Steam Deck in Desktop Mode Rotated Incorrectly

[Cheese Lord]

Hi everyone!

First time posting, I think. I will be happy to provide more details if needed.

The issue showed itself today when I tried to show my friend a desktop mode on the Steam Deck. Displayed desktop was rotated 90 degrees in "No Rotation" option. After some restarts and trying out different settings, it became landscape in "90 degrees Clockwise" option. It is also not showing a 1280x800 (16x10) resolution, instead there is 800x1280 (5x8).

It is really annoying that every time I will want to do something in the Desktop Mode, I will need to change an orientation of the screen. What's even more surprising is that it all started to happening after I flashed the Steam OS from the recovery image provided on the Support's page. Right out of the box it was a flawless experience.

Have anyone encountered something like this? Or even have found a permanent solution? Or maybe I should contact Steam Support directly?

Thank you for your time in advance!

[Feylito]

Originally posted by ِPackaveli:

Still no solution to this? it’s driving me mad

Did you fix it? My issue happened after connecting to my Alienware optx AW2210 monitor. Mr_c_ posted a fix IDK if it relates to your isue.

It sent the task bar to the starboard side of the Steam Deck lol the right side. Port is left. Lol. And wouldn't change. I unplugged it from the monitor and tried the truck upstairs. Fixed it. I hope you are having fun again.

[Feylito]

Guys if anyone still looking for a fix Mr_C_ posted the fix.

[Firebrand]

Originally posted by Feylito:

Guys if anyone still looking for a fix Mr_C_ posted the fix.

That’s not an actual fix. It’s what we have to live with because a fix isn’t present.

[Mr_C_]

Originally posted by Firebrand:

Originally posted by Feylito:

Guys if anyone still looking for a fix Mr_C_ posted the fix.

That’s not an actual fix. It’s what we have to live with because a fix isn’t present.

Your script works well, though - thanks for that.

It's not a fix, it's a kludge, but we play with the cards we're dealt until Valve decides to do something about it, which they may not.

[Firebrand]

Originally posted by Mr_C_:

Originally posted by Firebrand:

That’s not an actual fix. It’s what we have to live with because a fix isn’t present.

Your script works well, though - thanks for that.

It's not a fix, it's a kludge, but we play with the cards we're dealt until Valve decides to do something about it, which they may not.

You’re very welcome!

And, yes.. indeed. I’ve resigned myself to it. The unit works ultimately. It’s just irksome to have those kludges & workarounds as necessary evils.

[Rexoya]

Originally posted by Firebrand:

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Hiding the native resolution will only make applications more complicated. This problem should only be handle once. Workarounds will create new bugs for everyone.

It’ll do no such thing. It’s already made complicated by the tablet screen orientation.

There’s an exception in KDE’s code to specifically deal with this. That’s what I'm asking to be able to revert. The complication is there by default. Doesn't seem like you've researched this very much.

https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/include/linux/device.h

I don’t need “here’s why the sky is blue” explanations. I was a game engine programmer for 2+ decades. I’m fully aware of the programming challenges.

Originally posted by doomsom:

Fixed:
Screen was at 600x480 or so from trying to launch a game via desktop. To fix it. I right clicked desktop, configure display settings, display configuration and with my screen sideways finally I was able to get down to Orientation of screen and I changed the resolution back to 800x1280 and flipped the orientation until it was like original. I also did this prior to launching a game via desktop and going into left lower corner steam icon to settings and display but you can just right click on desktop via first way. Confirmed fix.

You can also make a file on the desktop called something like “Fix Screen Orientation.desktop” & fill it with the following info :

===== Copy below this line =====
#!/usr/bin/env xdg-open

[Desktop Entry]
# Exec=sh -c 'xrandr -o right'
Exec=sh -c 'xrandr -o right | xrandr -s 800x1280'
Icon=steamdeck-gaming-return
Name[en_US]=Fix Screen orientation
Name=Fix Screen orientation
StartupNotify=false
Terminal=true
Type=Application

===== Copy above this line =====

That'll do the same thing as the GUI for it, with the bonus of being easier to access if the screen orientation & resolution is so mangled that it's difficult to access.

None of this should be necessary however if Valve was to offer a tool to revert the original screen orientation as per the KDE code.

I made the file then what should I do with the file? Sorry I was very poor this kinda thing

[Firebrand]

If it’s named as I mentioned on my post with the “.desktop” extension & contains the content as specified, you just double click it & it’ll set the orientation to the same as the far right option in the GUI.

But, if it’s already oriented & displaying correctly, there’s no need to do anything.

The reason I made this is it can be difficult to access the GUI to set it correctly if it happens, so this would likely be extremely helpful at that point.

When the orientation bug happens you can still see your desktop & access it, but the GUI for this extends off the screen, making it difficult to access.

So, IE - This is a fix for when the screen goes wacky & you can’t easily access the GUI. Don’t run it if it’s already correct.

[Rexoya]

Ooh it turns back to normal but now my steam deck at 90 counterclockwise orientation and it will last long forever untill valve decide to patch fix?

[Rexoya]

Originally posted by Firebrand:

If it’s named as I mentioned on my post with the “.desktop” extension & contains the content as specified, you just double click it & it’ll set the orientation to the same as the far right option in the GUI.

But, if it’s already oriented & displaying correctly, there’s no need to do anything.

The reason I made this is it can be difficult to access the GUI to set it correctly if it happens, so this would likely be extremely helpful at that point.

When the orientation bug happens you can still see your desktop & access it, but the GUI for this extends off the screen, making it difficult to access.

So, IE - This is a fix for when the screen goes wacky & you can’t easily access the GUI. Don’t run it if it’s already correct.

Does if I format my steam deck will fix this issue? Back to orientation no rotation?

[Firebrand]

Yes, but it’s honestly fine if you leave it. Mine has been like this since my original post here & it’s been fine.

In fact, the 90 degrees CCW orientation IS the correct orientation for it. It’s just that Valve patches the display kernel so it’s as you’d expect.

If it’s not an issue, I’d just leave it as long as your display is oriented correctly in both game & desktop mode. It won’t hurt anything.

But, as mentioned, it’d be nice if Valve would properly address this bug. It’s irritating even if 90 CCW IS in fact the actual orientation of the screen (it’s basically a tablet screen fit into the deck).

[Ravenus]

Just happened to me now, I had to make it think it's sideways to show up normal, I accidentally started a game in desktop and everything flipped, on beta

[Firebrand]

Is that intentional irony? What exactly am I gatekeeping? Expecting intellectual coherence is gatekeeping now? And I’m somehow preventing learning? 😂🤦‍♂️ How precisely am I doing that? My god, it’s worse than I thought. People have become fragile.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by Firebrand:

Is that intentional irony? What exactly am I gatekeeping? Expecting intellectual coherence is gatekeeping now? And I’m somehow preventing learning? 😂🤦‍♂️ How precisely am I doing that? My god, it’s worse than I thought. People have become fragile.

Political problems are not intellectually coherence. Valve merged the rotated screen upstream to the Linux kernel. Software depends on the rotated screen right now. Now, Steam Deck is stuck for the lifetime of the whole device.

I am not oppose you running scripts on your device, but nobody is willing to undo it because it causes more problem than it solves.

For the next device, lobby Valve to not rotate the screen or rotate it in firmware so we do not see the ugliness.

[Firebrand]

🤦‍♂️ Case-in-point. How are “political problems” now being ascribed to this? This is exactly what I’m talking about. Holy crap… 🙄 I’ll overlook your strawman & red herrings as the exact incoherence I was citing. Calling for competence is apparently “gatekeeping” now. 😂 Hilarious… and also sad.

Everything you mention is just reiterating points already made. And I wholesale disagree with your LCD premise. You’re not treading any new ground here.

Newer revisions don’t even attempt to hide it, setting the real orientation by default, so all this is a moot point.

[Emma]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.