Flatpak Steamdeck/Arch critical issue

Jul 26, 2025 Closed
S

Hi
Recently tried to update my apps on Steamdeck/arch, but i got issue.
On updating apps they crashed, saying:
Error: ciscobinary.org blablabla/openh264.so returned status 403
I were trying to download it via flatpak, but also has same error.
Looks like dependecy are broken, and its trying to open main URL (that is permited) instead of straight file URL (that is working).
So now i cant download anything, even a browser, because every app requires that openh264.

I did download that file via mobile and put onto steamdeck but seems it didnt help.
(Maybe i put it in wrong direction, but im really stack to do anything now)

V

the same problem, even though I’m installing from a computer. either it’s related to flatpak security, which doesn’t allow downloading anything with the http protocol, or because of the location
also. openh264 is still downloaded, but only with pacman (if we talking about arch)

B

openh264 is downloaded directly from Cisco.

Error: ciscobinary.org blablabla/openh264.so returned status 403

This means your government, internet provider or someone else blocked that site. You have to use a VPN or a proxy/tor to download it. It should be a one time thing.

S
Replying to #3

I did use vpn
It still blocked
But the url to the file to download is accessible even without any vpn
So thats some issue with flatpak
Or they should put these libs to some other domain

S
Replying to #2

So via pacman it s okay?
I mean i wont have that issue anymore related to flatpak?

V
Replying to #5

But the url to the file to download is accessible even without any vpn
So thats some issue with flatpak

openh264 is downloaded directly from Cisco.

problem not in flatpak, problem in cisco. only cisco have that problem (packages like org.freedesktop is downloading without problem). maybe changing the mirrors will change the situation, but I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t say

I mean i wont have that issue anymore related to flatpak?

there is no via package in pacman. only in aur, but that make no sense, because all dependencies in system already, or downloading from aur/pacman

if you talk about opebh264, pacman dowhloading only from arch repositories

so until cisco solves this problem (or someone replaces the URL with a working one) the problem will remain, because programs from flatpack are collected in one folder (and they need ALL dependencies)

S
Replying to #6

This is so dumb we cant even put that file manually to make it work…

V
Replying to #7

i’ve tried do that, but this is not work.

about system “all in one”: this is not a plus, but not a minus of flatpak. this is a feature of flatpak. if you have the opportunity to install from aura or github - install from them

V

wait. what “via” do you mean? program for keyboards, or other?

S
Replying to #9

Nah
Nvm

But the thing i need to install lots of apps
And i dont want to waste so much time to do that via github…
Ahhh
How to write cisco…

S
Replying to #6

But the file url is working and accessible.
So thats flatpak issue it can download it

V
Replying to #10

i’m trying now (after system update) install something and…flatpak works. without errors
update: no :frowning:

S
Replying to #12

wow
What do u mean “after system update”?

V
Replying to #13

after “pacman -Suuy”. but nevermind, it’s doesn’t work

V

Looking for an error on the Internet, I found out this:

  1. Cisco is hypocrites
  2. To bypass the ban, you need to use Tor, namely Torsocks

you need to install tor

pacman -S tor torsocks

you need to run tor

systemctl start tor

after that, you can download what you want

torsocks flatpak install openh264

you downloaded that. you can stop tor

systemctl stop tor