I read on Steam’s website that one of the new features of the Deck OLED was waking the Deck via a bluetooth controller. I was trying it out with my Steam Controller that has already been paired by putting the Deck to sleep while it was docked (which shut off my Steam Controller automatically) then waiting a few seconds (like 15), then powering the Steam Controller back on. The Steam button on the controller flashed for a while like it was looking for something to connect to, then it shut off and the Deck did not wake up.

Is there a setting for either the Deck or the controller that enables wake via Bluetooth or is the Steam Controller just old enough that it won’t work? Or do I need to update the controller firmware?

Any guidance here would be appreciated.

  • @BmeBenjiOP
    2•2 months ago

    How do you know this? Is there a list of supported devices somewhere? I’m struggling to find it on Valve’s website.

    • FubarberryMEnglish
      3•2 months ago

      I haven’t seen a list of devices, but some Bluetooth controllers can wake it up and others won’t. My stadia Bluetooth controllers won’t do it, but Xbox controllers will.

      Might have to do with a specific Bluetooth protocol.

      Also I dug out my old Steam Controller, updated the firmware on it (to add BLE), paired it, and it did wake up my deck. However it didn’t actually work as a controller until after I rebooted the deck, after which it would work as a controller but no longer wake the deck up. I need to repair it and try again, but I didn’t have time to finish testing it.

      • @BmeBenjiOP
        2•2 months ago

        I think I need to update the firmware on mine. I was disappointed to see there was no option in the controller settings of the Deck even when I plugged it in using a micro USB cable through my dock.

        • FubarberryMEnglish
          3•2 months ago

          I think the firmware update was only available through the old big picture mode, and is no longer available through steam UI.

          Searching online brought up this reddit post which included this zip file as the legacy way to update the Steam Controller firmware today.

          • @BmeBenjiOP
            2•2 months ago

            You’re the best. You didn’t need to dig this up but this 100% solved my problem.

            I used my desktop and micro-USB cable to update the SController firmware, re-paired to the Deck using the Steam+B pairing mode, and now it wakes the Deck from sleep.

            Thank you so much!