Howto : Steamdeck Controller Disable while in Docked Mode.. Workaround by BestesFLops & Lord Krex

[Bestes Flops in se Uniwörs]

my Steamdeck is always in a Dock connected to my TV. if i connect 2 XBox Gamepads both with dongle, i cant use gamepad for Player 1+2 only 2+3 Steamdeck Controls is for Player 1... this sucks. is there a fix?

[Ob101111]

I am having same issue and its pissing me off. Can't find a fix anywhere

[minas6907]

Was there ever a fix found? My deck is always docked as well, and I'm having the same issue.

The deck is player 1, and my controller is player 2. I have a Switch pro controller connected with a mayflash dongle.

In the in game options, there's a a grayed out option at the top of customize controls that says 'reassign controller' but it remains grayed out no matter what I do.

The game is verified for steam deck, but when you look at the compatibility, it says at the bottom 'this game does not default to external Bluetooth/USB controllers on deck, and may require manually switching the active controller via the quick access menu'

So it's a known issue, and I feel like the solution is easier then I'm thinking. I'll tinker with it more later, but if anyone's figured it out that help would be appreciated.

[Bestes Flops in se Uniwörs]

in startsettings from steam you can add startvariables.
try
Steamdeck=0 %command%
or Steamdeck=0%command% wasnt shure about the space between 0 and %

[Bestes Flops in se Uniwörs]

Originally posted by Lord Krex:

yep and even when running a script to disable the internal controller when an external controller is used, it then defaults to a keyboard in player 1 spot. I assume because of the virtual keyboard used by the deck.

i use a steamdeck vm on my unraid server with chimeraos and the only difference between steamdeck Sackboy and chimeraos Sackboy are the startvariables. sold my steamdeck cant test it. chimeraos is way better then steamos :D

[Kerosin in da faya [CZ]]

Originally posted by Bestes Flops in se Uniwörs:

Originally posted by Lord Krex:

yep and even when running a script to disable the internal controller when an external controller is used, it then defaults to a keyboard in player 1 spot. I assume because of the virtual keyboard used by the deck.

Where is this quote from? 🙏

I'm still having this issue and am looking for any resource there is.

Thx!

[Maskendoktor]

This is sooo super frustrating. My kids love this game and it always takes around 10 minutes to get it running. I think the trick is this...but it sometimes still requires several attempts:
- reboot Steam Deck
- don't touch anything on the Steam Deck!!!
- only turn on one of the external controllers, use it to launch the game
- sometimes this controller will be P1, sometimes it is P2 but when I turn on the second gamepad it becomes P1

What a mess...

[Maskendoktor]

Also, not sure if it's a coincidence, but I am also using the XBox 360 controllers with the USB dongle. I know they're ancient by now, but my Deck crashed several times today while trying to pair two Joy Cons, so... I very much prefer to be stuck in a more reliable past :D

[Bestes Flops in se Uniwörs]

Originally posted by Kerosin in da faya CZ:

Originally posted by Bestes Flops in se Uniwörs:

Where is this quote from? 🙏

I'm still having this issue and am looking for any resource there is.

Thx!

it was an answer in this post. he deleted it.

[Maskendoktor]

FYI, setting the launch arguments to "SteamDeck=0 %command%" has reliably solved the issue for me on all devices. (Source: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/7290#issuecomment-1902516091)

Much better than restarting the game until it eventually works!