Switch Pro controller random disconnects.

[unvaluablespace]

I was wondering if others are experiencing issues with random controller disconnects. I have worked with valve support and received an RMA unit, but still the issue persists and I was told there was no hardware issues.

I have 3 switch pro controllers that I know are legit and 2 of which were purchased back on launch day in March of 2017. They work perfectly fine on my Nintendo switch with no issues or disconnects, but on the steam deck, I get a lot of random disconnects. The problem is it's not reproducable due to the randomness: sometimes it happens within. Seconds of connection, other times minutes, others after hours. It's very annoying when trying to enjoy a game and then suddenly the controller disconnects in the heat of the moment.

Trying to use 2 controllers is even worse, as usually one "kicks" the other off, or if they both pair successfully, it introduces lag. Other times after initial pairing, once the controller is off or the steam deck shutdown/restarted, only one of the controllers likes to connect, but not the other, unless I remove and re-pair it all over again. Sometimes neither paired controller wants to connect.

The most telling about all of this is that I have tested and paired my switch pro controllers to other devices with no random disconnects - windows desktop, Android device, Nintendo switch, etc. Only when connected to steam deck. I have also tested these issues in multiple locations to try and remove possible interference related issues, but the problem still occurs.

Anyone else have problems with their switch controllers and random disconnects? Whether one controller or more than one connected at the same time?

[unvaluablespace]

I want to also clarify that I have already tried the disabling rumble and haptics suggestion. I even made sure all controllers firmware are updated on the Nintendo switch (since they don't update through the steam deck). This issue occurs whether I'm 10 feet away from the deck, or less than a foot.

[class101 [OLED deck]]

I have a Switch Pro too that I abandoned to use on the Deck because it was the disconnects fest as soon I was plugging in my Sony XML4 earbuds (of course I opened a bug report and of course it didn't received a single attention...)

Since I switched to the PS5 controllers I didn't notice this issue again but newer issue as like having to put up with Valve disabling my trackpad when switching to SteamOS 3.4

It is not you, neither your controllers, but the SD handling bluetooth like sh­it

I saved an interesting article on reddit for you, you will have to tinker in the bluez service in place of Valve to fixe that

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/vu53p9/reducing_input_lag_when_using_xbox_controller/

Feel free to share if you find a stable setting for the Switch Pro controller, there are many users affected by this problem

[Chewable C++]

I recently ran into this but managed to work around it by using a USB Bluetooth audio dongle to pair the headset with instead of pairing it directly to the Deck.

[unvaluablespace]

Found this link on phoronix mentioning a possible fix for indefinite rumble, but also BT controller disconnect.

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.4-Nintendo-Fixes

I wonder how long it will take valve to update to Linux kernel 6.4 once it comes out? Also, note that it only mentions "drastically reducing" the rate of disconnects. Hopefully it's drastic enough to solve most of our issues. Fingers crossed.

[DankWestern]

This has been a daily nightmare for me that's only gotten worse as time goes on. If my Switch Pro Controller isn't plugged in directly, it just never connects again after the initial connection. Pairing it again and again just became too tiresome, so it's essentially a wired controller experience for me, which sucks.

[Temporalin]

It works for me wireslessly if I only connect the Switch Pro Controller, but if I connect PS5 controllers, the Switch ones fail.

I can only hope that a kernel upgrade fixes it, but who knows how long can that be...

[DankWestern]

Mine basically only works while plugged in, otherwise it'll disconnect randomly after a minute or so, and cause MAJOR slowdown and lag. It's been like this since day one of the original SD, and the new oled has the same problem. I wish they'd do something about this, it's been literal years since I've been able to enjoy a game without being tethered to a cable.

[Kage Goomba]

I'd argue that bluetooth drivers are craptastic on the Steamdeck - its a wonder I can use my headphones without incident.

Better off going wired.
Hopefully Valve will sort it out.

[DoKo_O]

is this on a LCD deck still?

i had a similar issue, ive used my bluetooth earphones in the past in my bedroom when i had the deck docked to a screen, paired with a xbox controller. from all the googling i did, the more bluetooth devices/demands you got, while actively using wifi, the more it interferes each other and cancels each other out...

same issue is most likely with peopl who tried to play stuff like mario party in emus, with 6 controllers connected, they all would start lagging and disconnecting with the only real workarround beeing, using a cable on as much of them as possible....

now, why i asked if its on a LCD deck, the oled revision now has seperate antennas for bluetooth and wifi, the LCD has a combined one, i have not yet tested multiple controllers myself, but it sure as hell fixed my bluetooth earplugs + xbox controller use and i dont have any bt and wifi connectivity issues anymore since i got my oled and started using it...

now this is not really helpfull probably, but with all the attempts and googling i did... switching to the oled model really was the only fix for me personally :(

[unvaluablespace]

Originally posted by DoKo_O:

is this on a LCD deck still?

i had a similar issue, ive used my bluetooth earphones in the past in my bedroom when i had the deck docked to a screen, paired with a xbox controller. from all the googling i did, the more bluetooth devices/demands you got, while actively using wifi, the more it interferes each other and cancels each other out...

same issue is most likely with peopl who tried to play stuff like mario party in emus, with 6 controllers connected, they all would start lagging and disconnecting with the only real workarround beeing, using a cable on as much of them as possible....

now, why i asked if its on a LCD deck, the oled revision now has seperate antennas for bluetooth and wifi, the LCD has a combined one, i have not yet tested multiple controllers myself, but it sure as hell fixed my bluetooth earplugs + xbox controller use and i dont have any bt and wifi connectivity issues anymore since i got my oled and started using it...

now this is not really helpfull probably, but with all the attempts and googling i did... switching to the oled model really was the only fix for me personally :(

Yes, I am aware of the OLED model. To be honest, I am a bit annoyed that they release this model after my warranty expired. It's great that Valve recognized the problems with the LCD steam deck, and improved things for new users looking to get the OLED model, but for those of us who were hoping they would fix the existing bluetooth on our LCD models by now, its just frustrating, as it sort of gives me the message that they pretty much quietly have given up on a proper fix for lcd models.

To be fair, Valve support has been great. They exchanged my Steam Deck like 3 different times over this issue. But after numerous exchanges not working, they would basically just give up and say to go create a post in the forums (hence me originally creating this post). They said they would continue to investigate the issue, which led me to believe that one of the steam deck updates would hopefully fix this problem, but after all my time waiting, and now out of warranty, no fix has yet to be provided, though I guess the "fix" is to drop more money on the OLED model...

[unvaluablespace]

Originally posted by Temporalin:

It works for me wireslessly if I only connect the Switch Pro Controller, but if I connect PS5 controllers, the Switch ones fail.

I can only hope that a kernel upgrade fixes it, but who knows how long can that be...

Curious, but have you had occasional disconnects when just using one controller as well? I have this issue from time to time, although admittedly it is WAY WAY less than when trying multiple controllers. But the issue has happened, and annoying midgame as it would sometimes happen in the heat of the moment, when i need it most. The controller would stop responding, and id look down to see it attempting to reconnect.

[unvaluablespace]

After reaching out to Steam Support again, this was the response that was given. I am only ableto copy/past the text, as I don't see a way to paste a screenshot or image:

"At this point in time we believe we have achieved the maximum performance that is possible from the LCD model Bluetooth module. Please note that the improvements for the OLED model are HW based and its not feasible to port those via software. At this point in time we believe the only option to further update the BT capabilities would be to purchase a separate BT dongle connected via USB extender cable so you are able to position it in an optimal spot.

A last note from the developers, is that Switch Pro controllers don't work the best with non-Switch things. On the other side, Xbox controllers have the best chance of working in the scenarios you've highlighted.

This may not be the information you were hoping for, but I talked with some developers that work on the Deck team and this is what they told me. I hope this helps.

Steam Support"

I would like to note that Steam Support did in fact offer several suggestions, but it was all the stuff I've already tried, not to mention things I already tried on my end:
re-pairing controllers
disabling wifi
isolating from any possible interference, including other bluetooth/wifi devices
disconnecting any USB3 devices
re-imaging the entire steam deck system.

Just wanted to share this with anyone else having issues. Sucks to hear.

[[?]legit]

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

I'd argue that bluetooth drivers are craptastic on the Steamdeck - its a wonder I can use my headphones without incident.

Better off going wired.
Hopefully Valve will sort it out.

dont get your hopes too high.

[unvaluablespace]

Originally posted by ?legit:

dont get your hopes too high.

That's what im frustrated about. I guess I can't be too mad because Valve support did offer replacement a few times, but none of which sorted out the issue, and now the device is out of warranty, so finally seeing this response feels sort of like a middle finger to me for holding out hope that it would be sorted out via an update, with previous support tickets ending in "its being investigated".

[Radicalized Aryano-Christian]

I suggest you to wait for the ldc decks to be sold out and then sold your deck to buy the oled one, this is what I'm going to do because of the same problem as you