Troubleshooting
General
- Restart software, hardware or the Steam Deck itself
- Make sure OS / drivers / software (game) are fully updated
- Search for the issue (YouTube, Steam Deck communities etc…)
- Post about the issue you’re encountering if you couldn’t fix a solution
- Factory reset / reinstall OS
- Contact Steam Support
Accessing Menus And Resetting Things
Make sure the Steam Deck is fully turned off before trying these!
- Force Shut Down: Hold Power Button For 5 Seconds
- Force Shutdown Then Restart: Hold Power Button For 10 Seconds
- Boot Manager: Hold Volume(-) + Press Power Button:
- BIOS Menu: Hold Volume(+) + Press Power Button
- Reset Firmware And BIOS: Hold Volume(-) + Hold Three Dots (•••) + Press Power button
- SteamOS Menu: Hold Three Dots (•••) + Press Power Button
More Information
Charging
- Use stock charger or equivalent / stronger - 45W+ with USB PD support
- Avoid using magnetic chargers or cable extenders if possible
Docking / Using A Hub
- Re-connect the Dock / Hub
- Sometimes power is needed for functionality - use a good power supply
- Try different cables if there are issues connecting a device to the dock / hub
- Update firmware of dock / hub if possible
Gaming
- Unable to install a game due to grayed out
Install button and Available For Windows text:
- Go into the game properties’ (Menu Button / Gear > Properties > Compatibility) and enable
Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool (eg. Proton Experimental)
- Not all games have Steam Cloud functionality so saves need to be transferred manually between devices (eg. Dark Souls III)
- See if
Quick Settings are properly configured
- Turn off HDR if random colors appear
- See potentially limiting factors by enabling
Performance Overlay in Quick Settings
- Try different configurations (eg. in game settings, other Proton versions) - see ProtonDB user reports
- Various compatibility layers (eg.
Proton-GE) can be easily installed using ProtonUp-QT from Discover in Desktop Mode
- After installing them, they can be selected within the game properties’ (Menu Button / Gear > Properties > Compatibility)
- If cutscenes aren’t working (only showing SMPTE color bars) try
Proton-GE
Controls
Joysticks
Triggers
Accessories & Bluetooth
- If it’s a Bluetooth device sometimes re-pairing it can help to connect it again
- Xbox Wireless controllers might need a firmware update to connect properly
- MicroSD cards can be faked, buy from reputable sellers that have good return / refund policy
Decky
- Disable it and update / reinstall / uninstall in Desktop Mode