The Steam Deck has been out in the world for a few months now and more and more people are starting to get their hands on Valve’s latest creation thanks to the roll out of new devices every day. The handheld PC is one of the greatest innovations in recent memory and there is an abundance of functionality at the fingertips of every user. However, this functionality is not always clear. Some users may not even know half of what their Steam Deck can do. To help bridge the gap between the undiscovered and the user, we’ll discuss several tips that can help players get the most out of their Steam Deck.
Tips for using the steam deck
We are going to discuss several tips related to the Steam Deck. Most of these are simple actions that every user should know in order to fully access the Steam Deck functionality.
Connecting a controller
While Steam Deck’s handheld experience is perfect for some games, it can be a bit unintuitive for most titles. For example, if players are playing a multiplayer title like Fortnite, players will not suddenly want to learn a whole new set of controls and place their hands in a different position than they are used to. Fortunately, Steam Deck allows the use of an external controller.
To connect a controller, players need to open their Steam Deck and go to Settings and then Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth here and then press the Bluetooth pairing button on the controller. After a few seconds, your controller should appear in the Bluetooth menu. When this happens, press A to pair with Steam Deck and you should be able to use the controller the same way you would on a console or PC.
If you prefer to connect your controller directly to the Steam Deck and not play with Bluetooth, you have that option too. To do this, you’ll need a controller that connects via a USB-C cable, which most standard controllers on the market should be. However, if you want to use a controller that doesn’t connect via USB-C, you’ll need an adapter. This would probably be a USB-A to USB-C adapter, if you want to use something like an Xbox 360 controller. You can use the controller freely with any controller connected directly to the USB output of Steam Deck.
Using the Back Buttons
As any Steam Deck user knows, there are four buttons on the back of the unit, two on each side. These can be assigned to any input players want. However, most games don’t make much use of these buttons at the moment. But if you want to set them up for a game that does use them, you can easily do that.
During the game, press the Steam button on the left side of the device and press Right twice. This will bring up the controller interface on the screen. Players can then go to Controller Settings and then Edit Layout. From here, players can assign the back buttons, labeled L4, L5, R4, and R5, to any input they want.
Open the desktop
While the Steam Deck is primarily used to play games directly from your Steam library, a full-fledged operating system is also available. Players can access Desktop mode by holding down the power button and selecting the mode from the list of options. This allows players to open a browser and see all their third-party applications. Going to Desktop mode is perfect for players who want to access Xbox Game Pass, for example, because it can only be done through a browser.
Take a screenshot
In modern gaming, everyone wants to take a screenshot of something they did in the game. Whether it’s beating the final boss in Elden Ring or an image of the scoreboard in a Call of Duty match, screenshots have become an integral part of the video game industry. Of course, Valve added a way for Steam Deck users to take their own screenshot while using the handheld PC.
To do that, just press the Steam + R1 buttons at the same time. If you’ve done it right, you’ll see a notification box stating that you’ve taken a screenshot. These recordings are then saved through the Media menu of the Steam Deck.
Using the virtual keyboard
One of the cool innovations that Valve has introduced with Steam Deck is the virtual keyboard. This feature is a shortcut that allows users to access a smartphone-style keyboard during the game. This is perfect for users who don’t connect their own keyboard to play games. For example, if players are playing a multiplayer game like Call of Duty or CS:GO and want to type against their teammates, they can do so using the virtual keyboard shortcut.
To bring it up, players just need to press Steam + X at the same time. This will bring up the keyboard so players can type while staying in the game they are playing. You can also do this in desktop mode at times when the keyboard doesn’t appear automatically – but probably should.
Disable Adaptive Brightness
Adaptive Brightness is a feature that most modern handheld devices have. However, it is not the best feature for gaming. What it does is turn the brightness up or down on Steam Deck depending on the ambient light in the room. So if the place you’re playing is extremely dark, Steam Deck’s Adaptive Brightness will be activated and the brightness will increase. Alternatively, if you’re playing in a well-lit room, the brightness will be lowered. While this is a good idea, in theory it doesn’t always work well when playing games.
To disable it, press the Steam button and go to Settings and then Display. Uncheck the box for Adaptive Brightness here and select the brightness you think is right. If you need to, you can always go back and adjust the brightness.
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