"Steam" windows do not show up

[alt-tab-macos-bot]

This issue was opened by a bot after a user submitted feedback through the in-app form.

From: nathanpguenther@gmail.com

Message:

"Steam" windows do not show up. I have 2 open (Friends, and Library) and i'm unable to get them working with AltTab.

Debug profile:

• App version: 3.7.3
• App preferences:
  • NSStatusItem Preferred Position Item-0: Optional(672.5)
  • NSWindow Frame SUAutomaticUpdateAlert: Optional(1412 932 616 174 0 0 3440 1417 )
  • NSWindow Frame SUUpdateAlert: Optional(1410 768 620 392 0 0 3440 1417 )
  • SUAutomaticallyUpdate: Optional(1)
  • SUEnableAutomaticChecks: Optional(1)
  • SUHasLaunchedBefore: Optional(1)
  • SULastCheckTime: Optional(2020-04-12 05:06:37 +0000)
  • SUUpdateRelaunchingMarker: Optional(0)
  • alignThumbnails: Optional(1)
  • appsToShow: Optional(0)
  • arrowKeysEnabled: Optional(true)
  • cancelShortcut: Optional(⎋)
  • fontHeight: Optional(12)
  • holdShortcut: Optional(⌘)
  • iconSize: Optional(36)
  • maxCellsPerRow: Optional(5)
  • maxScreenUsage: Optional(80)
  • metaKey: Optional(⌘ command)
  • minCellsPerRow: Optional(3)
  • minRows: Optional(2)
  • nextWindowShortcut: Optional(⇥)
  • preferencesVersion: Optional(3.7.3)
  • previousWindowShortcut: Optional(⇧⇥)
  • rowsCount: Optional(3)
  • screensToShow: Optional(0)
  • showHiddenWindows: Optional(true)
  • showMinimizedWindows: Optional(true)
  • showOnScreen: Optional(1)
  • spacesToShow: Optional(1)
  • startAtLogin: Optional(true)
  • theme: Optional(0)
  • windowDisplayDelay: Optional(0)
• Applications count: 68
• Windows:
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 4, spaceIndex: 2}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 5, spaceIndex: 3}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 5, spaceIndex: 3}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: true, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: true, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: true, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 4, spaceIndex: 2}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 5, spaceIndex: 3}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
  • {isMinimized: false, isHidden: false, isOnAllSpaces: false, spaceId: 1, spaceIndex: 1}
• OS version: Version 10.15.4 (Build 19E266)
• OS architecture: x86_64
• Locale: en_US (current)
• Spaces count: 1
• Dark mode: Dark
• "Displays have separate Spaces": unchecked
• Hardware model: MacBookPro16,1
• Screens count: 1
• CPU model: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-9980HK CPU @ 2.40GHz
• Memory size: 34.36 GB
• Active CPU count: 16
• Current CPU frequency: 2.4 Ghz

[lwouis]

I installed Steam and investigated the issue.

It's very clear that Steam is a port, and not a native macOS app. All the windows have their accessibility subrole set as AXUnknown which is never correct. They should be flagged as AXStandardWindow or AXDialog, so that accessibility apps (such as AltTab) can recognize them as user interact-able windows.

This is a clear issue on Steam side. Other accessibility software such as screen readers will also fail to interact with Steam properly.

That being said, Steam being a major app, I added workaround code in AltTab to support displaying it.

I released a new version of AltTab which should display Steam properly 👍

[lwouis]

Note that I sent this support request to Steam:

Steam being a port and not a native macOS app has issues interacting with Accessibility apps. I have detailed my findings in this Github tickets (since it impacted my accessibility app):

#236 (comment)

Could you please forward this to the team in charge of the macOS client? Hopefully they can fix these issues.

[nathang21]

Awesome thanks for the explanation and following up on both ends of the problem. That makes total sense.

[lwouis]

Note that I sent this support request to Steam:

Steam being a port and not a native macOS app has issues interacting with Accessibility apps. I have detailed my findings in this Github tickets (since it impacted my accessibility app):
#236 (comment)
Could you please forward this to the team in charge of the macOS client? Hopefully they can fix these issues.

Reply from Steam support:

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue. I am sorry, but I do not have a fix for you at this time.

I've forwarded your report to our developers.

Along with reports submitted directly to Support, the Steam team uses a number of community sources to help investigate the frequency and severity of issues like this. These issues are continually being addressed through Steam Updates. Support does not provide any information on upcoming or planned fixes.

Again, I am sorry that we do not have a fix for you at this time.