Steam Deck Won't Boot or Turn On

[Sithkabob]

My deck won't boot, only blinks power LED on for 1 second, off for 5 seconds, seems it will do this indefinitely. I was able to get to the initial login screen once but after that it will not turn back on. Battery is charged, I've tried disconnecting battery, and all combinations of power and volume buttons. I cannot get to the bios screen or to the re-image screen.

[Mahjik]

Create a support ticket.

[Sithkabob]

I did, earlier today, as they haven't responded yet I was just checking to see if anyone in the community has had this issue and solved it.

[Falkentyne]

Are you talking about this?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrETQ4z6cZ4

The power LED blinking 1 second on and 5 seconds off? I've seen that before.
This is supposed to be an "Error code" with the Deck signaling that there is not enough battery power to boot the system.

Unfortunately, this should NOT happen when on AC power, but it does.
What I was able to determine (after writing a long ticket to Valve support) is that this is caused by the embedded controller. It seems to be some sort of protection mechanism when it detects an issue with the battery state. This is bizarre, because, when this protection state is NOT active, you can actually boot the Deck with the battery internally disconnected (by disconnecting the internal battery cable, plugging in the AC adapter, and powering on without the battery, which I've done to test controller inputs when I was trying to fix the d-pad diagonals with a tape mod). But when the Deck is in this state, it won't respond to power.

For example, when the Deck is in this state, disconnecting the internal battery and then plugging in the AC Adapter, with the Deck (chassis) opened (without trying to power it on), will cause the AC Adapter to cycle between 3 brightness levels, which is basically the exact same error code, but with the "charging LED" lit.

Valve instructed me to leave the charger inside the Deck for 2 hours, when this happens (with the battery connected).

Most likely, when you do this, you will see the LED going between 3 different brightness settings, rather than 1 second on, 5 seconds off.

If it does not do this-e.g. if the charging light first starts doing it then turns off and does the 1 on 5 off etc, open the case (carefully, make sure you remove the micro sd card FIRST), then remove the metal shield (you will have to peel the foil tape to get to 1 of the three screws), and then disconnect the battery.

(Follow this guide but stop at step 7).
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Battery+Replacement/149070

Now, plug in the AC Adapter.
You should see the light turn on and suddenly start cycling between several different brightness levels. Does it?

If it doesn't, try pressing the power button and see if the Deck boots.
if it does, shut it down and reconnect the battery and reassemble it.

If it does NOT, disconnect everything and hold down the power button for about 60 seconds.

Then reconnect the battery cable. The power LED should come on then quickly turn off. And it should remain off.

Now, reassemble the Deck, but don't fully snap in the chassis completely...keep it slightly loose (just push in the section by the type C connector).

Now try to power on the Deck, without the AC Adapter plugged in.

You will probably see the cycle happen again.
Just leave it sitting there, and it should randomly "turn on" once the Embedded Controller is "satisfied" about something. If it doesn't, plug in the AC Adapter and leave it in for about 2 hours, then unplug it. The Deck should randomly come on by itself.

If none of this helps, RMA it.

[Sithkabob]

Thank you very much! I was able to get it to power on following your instructions. However, now after the steam deck restarted after imaging a new M.2, I no longer have any display output. Just a black screen, no matter what I've tried. I'm now having a conversation with steam support on the black screen issue.

[Falkentyne]

Originally posted by Sithkabob:

Thank you very much! I was able to get it to power on following your instructions. However, now after the steam deck restarted after imaging a new M.2, I no longer have any display output. Just a black screen, no matter what I've tried. I'm now having a conversation with steam support on the black screen issue.

You installed a new m.2 drive?

Are the haptics working? Is there any feedback when you touch them?
If there is, you can skip the next step.

Can you take a flashlight and shine it at the display while in a dark room and see if you can see the pixels or game list/menu screen?

What happens if you press the power button down for 10 seconds? The light should reset.
What happens if you long press power button, volume DOWN, and the "...." 3 dot button, all for 10 seconds at the same time?

[Phatzo77]

Originally posted by Falkentyne:

Are you talking about this?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrETQ4z6cZ4

The power LED blinking 1 second on and 5 seconds off? I've seen that before.
This is supposed to be an "Error code" with the Deck signaling that there is not enough battery power to boot the system.

Unfortunately, this should NOT happen when on AC power, but it does.
What I was able to determine (after writing a long ticket to Valve support) is that this is caused by the embedded controller. It seems to be some sort of protection mechanism when it detects an issue with the battery state. This is bizarre, because, when this protection state is NOT active, you can actually boot the Deck with the battery internally disconnected (by disconnecting the internal battery cable, plugging in the AC adapter, and powering on without the battery, which I've done to test controller inputs when I was trying to fix the d-pad diagonals with a tape mod). But when the Deck is in this state, it won't respond to power.

For example, when the Deck is in this state, disconnecting the internal battery and then plugging in the AC Adapter, with the Deck (chassis) opened (without trying to power it on), will cause the AC Adapter to cycle between 3 brightness levels, which is basically the exact same error code, but with the "charging LED" lit.

Valve instructed me to leave the charger inside the Deck for 2 hours, when this happens (with the battery connected).

Most likely, when you do this, you will see the LED going between 3 different brightness settings, rather than 1 second on, 5 seconds off.

If it does not do this-e.g. if the charging light first starts doing it then turns off and does the 1 on 5 off etc, open the case (carefully, make sure you remove the micro sd card FIRST), then remove the metal shield (you will have to peel the foil tape to get to 1 of the three screws), and then disconnect the battery.

(Follow this guide but stop at step 7).
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Battery+Replacement/149070

Now, plug in the AC Adapter.
You should see the light turn on and suddenly start cycling between several different brightness levels. Does it?

If it doesn't, try pressing the power button and see if the Deck boots.
if it does, shut it down and reconnect the battery and reassemble it.

If it does NOT, disconnect everything and hold down the power button for about 60 seconds.

Then reconnect the battery cable. The power LED should come on then quickly turn off. And it should remain off.

Now, reassemble the Deck, but don't fully snap in the chassis completely...keep it slightly loose (just push in the section by the type C connector).

Now try to power on the Deck, without the AC Adapter plugged in.

You will probably see the cycle happen again.
Just leave it sitting there, and it should randomly "turn on" once the Embedded Controller is "satisfied" about something. If it doesn't, plug in the AC Adapter and leave it in for about 2 hours, then unplug it. The Deck should randomly come on by itself.

If none of this helps, RMA it.

I had tried everything to get my steam deck to even accept power. let alone turn on. Your solution of unplugging the battery cable worked! Great instructions!!

[lateiitheparty]

This is such bs that this is happening. Turning on your system should be a ZERO problem.

[anachr0nism]

Just had this issue start today - hoping to follow Falk's steps above for ressurection

[Skotish]

Originally posted by Falkentyne:

Are you talking about this?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrETQ4z6cZ4

The power LED blinking 1 second on and 5 seconds off? I've seen that before.
This is supposed to be an "Error code" with the Deck signaling that there is not enough battery power to boot the system.

Unfortunately, this should NOT happen when on AC power, but it does.
What I was able to determine (after writing a long ticket to Valve support) is that this is caused by the embedded controller. It seems to be some sort of protection mechanism when it detects an issue with the battery state. This is bizarre, because, when this protection state is NOT active, you can actually boot the Deck with the battery internally disconnected (by disconnecting the internal battery cable, plugging in the AC adapter, and powering on without the battery, which I've done to test controller inputs when I was trying to fix the d-pad diagonals with a tape mod). But when the Deck is in this state, it won't respond to power.

For example, when the Deck is in this state, disconnecting the internal battery and then plugging in the AC Adapter, with the Deck (chassis) opened (without trying to power it on), will cause the AC Adapter to cycle between 3 brightness levels, which is basically the exact same error code, but with the "charging LED" lit.

Valve instructed me to leave the charger inside the Deck for 2 hours, when this happens (with the battery connected).

Most likely, when you do this, you will see the LED going between 3 different brightness settings, rather than 1 second on, 5 seconds off.

If it does not do this-e.g. if the charging light first starts doing it then turns off and does the 1 on 5 off etc, open the case (carefully, make sure you remove the micro sd card FIRST), then remove the metal shield (you will have to peel the foil tape to get to 1 of the three screws), and then disconnect the battery.

(Follow this guide but stop at step 7).
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Battery+Replacement/149070

Now, plug in the AC Adapter.
You should see the light turn on and suddenly start cycling between several different brightness levels. Does it?

If it doesn't, try pressing the power button and see if the Deck boots.
if it does, shut it down and reconnect the battery and reassemble it.

If it does NOT, disconnect everything and hold down the power button for about 60 seconds.

Then reconnect the battery cable. The power LED should come on then quickly turn off. And it should remain off.

Now, reassemble the Deck, but don't fully snap in the chassis completely...keep it slightly loose (just push in the section by the type C connector).

Now try to power on the Deck, without the AC Adapter plugged in.

You will probably see the cycle happen again.
Just leave it sitting there, and it should randomly "turn on" once the Embedded Controller is "satisfied" about something. If it doesn't, plug in the AC Adapter and leave it in for about 2 hours, then unplug it. The Deck should randomly come on by itself.

If none of this helps, RMA it.

Have a steam reward for your precise post I got my steam deck working again thanks to you

[Ryker]

Elo

[Cyberdev]

this somewhat happened to me where my deck is at 62% battery and when o tried turining it on it wouldnt turn on, the led did not turn on, nor the screen, it fineally did once i started pressing random buttons

[MiSTAHMiAOU]

I have now officially joined this epic club right here however I am still at the first step: "acceptance".

Above all thanks for the ifixit.com ref, will quite possibly give it a shot.

EDIT: https://www.ifixit.com/products/steam-deck-battery?variant=39726398210151

[nellePoint]

Currently in a strange state, its been charging since last night, makes the beep sound when i press the power button and then does nothing, where i can then press the power button again and make the sound again.

When i try to boot to bios it does turn the fans on for a time but the screen doesnt show, and when i press the A button to boot as normal it goes back to being off.

Gonna leave it charging all day and maybe that changes something. If not then uh well guess im self repairing lol.

[TerrribleIndianGamer]

Originally posted by LimePotato:

Currently in a strange state, its been charging since last night, makes the beep sound when i press the power button and then does nothing, where i can then press the power button again and make the sound again.

When i try to boot to bios it does turn the fans on for a time but the screen doesnt show, and when i press the A button to boot as normal it goes back to being off.

Gonna leave it charging all day and maybe that changes something. If not then uh well guess im self repairing lol.

I am having the same issue. Were you able to fix this?

[Nanaki]

Originally posted by Falkentyne:

Are you talking about this?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrETQ4z6cZ4

The power LED blinking 1 second on and 5 seconds off? I've seen that before.
This is supposed to be an "Error code" with the Deck signaling that there is not enough battery power to boot the system.

Unfortunately, this should NOT happen when on AC power, but it does.
What I was able to determine (after writing a long ticket to Valve support) is that this is caused by the embedded controller. It seems to be some sort of protection mechanism when it detects an issue with the battery state. This is bizarre, because, when this protection state is NOT active, you can actually boot the Deck with the battery internally disconnected (by disconnecting the internal battery cable, plugging in the AC adapter, and powering on without the battery, which I've done to test controller inputs when I was trying to fix the d-pad diagonals with a tape mod). But when the Deck is in this state, it won't respond to power.

For example, when the Deck is in this state, disconnecting the internal battery and then plugging in the AC Adapter, with the Deck (chassis) opened (without trying to power it on), will cause the AC Adapter to cycle between 3 brightness levels, which is basically the exact same error code, but with the "charging LED" lit.

Valve instructed me to leave the charger inside the Deck for 2 hours, when this happens (with the battery connected).

Most likely, when you do this, you will see the LED going between 3 different brightness settings, rather than 1 second on, 5 seconds off.

If it does not do this-e.g. if the charging light first starts doing it then turns off and does the 1 on 5 off etc, open the case (carefully, make sure you remove the micro sd card FIRST), then remove the metal shield (you will have to peel the foil tape to get to 1 of the three screws), and then disconnect the battery.

(Follow this guide but stop at step 7).
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Battery+Replacement/149070

Now, plug in the AC Adapter.
You should see the light turn on and suddenly start cycling between several different brightness levels. Does it?

If it doesn't, try pressing the power button and see if the Deck boots.
if it does, shut it down and reconnect the battery and reassemble it.

If it does NOT, disconnect everything and hold down the power button for about 60 seconds.

Then reconnect the battery cable. The power LED should come on then quickly turn off. And it should remain off.

Now, reassemble the Deck, but don't fully snap in the chassis completely...keep it slightly loose (just push in the section by the type C connector).

Now try to power on the Deck, without the AC Adapter plugged in.

You will probably see the cycle happen again.
Just leave it sitting there, and it should randomly "turn on" once the Embedded Controller is "satisfied" about something. If it doesn't, plug in the AC Adapter and leave it in for about 2 hours, then unplug it. The Deck should randomly come on by itself.

If none of this helps, RMA it.

Some laptops do this, where there isn't enough battery charge, even with AC plugged in. Only thing to do was wait for the battery to charge a little bit or take the battery out and try again. :p