Steam Deck Client and OS Update: Lockscreen, Power Improvements, and more
NOTE: When updating, make sure you are in game mode, not Desktop mode. If you've updated from desktop mode and are stuck in a boot-loop, please follow these recovery instructions.
Today's update includes Steam, OS, and firmware updates, and may take a few minutes to apply after restarting. Please be patient while your Steam Deck updates.
This update has been re-released at 10PM PDT to fix an issue with lock screen PIN entry
Client Update:
Added Lock Screen feature
Lock screen is specific to device, and can be set to show up on wake, boot, login, and/or when switching to Desktop mode
PIN can be entered using the touchscreen or controls
Added localized keyboards for 21 languages and layouts
Multiple keyboards can be enabled in Settings > Keyboard > Active Keyboards
Use the new globe key on the keyboard to cycle between active keyboards
Added support for multiple windows within one application or game.
Press Steam to view active windows and select which window you would like to view
Useful for web browsers or games with launchers
Updated Achievements page design, making it faster to load and easier to navigate
New achievements drop down allows players to quickly compare stats against any friend who also plays
Add Friend and Pending Requests have been combined into a single new page for better handling of friend requests
Added logic to detect and notify user when a microSD card doesn't match advertised storage size and specifications, instead of attempting to format (for a very long time)
Fixed issue where Steam and (...) button couldn't be used with Remote Play when streaming games from PC
More performance improvements for players with very large game libraries
OS Update:
Added messaging when a charger that doesn't meet the minimum bar is plugged in
Added uncapped framerate setting in Quick Access menu > Performance
Added Half-Rate Shading experimental option to Quick Access menu > Performance, forcing 2x2 Variable Rate Shading into existing games for power savings
Added fTPM support, enabling Windows 11 installation
Added button combo: hold "..." + "Volume Down" to reset PD contract in the cases where Steam Deck gets stuck due to an incompatible Type-C device
Updated power LED to dim a few seconds after power supply connection events for better experience in dark environments
Improved compatibility for a number of Type-C docks and PSUs
Improved battery life in idle or very low usage scenarios
Improved stability
Fixed issues where the touchscreen does not work after some boots
Fixed compatibility with some SD cards specifically when used as boot devices.
Fixed extra haptic click when pressing on trackpads
Today we shipped a bunch of updates to Steam Deck that improve Steam, Steam OS, and Steam Deck firmware. You can read the full patch notes here, but here's a high level look at what's changed.
Lock Screen
We've added the ability to turn on a lock screen and PIN for Steam Deck. You can set this to show up on wake, boot, login, and/or when switching to Desktop mode. Sorry little bro/sis, you won't be able to borrow your sibling's Steam Deck and mess with their save games any more!
Updated Achievements Page
The Achievements page has gotten a refresh for Steam Deck, making it faster to load and easier to navigate. You can toggle between your stats and global stats or use the new drop down to compare your achievements with any friend who also plays.
Localized Keyboards
We've added localized keyboards for 21 languages and layouts. Multiple keyboards can be enabled at the same time, and a new globe button will appear when more than one keyboard is selected. Tapping the globe button will cycle through enabled keyboards. We are currently working on keyboards for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, so watch out for those in the future.
Multiple Window Switching
Steam Deck now supports games and applications that have multiple windows. If you push the Steam button while in-game, the overlay has new options to switch between active windows. This is useful for games and apps that might have multiple windows, like web browsers or games with launchers.
SteamOS Updates
These updates were previously available in the OS beta, and after some testing and tweaking they're ready for primetime.
Steam Deck will now warn you if a charger is plugged in that charges slower than our minimum bar
The LED now dims a few seconds after plugging in / unplugging (so it's less annoying at nighttime)
Battery life is improved in idle or very low usage scenarios.
Compatibility has been improved for Type-C docks, chargers, and SD cards
SD card formatting now tests to see if a card has less storage than advertised
An uncapped framerate option is now available in the Performance tab of the Quick Access Menu
fTPM support has been added, allowing for Windows 11 installation
Added Half-Rate Shading experimental option, forcing 2x2 Variable Rate Shading into existing games for power savings
We started shipping Steam Deck just one month ago, and it’s been a huge thrill seeing it out in the wild in players’ hands. One of our favorite things about that is finally getting to hear from you about your experience using Steam Deck. This first month has given us a chance to start collecting your feedback as we continue our work to make Deck better in the months and years to come.
Deck Verified: 2000 strong and growing In just one month we’ve passed a huge milestone with 2000 games now officially Deck Verified or Playable. It's been exciting to see the variety of games the community has been playing - new or old, big or small, every genre - it seems like players have been having a ton of fun on Deck. We're going to continue charging through the Steam catalog and can't wait to share the next big milestone here. We’re also listening carefully to customer feedback in this space, as we want to make sure the Deck Verified program is doing its job. To that end we’ve added a Feedback feature allowing customers to signal whether they agree or disagree with the Verified rating for each title.
Anti-cheat progress One of our top priorities is to support as many titles on Steam as possible, and this includes titles that employ anti-cheat technology. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of developers, service providers, and Proton contributors we’ve made great progress in bringing these games to the Steam Deck community. The two biggest anti-cheat services, BattlEye and Easy Anti-Cheat, now have a streamlined path for developers that choose to enable support for Proton and Steam Deck. Elden Ring and Apex Legends are two examples of games which are taking advantage of this work, so far.
Steam Store and your Library We’ve spent some time making the Steam Store more responsive and snappier on Deck. Plus we get that navigating through libraries can be unwieldy if you have a ton of games, so we’ve made it easier with fast scrolling. We’ve also added the ability to create dynamic collections within your library based on tags and other game characteristics.
…and connecting you to games beyond Steam We worked closely with Microsoft to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to Steam Deck users through the Microsoft Edge browser, and members of the community contributed to the Edge Flatpak that makes this accessible on Steam Deck. To enable input for Edge (a Chromium-based browser), we collaborated with the Google Chrome team on adding native support for the Deck controller, so it can be detected directly by websites.
Keyboard Since launch we’ve improved the on-screen keyboard experience as well. Dual trackpad typing is now available, the game mode keyboard is now available in Desktop mode, and we’ve even added a bunch of new keyboard themes so you can pick whatever suits your typing mood.
Power Finding ways to improve battery life for Steam Deck is always high on our list. We find that depending on what you’re doing, you can expect between 2 and 8 hours of gameplay, but if you want to optimize for battery life even further there are additional options. In the past month we added the ability to reduce your framerate allll the way down to 15 fps (this setting works great for visual novels, puzzles and a lot of simulation games). And for those who love to tinker, we’ve made TDP (processor power), GPU Clock control, and FSR (screen scaling) settings available to optimize power even further.
Windows While there is still driver work to do, you can now install Windows 10 (and soon, 11). We’ve been working with AMD and other partners and have been making steady progress on Windows Drivers. fTPM support is currently in beta, and once that ships Windows 11 can be installed. The last big piece is Windows audio drivers, and we hope to share good news about that soon.
Did we mention it’s a PC? In the month since Steam Deck launched, we’ve seen folks using it as their work computer and main desktop; we’ve seen people using it to write code and for 3D modeling; and we’ve even seen the community starting to write software specifically for Steam Deck.
Planes, trains, and automobiles And buses, parking lots, etc. People are sharing stories (and pictures) of how Steam Deck is keeping them busy (or happily distracted) while commuting, while waiting, and even while their kids are busy in an after-school class. We’re looking forward to seeing where you play yours next.
Speaking of what’s next (for us): More to come Our goal continues to be finding ways to improve your experience on Steam Deck, and that means we’ll keep listening for your feedback. Please get in touch with us in the forums, and if you’re experiencing any issues with your Steam Deck, don’t hesitate to report the bug (we made a quick link to this available in the Quick Access Menu).
We’ve loved hearing about everyone’s excitement for Steam Deck, and are excited to get more of them into your hands. We’ve started shipping in higher quantities and production continues to accelerate. Please let us know what you all think. That’s all for now, but as always, there’s more to come.
