Steam Deck won't boot up properly; Black Screen

[G.I.Joe Joe]

So my Steam Deck won't fully boot up now. I hear the chime, see the power light up when I push the power button and the touchpads have haptic feedback. The fans also spin up but the screen remains turned off. I've tried multiple things; volume up with power on, volume down with power on, holding power button down 15s and press again, depleted battery all the way down, charged all night, run with charger connected, opened it up, disconnected and reconnected battery, connected to usbc hub to hdmi, created recovery flash driver to try and boot off of... none of this stuff works. If anyone has found some other method, please enlighten me. I'm afraid I might have to RMA my Steam Deck after only about a month of having it.

[jrepin]

cawang eredeti hozzászólása:

Hey I faced same problem and I fixed it by updating the BIOS.

To update to that BIOS you will need to opt into the 'Main' OS update channel:
1. Turn on Developer settings (steam button > settings > system > 'Enable Developer Mode')
2. Turn on 'Show Advanced update Channels' in developer settings (steam button > settings > developer settings)
3. Set Deck to 'Main' in OS Update Channel (steam button > settings > system)
4. Select Apply under 'Software Updates' above and then select the 'Restart' once it is done.

Important:
While the system is applying the new update during restart, this process could take up to 15 minutes to complete. During that time you may see the LED blink a few times and the system appear to not respond or continue to have a black display, make sure to avoid interrupting the device in this state as it is repairing/updating the BIOS and firmware for the device.

If more than 15 minutes has passed during the reboot and there is still nothing displayed on the Deck, please do the following with the Deck plugged into the external display/monitor to check the BIOS version updated:
Go to System in the settings (steam button > settings > system)
Scroll down on the System page until you see the 'BIOS Version' entry
Check that this version is F7A0121 or higher.


If the BIOS version is lower than that, send a ticket to steam team to let them know the BIOS version is not updated.


If the BIOS version is F7A0121 or higher, then try the following steps:
Fully shutdown the unit (steam button > power > shutdown).
Hold the volume (-) button and QAM (...) button down at the same time. While holding those buttons, tap the power button once.
Allow for the unit to fully boot, this process may take up to 15 minutes again as it is repairing the firmware.

Your steam deck should run normal now.
Happy trying

Yeah this also brought back the display for me, the BIOS/CMOS update/reset. Although I now do not have touch via display.

[G.I.Joe Joe]

I'm glad to see this topic is still receiving regular traffic, and those that participated in the discussion are providing valuable feedback. Ultimately, I hope each and every one of you are fully enjoying your Steam Decks and receiving the help needed.

[Rayce]

jrepin eredeti hozzászólása:

cawang eredeti hozzászólása:

Hey I faced same problem and I fixed it by updating the BIOS.

To update to that BIOS you will need to opt into the 'Main' OS update channel:
1. Turn on Developer settings (steam button > settings > system > 'Enable Developer Mode')
2. Turn on 'Show Advanced update Channels' in developer settings (steam button > settings > developer settings)
3. Set Deck to 'Main' in OS Update Channel (steam button > settings > system)
4. Select Apply under 'Software Updates' above and then select the 'Restart' once it is done.

Important:
While the system is applying the new update during restart, this process could take up to 15 minutes to complete. During that time you may see the LED blink a few times and the system appear to not respond or continue to have a black display, make sure to avoid interrupting the device in this state as it is repairing/updating the BIOS and firmware for the device.

If more than 15 minutes has passed during the reboot and there is still nothing displayed on the Deck, please do the following with the Deck plugged into the external display/monitor to check the BIOS version updated:
Go to System in the settings (steam button > settings > system)
Scroll down on the System page until you see the 'BIOS Version' entry
Check that this version is F7A0121 or higher.


If the BIOS version is lower than that, send a ticket to steam team to let them know the BIOS version is not updated.


If the BIOS version is F7A0121 or higher, then try the following steps:
Fully shutdown the unit (steam button > power > shutdown).
Hold the volume (-) button and QAM (...) button down at the same time. While holding those buttons, tap the power button once.
Allow for the unit to fully boot, this process may take up to 15 minutes again as it is repairing the firmware.

Your steam deck should run normal now.
Happy trying

Yeah this also brought back the display for me, the BIOS/CMOS update/reset. Although I now do not have touch via display.

I actually had this same exact issue a few days ago and Steam Support gave me the same instructions.
I made a separate post just a few minutes ago stating the issue and with this fix, hoping to hellp others with is: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/0/6051221782225327586/

[Nindobros]

1. Make sure the unit is shut down by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
2. Check that the unit is off, there should be no haptic response when touching the trackpads and no fan noise.
3. Plug in the provided power supply into the unit, you should see a solid white LED.
4. Hold the "Volume +" button and the "..." button at the same time for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds while still holding the buttons, unplug the power supply.
5. When preformed correctly you should see the power LED blink 3 times and after that the unit should not respond to using the power button.
6. Next, plug the power supply back into your unit. This will exit storage mode.
7. Retest the issue.

Thank you!! This helped me with my deck not booting up. Black screen of death. I even contacted valve and reset the bios which didn't work.

4 days I've been restarting and holding buttons! Thank you!

[Maz86]

THIS SAVED ME THANK YOU! Had to use my teeth lol

[MisterTree]

G.I.Joe Joe eredeti hozzászólása:

Lyon eredeti hozzászólása:

This has just happened to me as well. Pressing power makes the boot up noise, I can feel haptic on the track pads and I can hear the fan, but that's all my Deck can do now. It doesn't output anything over hdmi and I cannot access bios. Sad times.

If you try all the options Steam Support gives you and they don’t work.. eventually it’ll lead to a RMA. Seems like the turn around is a few weeks. Good luck

Did you end up getting it fixed? I’m having this same issue?

[Little Tinker]

When pressing volume down, QAM and then power button it just activates battery storage mode for me

[Seen Space]

cawang eredeti hozzászólása:

G.I.Joe Joe eredeti hozzászólása:

So my Steam Deck won't fully boot up now. I hear the chime, see the power light up when I push the power button and the touchpads have haptic feedback. The fans also spin up but the screen remains turned off. I've tried multiple things; volume up with power on, volume down with power on, holding power button down 15s and press again, depleted battery all the way down, charged all night, run with charger connected, opened it up, disconnected and reconnected battery, connected to usbc hub to hdmi, created recovery flash driver to try and boot off of... none of this stuff works. If anyone has found some other method, please enlighten me. I'm afraid I might have to RMA my Steam Deck after only about a month of having it.

Hey I faced same problem and I fixed it by updating the BIOS.

To update to that BIOS you will need to opt into the 'Main' OS update channel:
1. Turn on Developer settings (steam button > settings > system > 'Enable Developer Mode')
2. Turn on 'Show Advanced update Channels' in developer settings (steam button > settings > developer settings)
3. Set Deck to 'Main' in OS Update Channel (steam button > settings > system)
4. Select Apply under 'Software Updates' above and then select the 'Restart' once it is done.

Important:
While the system is applying the new update during restart, this process could take up to 15 minutes to complete. During that time you may see the LED blink a few times and the system appear to not respond or continue to have a black display, make sure to avoid interrupting the device in this state as it is repairing/updating the BIOS and firmware for the device.

If more than 15 minutes has passed during the reboot and there is still nothing displayed on the Deck, please do the following with the Deck plugged into the external display/monitor to check the BIOS version updated:
Go to System in the settings (steam button > settings > system)
Scroll down on the System page until you see the 'BIOS Version' entry
Check that this version is F7A0121 or higher.


If the BIOS version is lower than that, send a ticket to steam team to let them know the BIOS version is not updated.


If the BIOS version is F7A0121 or higher, then try the following steps:
Fully shutdown the unit (steam button > power > shutdown).
Hold the volume (-) button and QAM (...) button down at the same time. While holding those buttons, tap the power button once.
Allow for the unit to fully boot, this process may take up to 15 minutes again as it is repairing the firmware.

Your steam deck should run normal now.
Happy trying

I don't understand how this is seemingly working for a good amount of people above? Like if it won't boot up no matter what you do (nor work when connected to a dock/external display) as the OP said, how are you supposed to do any of what's listed in your post??
Like you only even mention using the external display AFTER you've already switched to the main channel, but I assume that it must have been implied that you needed to do this for the first steps as well? Idk what other way there could possibly be to do them lol.
If so, I guess you just posted this for others who get here with a similar but slightly different issue as OP, given that their/your Deck apparently still worked when connected to an external display??

[Betty]

Seen Space eredeti hozzászólása:

cawang eredeti hozzászólása:

Hey I faced same problem and I fixed it by updating the BIOS.

To update to that BIOS you will need to opt into the 'Main' OS update channel:
1. Turn on Developer settings (steam button > settings > system > 'Enable Developer Mode')
2. Turn on 'Show Advanced update Channels' in developer settings (steam button > settings > developer settings)
3. Set Deck to 'Main' in OS Update Channel (steam button > settings > system)
4. Select Apply under 'Software Updates' above and then select the 'Restart' once it is done.

Important:
While the system is applying the new update during restart, this process could take up to 15 minutes to complete. During that time you may see the LED blink a few times and the system appear to not respond or continue to have a black display, make sure to avoid interrupting the device in this state as it is repairing/updating the BIOS and firmware for the device.

If more than 15 minutes has passed during the reboot and there is still nothing displayed on the Deck, please do the following with the Deck plugged into the external display/monitor to check the BIOS version updated:
Go to System in the settings (steam button > settings > system)
Scroll down on the System page until you see the 'BIOS Version' entry
Check that this version is F7A0121 or higher.


If the BIOS version is lower than that, send a ticket to steam team to let them know the BIOS version is not updated.


If the BIOS version is F7A0121 or higher, then try the following steps:
Fully shutdown the unit (steam button > power > shutdown).
Hold the volume (-) button and QAM (...) button down at the same time. While holding those buttons, tap the power button once.
Allow for the unit to fully boot, this process may take up to 15 minutes again as it is repairing the firmware.

Your steam deck should run normal now.
Happy trying

I don't understand how this is seemingly working for a good amount of people above? Like if it won't boot up no matter what you do (nor work when connected to a dock/external display) as the OP said, how are you supposed to do any of what's listed in your post??
Like you only even mention using the external display AFTER you've already switched to the main channel, but I assume that it must have been implied that you needed to do this for the first steps as well? Idk what other way there could possibly be to do them lol.
If so, I guess you just posted this for others who get here with a similar but slightly different issue as OP, given that their/your Deck apparently still worked when connected to an external display??

Yeah wondering this myself. I don't have any means to plug into an external display. I just updated my deck and it took forever to boot up and then poof. No screen, no back light, but the feedback on the touch pads is there. So All this stuff above seems to be great and work, but if I cant get to an external display how am I to fix it. Its out of warranty now so whats a brotha to do

[gendotti]

cawang eredeti hozzászólása:

G.I.Joe Joe eredeti hozzászólása:

So my Steam Deck won't fully boot up now. I hear the chime, see the power light up when I push the power button and the touchpads have haptic feedback. The fans also spin up but the screen remains turned off. I've tried multiple things; volume up with power on, volume down with power on, holding power button down 15s and press again, depleted battery all the way down, charged all night, run with charger connected, opened it up, disconnected and reconnected battery, connected to usbc hub to hdmi, created recovery flash driver to try and boot off of... none of this stuff works. If anyone has found some other method, please enlighten me. I'm afraid I might have to RMA my Steam Deck after only about a month of having it.

Hey I faced same problem and I fixed it by updating the BIOS.

To update to that BIOS you will need to opt into the 'Main' OS update channel:
1. Turn on Developer settings (steam button > settings > system > 'Enable Developer Mode')
2. Turn on 'Show Advanced update Channels' in developer settings (steam button > settings > developer settings)
3. Set Deck to 'Main' in OS Update Channel (steam button > settings > system)
4. Select Apply under 'Software Updates' above and then select the 'Restart' once it is done.

Important:
While the system is applying the new update during restart, this process could take up to 15 minutes to complete. During that time you may see the LED blink a few times and the system appear to not respond or continue to have a black display, make sure to avoid interrupting the device in this state as it is repairing/updating the BIOS and firmware for the device.

If more than 15 minutes has passed during the reboot and there is still nothing displayed on the Deck, please do the following with the Deck plugged into the external display/monitor to check the BIOS version updated:
Go to System in the settings (steam button > settings > system)
Scroll down on the System page until you see the 'BIOS Version' entry
Check that this version is F7A0121 or higher.


If the BIOS version is lower than that, send a ticket to steam team to let them know the BIOS version is not updated.


If the BIOS version is F7A0121 or higher, then try the following steps:
Fully shutdown the unit (steam button > power > shutdown).
Hold the volume (-) button and QAM (...) button down at the same time. While holding those buttons, tap the power button once.
Allow for the unit to fully boot, this process may take up to 15 minutes again as it is repairing the firmware.

Your steam deck should run normal now.
Happy trying

This totally worked for me - thanks!

[Corey]

Super Ninja eredeti hozzászólása:

Here are the steps that I had to take in order to restore use of my Steam Deck.

I could not get the screen to turn back on after the Steam Deck's battery had died one time. I could feel the haptics response and I could hear the chime of the deck turning on, but nothing on the screen. The Volume button + the power button to get into the BIOS wouldn't work either. That's when I put in a ticket to the support site and nearly had to send it back. They replied with the following steps.

1. Make sure the unit is shut down by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
2. Check that the unit is off, there should be no haptic response when touching the trackpads and no fan noise.
3. Plug in the provided power supply into the unit, you should see a solid white LED.
4. Hold the "Volume +" button and the "..." button at the same time for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds while still holding the buttons, unplug the power supply.
5. When preformed correctly you should see the power LED blink 3 times and after that the unit should not respond to using the power button.
6. Next, plug the power supply back into your unit. This will exit storage mode.
7. Retest the issue.

At first these troubleshooting steps did not work...

When I got to step 3, even though I had noted that haptic feedback being turned off, the moment I plugged in the cable I would hear the chime and the haptics response would startup again. That's when I decided to hold the power button AGAIN, while moving tracing on the touchpad until the haptics response stopped. At which point, I proceeded forward as normal to using the Volume + and "..." buttons, and then BAM... Things worked!

Hope this helps others out there!

You just helped me out nearly 2 years later, thank you! I read a whole bunch of threads and tried a bunch of other potential solutions before coming across your comment.

Just gonna share what caused my issue for the sake of future readers of this thread now;

I had been playing some ME:LE during some down time at work, when I had to get back to work I put the front cover of my ModCase on the deck and put it in my backpack, then stuck that behind the seat of the bus I drove for work (shuttle driver in school bus for white water rafting company) worked for a few more hours then headed home.

When I pulled my deck out of my bag I noticed the screen was super hot. It was like 80° today, maybe 85 in the bus, not too hot. So my guess is that the power button got pressed somehow and it was running Mass Effect in my backpack with no airflow and the intake possibly blocked for however long, overheated and shut off. I decided to put it in front of a fan for a whole to cool it off, then tried all the normal button combinations as well as holding the power button for 10 seconds, and like everyone else here all I got was fan spinning and haptics, I didn't even get the startup sound.

That's all I could get to happen no matter what solution I tried, until I found this comment. Did as you've described, got two(I think, I pulled the cord with my teeth so maybe I didn't see the first) blinks of a blue light. When I plugged it back in it started pulsating white, like when you power it on, then took maybe 10-15 seconds before the logo finally popped and I knew I was home free.

I was dreading the idea of RMAing, as I love my steam deck and play it quite a lot. I think I probably have over 1000 hours, maybe 2, on it since I picked up an OLED in November. I really didn't want to be without it for a couple weeks, lol.

Anyways, I'll stop rambling. Thanks again! And try this anyone coming here from the future!

[Cato]

Super Ninja eredeti hozzászólása:

Here are the steps that I had to take in order to restore use of my Steam Deck.

I could not get the screen to turn back on after the Steam Deck's battery had died one time. I could feel the haptics response and I could hear the chime of the deck turning on, but nothing on the screen. The Volume button + the power button to get into the BIOS wouldn't work either. That's when I put in a ticket to the support site and nearly had to send it back. They replied with the following steps.

1. Make sure the unit is shut down by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
2. Check that the unit is off, there should be no haptic response when touching the trackpads and no fan noise.
3. Plug in the provided power supply into the unit, you should see a solid white LED.
4. Hold the "Volume +" button and the "..." button at the same time for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds while still holding the buttons, unplug the power supply.
5. When preformed correctly you should see the power LED blink 3 times and after that the unit should not respond to using the power button.
6. Next, plug the power supply back into your unit. This will exit storage mode.
7. Retest the issue.

At first these troubleshooting steps did not work...

When I got to step 3, even though I had noted that haptic feedback being turned off, the moment I plugged in the cable I would hear the chime and the haptics response would startup again. That's when I decided to hold the power button AGAIN, while moving tracing on the touchpad until the haptics response stopped. At which point, I proceeded forward as normal to using the Volume + and "..." buttons, and then BAM... Things worked!

Hope this helps others out there!

You sir are a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ hero

I was on my hail Mary

[Admiral Vengeance]

Super Ninja eredeti hozzászólása:

Here are the steps that I had to take in order to restore use of my Steam Deck.

I could not get the screen to turn back on after the Steam Deck's battery had died one time. I could feel the haptics response and I could hear the chime of the deck turning on, but nothing on the screen. The Volume button + the power button to get into the BIOS wouldn't work either. That's when I put in a ticket to the support site and nearly had to send it back. They replied with the following steps.

1. Make sure the unit is shut down by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
2. Check that the unit is off, there should be no haptic response when touching the trackpads and no fan noise.
3. Plug in the provided power supply into the unit, you should see a solid white LED.
4. Hold the "Volume +" button and the "..." button at the same time for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds while still holding the buttons, unplug the power supply.
5. When preformed correctly you should see the power LED blink 3 times and after that the unit should not respond to using the power button.
6. Next, plug the power supply back into your unit. This will exit storage mode.
7. Retest the issue.

At first these troubleshooting steps did not work...

When I got to step 3, even though I had noted that haptic feedback being turned off, the moment I plugged in the cable I would hear the chime and the haptics response would startup again. That's when I decided to hold the power button AGAIN, while moving tracing on the touchpad until the haptics response stopped. At which point, I proceeded forward as normal to using the Volume + and "..." buttons, and then BAM... Things worked!

Hope this helps others out there!

SUPER HELPFUL!! it work like a miracle :D thank you for this!

[Lagzilla]

anyone evry try popping the bios battry out and putting back in

[poot]

after updating the bios to F7A0131, i put it into storage mode (holding vol- and QAM and pressing power button) then i plugged it into the dock. i thought it wasn't working so i switched the external display back to my pc to search the net. a few minutes later i heard the steam deck making a chime noise so i quickly switched the monitor source back to the deck to see what was happening. it was stuck on the steam logo. at this point i just waited and then the backlight came on after some time. all together it was 10-15 minutes.
if you don't have an external display i suggest doing the storage mode, then plug it into the charger and wait the 15 minutes. hope it works for you.