Trackpad doesn't work as a mouse click anymore

[Galebourn]

Hey everyone,
for the last few days, I had a weird problem with my Steam deck in desktop mode. The cursor movement itself works fine, but clicking the trackpad doesn't register as a left click. I now that Steam has to run in order to use the trackpad, but that's not the problem here. I even tried to do a factory reset, thinking that would fix it for sure, but the problem still occurs. I'm really at a loss what to do.

[ugafan]

1. Steam
2. Big Picture Mode (Upper right, next to your profile picture)
3. Settings
4. Base Configurations
5. Desktop Configuration

The trackpad settings are located above the picture of the Steam Deck. Change the click to left mouse button.

[@R+5]

you can also check this yt channel to find more things you can do in steam controller settings

https://www.youtube.com/c/RambleTan/videos

[Cave Waverider]

I'm having the same problem as well. Mouse left and right clicks don't register on the Desktop anymore (unless I HOLD the Steam button which I guess uses the Steam Button Chord configuration at which point the clicks work normally or if I bring up the touch keyboard, both not ideal solutins - I just want to work it normally again like it was when I got the Steam Deck) - be it with the integrated controller, touchscreen or external bluetooth or USB mouse(!) - unless I exit the Steam Desktop client completely at which point clicks with controller or external mouse work fine again (not ideal, since the On Screen Keyboard won't work that way). Instead of left/right clicking actions other things happen, like going back in file explorer and such.
This got borked on one of the updates and hasn't been fixed yet, which makes using the desktop mode a pain in the rear.
It's almost like there is some invisible overlay above the entire screen that disallows clicks from going through unless I hold the Steam Button down. Or maybe the Desktop Configuration for the controller gets ignored and some phantom configuration loaded instead (but why would it affect the touchscreen click and physical/external mouse click functionality as well?).

Gaming mode works fine.

And yes, the controller base configurations for Desktop as appear to be set correctly just like ugafan pointed out.

Alas, the latest SteamOS update I just installed a couple of minutes ago didn't fix it either.

Is there any way to reset the (Desktop-) controller configuration completely to default (without losing the per-game configurations)?

[ugafan]

Once at your Desktop Configuration, you can press the X button to choose templates provided by Valve.

If I remember correctly, the original configuration was a gamepad with joystick mouse. The right trackpad was set to mouse with a left mouse click. The left trackpad was set to a single button with right mouse click.

I do not see that listed there, but there are ones to choose from. Also, if you go to the community configurations and choose the one by ScottD, that has clicks on both trackpads. The mouse is a little different than the original, but you can adjust that to your liking.

I use a custom configuration that I created.

[weczi]

Have simmilar problem since few days. Havent any setting upper and base or desktop configuration in my menu.
And problem is not in change to left click becouse it working, but the fealing of click is gone. And clicking now its very hard.
Help

[BZ/Nate]

Thank you kind sir's for the info. I thought my left pad was broken as searches online say it should operate as mouse right click when clicked. But I guess valve changed it or something. Once I added it it works no problem. Thanks again.

[Nomad Unicorn]

None of that works

[killer_hamster]

For me, on PC, Trackpad clicks with a dualsense or dualshock4 don't register in steam input at all. Wonder if it's related.

[Oxotnak]

If you have connected kb and mouse and hold menu button you'll change layout to gamepad mode and then you kb and mouse will work as usual. Problem totally in dekstop mode layout but I can't understand what's wrong