Steam Deck Won't Display on TV When Using HDMI Switch

[eventhecocks]

Has anyone else encountered this issue? The Steam Deck will connect when plugged directly into the TV (LG C1), but not when plugged in via a HDMI switch. I don't have enough inputs directly on the TV to keep an HDMI plugged in for when I want to "dock." Are there any solutions that are known?

[Gormar]

What kind of HDMI switch do you use?
I've got simple chines one similar to that one [botland.store].
Maybe it cannot detect connected device. Have you try to select input manually?

[eventhecocks]

Originally posted by Gormar:

What kind of HDMI switch do you use?
I've got simple chines one similar to that one [botland.store].
Maybe it cannot detect connected device. Have you try to select input manually?

It's one I got on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MMRTS4S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Works for everything else except for the Steam Deck. I have tried numerous times to select the input manually. Maybe I need a new switch?

[Acidicus]

I use switches and splitters and capture card without issues. Could it be the length of HDMI cables? I assume you checked that switch and TV are on the right channel . It could be something with resolution, try to do it while in desktop mode, I believe that deck outputs 1080 to the external screen.

[arcane_ether]

I am experiencing the same problem.
I am using a Rocketfish RF-G1185, HDMI 4-port switch.

When the Steam Deck Dock is plugged into my TV directly, it works fine.
When I try to use it through the HDMI switch, the Steam Deck Dock is not detected.

Both my Playstation 4 and my Nintendo Switch work through the HDMI switch as expected, only the Steam Deck Dock fails to be detected, suggesting this is an issue with the Steam Deck Dock's firmware or incompatibility with this brand of HDMI switch.

[CoffeeWithGames]

Can confirm the official Dock won't stay displayed when going through an HDMI switch box, but will stay displayed when I plug it directly into the Elgato.

It has to be something on the Steam Deck software side, I would imagine?

[yokoshlomo]

Sounds for me like your switch need an additional power supply, hence the decks hdmi port doesnt deliver enough.

Just a guess tho.

[Lightofscorpio]

Originally posted by eventhehawks:

Originally posted by Gormar:

What kind of HDMI switch do you use?
I've got simple chines one similar to that one [botland.store].
Maybe it cannot detect connected device. Have you try to select input manually?

It's one I got on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MMRTS4S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Works for everything else except for the Steam Deck. I have tried numerous times to select the input manually. Maybe I need a new switch?

i use the same exact model. and it works for me (and ive tried adding more splitters in between and it continued to work). not sure if there was a software update that fixed the problem or not. it works in Desktop and Gaming mode.

[CoffeeWithGames]

Originally posted by yokoshlomo:

Sounds for me like your switch need an additional power supply, hence the decks hdmi port doesnt deliver enough.

Just a guess tho.

I just tried this, plugging the switch box up, and it didn't solve the problem. The deck displayed for about a minute, like it's done before, then went back to showing nothing on the TV. Unplugged it, and plugged it directly into the Elgato, and it's working fine.
Might be time for an upgraded switch box, but not sure it's necessary as everything else runs through it just fine.
I'll give Valve more time to patch/update stuff, and hopefully get it sorted.

[ImOnStamDeckICantType]

I just tried External display safe mode in display options at the bottom and it worked for me!

[ClassicGOD]

Some HDMI switches, especially the cheaper ones, do no advertise their capabilities correctly. They just pass the EDID of the display. This can result in devices capable of higher bandwidth HDMI signal when connected to capable HDMI display to choose a bandwidth that the switch can not handle resulting in black screen.

This is not really an issue with the Deck, the switch or the display themselves, just an issue of incompatible hardware combinations. That is why many people can report the Deck working with the same switch on 1440p display that someone has issues with on a 4k display.

I can recommend the EZCOO 8K HDMI Switch 4 in 1 as it supports full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and I tested it myself confirming that 4k120 with VRR works well over this switch. Steam Deck also has no issues with 4k60, 1080p120, and any refresh rate from 40 to 120hz adjustable in 1hz increments on this switch (in combination with LG CX tv, refresh rate support can vary on different TV models).

[Fuzzykropolis]

Also having this issue. The HDMI splitter i bought was a highly rated, very common device, and at this point is only a few months old. It works with everything else except the dock. I have tried several different brands of cables and none work. Works fine with a direct connection to the monitor, but not through the splitter.

HDMI splitter I'm using;
https://a.co/d/er4CbJO

[ObiHan_Shinobi]

I'm having the same issue with the Rocketfish RF-G1501. Sometimes comes through for a second then cuts out, other times doesn't come through at all.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by ObiHan_Shinobi:

I'm having the same issue with the Rocketfish RF-G1501. Sometimes comes through for a second then cuts out, other times doesn't come through at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akxU62laPMk

HDMI signals have DRM aka digital right management. HDMI is a port created by the same people who invented the Sony rootkit. They decided to make the HDMI signal fragile and it would black screen rather often.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal

https://hackaday.com/2023/07/11/displayport-a-better-video-interface/

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38429055


https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/hardware

Wendall is considered an expert. If you cannot afford his merch for switching HDMI ports, I guess do not bother with other vendors. They will have worse products.

https://hdfury.com/product/integral-2/

I heard these HDMI splitters work but I never used them myself. The creators of the DRM can vouch for HDfury capabilities. They sue them for making a HDMI splitter that works.

https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/4/10708346/intel-warner-brothers-hdfury-lawsuit-HDCP

[BlunderingFool]

And that post above me, ladies and gentlebugs, is why HDMI sucks and someone should come up with a DisplayPort + Audio connector, just tack a bit on the side! =P