Steam deck suddenly won't output to TV

[Grimshackle]

I've had my steam deck 2 weeks now and everything was going well. I typically keep it docked to my TV samsung smart and play with a bluetooth controller. Now, suddenly, the steam deck won't output to the TV. No matter what I do, the TV shows as having no input and the console's display is on as if it wasn't connected to anything. I haven't changed anything in the settings.

Things I have already tried to fix this which have not worked and produced the same result:

Changing HDMI cables
Changing HDMI ports on the TV
Updating the Steam Deck
Restarting the Steam Deck
Unplugging then Re-plugging the dock
Hard Resetting the TV
Using a different TV (a Roku TV vs a Samsung)
Buying a different dock from a better brand (same result)

As you can see, I've had the same result with different cables, TVs, and docks, so the problem mus be with the Steam Deck itself, but it seems to be working fine otherwise; when not plugged into anything, it works as a handheld exactly as expected. Anyone else experience anything like this? Again I must stress: This issue came out of nowhere and everything was working as expected for weeks. This is a new problem. Thanks

[Grimshackle]

I've just noticed that in the display menu, the External display settings are gone, removed from the list. That's probably connected. Anyone know why that would happen?

[Kietan]

Did you buy the official dock or something?

[Grimshackle]

Originally posted by Kietan:

Did you buy the official dock or something?

I've used two different third party docks. But the issue now seems to be that there's no options for external display in the steam deck's settings anymore. An internet search has turned up no results as to why that would happen.

[Kietan]

Strange. All I could recommend is the worst option, the factory reset. It helps if you can backup your games off the deck onto something but it still sucks.

edit: and maybe a bug report in the bug report forum?

[Grimshackle]

I didn't realize there was a bug formum, I'll post this there, thanks

[Lala Satalin Deviluke]

Originally posted by Grimshackle:

Originally posted by Kietan:

Did you buy the official dock or something?

I've used two different third party docks. But the issue now seems to be that there's no options for external display in the steam deck's settings anymore. An internet search has turned up no results as to why that would happen.

not providing enough info is a problem even with adt, likewise as crappy a valves forum for searching are, spend some time at least at a basic level, have u modify the deck? is it still factory update/stable only?....trash info, likewise if its still ala carte, then deck will still output to a tv viz usb c to hdmi cord, sadly valve borked official dock update so hdmi output doesnt work, likewise unless ur a linux professional, using a 3rd party to navigate or install linux programs to work with 3rd party dock is risky as its unsupported and not explained correctly for non linux elitists

[Grimshackle]

Originally posted by Lala Satalin Deviluke:

Originally posted by Grimshackle:

I've used two different third party docks. But the issue now seems to be that there's no options for external display in the steam deck's settings anymore. An internet search has turned up no results as to why that would happen.

not providing enough info is a problem even with adt, likewise as crappy a valves forum for searching are, spend some time at least at a basic level, have u modify the deck? is it still factory update/stable only?....trash info, likewise if its still ala carte, then deck will still output to a tv viz usb c to hdmi cord, sadly valve borked official dock update so hdmi output doesnt work, likewise unless ur a linux professional, using a 3rd party to navigate or install linux programs to work with 3rd party dock is risky as its unsupported and not explained correctly for non linux elitists

Not sure what this is asking, but I haven't modified the deck in any way, aside from installing emudeck, which was a week before this issue started occurring

[Grimshackle]

UPDTE: Just went through several days of messages with Valve Tech support and they're stumped. I was able to successfully connect a laptop to the dock so the problem is definitely with the steam deck, but they're out of ideas. Even a factory reset didn't fix the issue. I am in the process of trying to return my steam deck and receive a refund.

[Belaptir]

Originally posted by Grimshackle:

UPDTE: Just went through several days of messages with Valve Tech support and they're stumped. I was able to successfully connect a laptop to the dock so the problem is definitely with the steam deck, but they're out of ideas. Even a factory reset didn't fix the issue. I am in the process of trying to return my steam deck and receive a refund.

Any of your docks are from JSAUX? If so, have you tried updating the dock? Me and a friend have both these docks and they were working until suddenly one day they stopped working. We updated the docks and they started working again.

[Grimshackle]

Originally posted by Belaptir:

Originally posted by Grimshackle:

UPDTE: Just went through several days of messages with Valve Tech support and they're stumped. I was able to successfully connect a laptop to the dock so the problem is definitely with the steam deck, but they're out of ideas. Even a factory reset didn't fix the issue. I am in the process of trying to return my steam deck and receive a refund.

Any of your docks are from JSAUX? If so, have you tried updating the dock? Me and a friend have both these docks and they were working until suddenly one day they stopped working. We updated the docks and they started working again.

The dock is from Mokin. I am waiting for a USB transfer cable to arrive to see if I can update the firmware but this is a desperation move and I don't expect it to work.

[UberMrp]

I feel your pain bro, because ive had exactly this same issue with my deck docked but thankfully it was a pretty rare issue since owning the deck last July. I only ever use it Docked to my Samsung QLED, every few weeks i was getting the same issue. The last time it happened i literally couldnt get it back working to the TV at all after trying all the usual things like you did.... although i never Factory Reset in the end, but i did go and try the dock and deck on another Samsung TV we have and voila.... it was fine. Ok so back to the lounge i go and booyaa it was working again.... since that day ive had no issues again and that would of been a week or 2 before xmas i reckon and i use the Deck pretty much every day for a few hours. Only thing i kinda thought was related was when in Desktop mode... oh and i pretty much only use DTOP mode on my Deck and have done for months now, is that when i did have this random issue and then all came back to the TV again it seemed to have messed with the Display Configuration settings, and i would often have to choose the TV to be primary display and redo the Resolution etc again.
So im fairly sure thats something to do with it but cant say for sure as it was a random thing, but im pretty sure since the last Steam update ive not had the issue again.... related or not.... no idea. If that helps at all then cool, it was a really odd issue and really annoying when it happened as it was a pain pulling HDMIs and USBs in and out to try to get it all back outputting to the TV again..... all i do know is that i have no desire to try and play anything with the deck in my Hand when i have a lounge big off TV and 5.1 i can be using.... good luck bro. :)

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by Grimshackle:

Originally posted by Kietan:

Did you buy the official dock or something?

I've used two different third party docks. But the issue now seems to be that there's no options for external display in the steam deck's settings anymore. An internet search has turned up no results as to why that would happen.

Yea, I personally avoid third party docks for this reason. Hardware docks are a mess of firmware and chipset. Unless the dock provides guarantee Linux support, I would not buy them. I only buy docks from Valve and Pine64.

[RPG Gamer Man]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Originally posted by Grimshackle:

I've used two different third party docks. But the issue now seems to be that there's no options for external display in the steam deck's settings anymore. An internet search has turned up no results as to why that would happen.

Yea, I personally avoid third party docks for this reason. Hardware docks are a mess of firmware and chipset. Unless the dock provides guarantee Linux support, I would not buy them. I only buy docks from Valve and Pine64.

Seems like this bug is connected to unofficial docks for the steam deck. There is always a issue with buying third party stuff, and this is one problem. Maybe it burned out the place you pluigin into either the dock or the tv. This is common when people used unofficial docks for switch. It even was so bad that sometimes it bricked their switches for doing it.

https://switchchargers.com/nintendo-switch-bricking-faq/

AS i said, this is always the risk of using third party items..even controllers.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by RPG Gamer Man:

Seems like this bug is connected to unofficial docks for the steam deck. There is always a issue with buying third party stuff, and this is one problem. Maybe it burned out the place you pluigin into either the dock or the tv. This is common when people used unofficial docks for switch. It even was so bad that sometimes it bricked their switches for doing it.

https://switchchargers.com/nintendo-switch-bricking-faq/

AS i said, this is always the risk of using third party items..even controllers.

Thanks to cost cutting. These scenarios are pretty normal

https://overengineer.dev/blog/2021/04/25/usb-c-hub-madness.html

For the Switch, I would place some blame on Nintendo because their usb c power is non standard.

[Grimshackle]

I've returned my Steam deck and expect a refund at the end of the week. Even though we couldn't fix the issue, Valve's tech support was satisfactory in the return, sending me a pre-paid shipping label to return it with.