | 2.69% |
Why did Linux usage on Steam increase in May 2025?
The reported figures establish that Linux’s survey share rose that month, but they do not identify a cause. Phoronix discussed SteamOS and the Steam Deck as important parts of the modern Steam Linux ecosystem. That context makes the Deck relevant to understanding Linux gaming on Steam; it does not show that the handheld caused the specific 0.42 percentage-point movement in May 2025.
What does Valve’s Steam survey measure?
Valve says the Steam Hardware & Software Survey is conducted monthly and that “Participation in the survey is optional, and anonymous.” It is a survey of participants, not a census or direct count of every Steam customer, so its percentages should be understood as reported survey shares rather than absolute user totals. Valve’s Steam Hardware & Software Survey page may show later monthly results; those should not be confused with the May 2025 historical reading reported by Phoronix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are these Steam Linux figures current?
No. The 2.69% result is specifically for May 2025. To answer what share Linux has in a later month, use the corresponding monthly Steam survey result rather than carrying this historical figure forward.
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