Desktop Mode - how to force quit an application on Steam Deck

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PXL May 29, 2022 @ 12:53am

Desktop Mode - how to force quit an application on Steam Deck

I was just playing Witcher 2 in desktop mode directly on yhe Steam Deck (not on a monitor). Game crashed to desktop but it was still running so I couldn’t relaunch it.

How do I force an app to quit on SteamOS?

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Showing 1-15 of 15 comments

jrepin May 29, 2022 @ 1:02am

In the program menu under System open System Monitor and try to see if application/process of the game is still runiing and you can then kill/terminate it from there.

Prezidentas May 29, 2022 @ 1:07am

did you try the STOP button in steam?

PXL May 29, 2022 @ 2:12am

Thanks for the tips guys.

RE: the stop button - no I completely forgot to try that. Steam is always minimised in desktop mode so it was a case of out of sight, out of mind. I will remember!

Clifton Suspension Bridge Jun 2, 2022 @ 5:26pm

Originally posted by leveller:
I was just playing Witcher 2 in desktop mode directly on yhe Steam Deck (not on a monitor). Game crashed to desktop but it was still running so I couldn’t relaunch it.

How do I force an app to quit on SteamOS?

Desktop mode uses the KDE Plasma 5 Desktop environment; to force close an app, open the application launcher and open either KSysGuard (System Monitor), open Discover and install the GNOME System Monitor or open the Konsole (terminal emulator) and use the program "top" or "htop" if it is installed (comes preinstalled in most linux systems)

This is a more COMPLETE answer

claudekennilol Jul 11, 2022 @ 7:51pm

How do I do this with just the steam deck controls? (heck how do I do that even if I have a mouse/keyboard?)

Clifton Suspension Bridge Jul 12, 2022 @ 4:12am

Originally posted by claudekennilol:
How do I do this with just the steam deck controls? (heck how do I do that even if I have a mouse/keyboard?)

I don't own a SteamDeck but surely the A button acts as left-click, B as right click and the left joystick as a mouse/trackball? Also, don't forget that you can use the touchscreen to interact with the device. As for using the keyboard and mouse, all you need to do is plug them into a USB-C dock such as the yet to be release SteamDeck USB-C dock.

Prezidentas Jul 12, 2022 @ 4:48am

Originally posted by wclifton968:
Originally posted by claudekennilol:
How do I do this with just the steam deck controls? (heck how do I do that even if I have a mouse/keyboard?)
I don't own a SteamDeck but surely the A button acts as left-click, B as right click and the left joystick as a mouse/trackball? Also, don't forget that you can use the touchscreen to interact with the device. As for using the keyboard and mouse, all you need to do is plug them into a USB-C dock such as the yet to be release SteamDeck USB-C dock.

no, it doesn't work like that, and you shouldn't be giving advice without even having your deck yet.

Clifton Suspension Bridge Jul 12, 2022 @ 6:53am

Originally posted by Red Star Gopnik:
Originally posted by wclifton968:
I don't own a SteamDeck but surely the A button acts as left-click, B as right click and the left joystick as a mouse/trackball? Also, don't forget that you can use the touchscreen to interact with the device. As for using the keyboard and mouse, all you need to do is plug them into a USB-C dock such as the yet to be release SteamDeck USB-C dock.
no, it doesn't work like that, and you shouldn't be giving advice without even having your deck yet.

Yes fair enough. I may also add that I said all of this stuff which may or may not be bogus based on what I have seen others say about how the device works plus on my experience of using Desktop Linux distros and the K Desktop Environment (KDE Plasma 5) plus various other DEs (mainly Elementary OS' "Pantheon" DE) plus limited experience with other UNIX systems (mainly macOS and Haiku OS plus some FreeBSD versions inside of VMs)

Sargeniffer Sep 16, 2022 @ 4:58pm

A simple click of both joysticks at the same time brings you to the menu x

WoolPlatypus7 Nov 1, 2022 @ 8:53pm

Originally posted by jrepin:
In the program menu under System open System Monitor and try to see if application/process of the game is still runiing and you can then kill/terminate it from there.

You saved my bacon

#10