Absurd WiFi connection issues on Steam Deck OLED 1TB LE

[DoomTheRobot]

EDIT 7/9/2024: A new developer option in the 3.6 Beta (and now in the latest stable) seems to have fixed my connectivity issues. I can now connect to my Nighthawk RAX35. Here's the process if you want to give it a try:

1. Update your Steam Deck to the latest version
   
2. Enable Developer Mode in System tab
   
3. Go to new Developer settings tab at the bottom
   
4. Enable "Force WPA Supplicant WiFi backend" option
   
5. Reboot

This is what worked for me.

EDIT 5/4/2024: I should've done this way earlier but here is a list of routers that seem to be having issues:

• NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX35 (v1.0.5.104_1.0.1)
  
• NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX30 (v1.0.10.94)
  
• ASUS RT-AX86U Pro
  
• ASUS RT-AX88U
  
• ASUS Rapture GT-AX6000
  
• TP-Link Deco M4
  
• TP-Link AX50
  
• TP-Link AX6000
  
• Telekom's "Speedport Pro Plus"
  
• Sagemcom CS50001

If you're still having issues even after updating to the latest stable, post your router info and firmware version here so I can include it in this list.

EDIT 3/30/2024: If you are still having connection issues, try finding a way to update to 3.5.17 stable, as it contains various WiFi fixes which may fix the problems you could be facing. If not, head over to this GitHub issue[github.com] and leave a comment about the issue you're having.

Just got mine yesterday and have been having off-and-on issues with WiFi connectivity that never happened at all with my previous Steam Deck LCD 512GB model. This is not an issue with my connection as none of this has ever happened over the two or so years of using my original Steam Deck.

During the initial setup process, it refused to connect to my WPA2 secured WiFi network with nothing other than "Failed to connect" when attempting to connect to it. I'd enter my password and it'd sit for a while until it eventually fails. Despite this, I connected to my mobile hotspot perfectly fine to finish the setup process.

Here's what I've done so far:

• Rebooted the Router (obviously)
  
• Re-imaged SteamOS
  
• Disabled WiFi Power Saving
  
• Tried switching between 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections

I even went into Desktop mode and tried messing with the settings there. No luck.

For whatever reason though, and this is the confusing part: After multiple restarts it automatically connects to the WiFi network with no issues. It's almost completely random whether or not it wants to connect on boot. After connecting it works perfectly fine. No "Failed to connect", no loss of speed, works just as it did like the previous Steam Deck.

But once I eventually shutdown, it just happens again until I restart the system multiple times until it works again. Absolutely no clue why. I didn't mind it at first as I assumed it was just a software bug that would eventually go away, but now it's becoming extremely frustrating.

So what's the deal here? Is this a hardware issue or is my network just messed up somewhere? Where do I even start?

[Ryan]

I had the issue with OLED 1TB where I had to disable 160mhz band to connect to 5Ghz channnel, and the connection wasn't perfect then.

Can confirm the preview build appears to have fixed this for me too - well done valve. Will monitor this but first signs are good. Will stick on preview until this goes stable.

[shaneo632]

Infuriating that this still isn't fixed.

[Mahjik]

Originally posted by Zahramar:

Hey sorry just saw your reply mate and yes, I think I have done something like this a month and so ago to no avail.

This is totally BS every device we have works perfectly fine on WiFi but this one even after much troubleshooting it's still failing.

Just FYI, the network fix that poster is referring to came out on December 27th to the MAIN channel:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/eventcomments/4040356791032551330?snr=2_9_100003_

"Fixed a WiFi crash occurring where certain bands would cause the driver to attempt to set an incorrect spatial stream count"

So if you did something months ago, it wasn't trying this out. Might be worth a test.

[Blaizden]

Originally posted by Rodomar705:

Something makes it fails access the network with PREV_AUTH_NOT_VALID. The rest of the log doesn't really tell much more. I guess your only option is Steam support. Probably other crap hidden in firmware, as always.

I'll do that, thanks for the support. [/quote]

Hi there,

I just got my steam deck, 512gb oled version for Christmas and I am having the exact se problems, and have tried the exact same steps, with the exact same outcomes.

The only different thing I've tried is instead of my phone Hotspot to finally make it work, I just tried changing my wifi access point's authentication protocol to open. (I know, I don't like it. But I have to or it won't connect)

Did steam support provide you any further insight or fix the problem?

If so, what was your solution?

Thanks a bunch!

[DoomTheRobot]

Originally posted by Blaizden:

Did steam support provide you any further insight or fix the problem?

If so, what was your solution?

Thanks a bunch!

Right now I'm currently going through the RMA process to replace my original OLED model. I held off on doing that because this seemed like it could be fixed with an update (that and I was mostly away for the holidays) but I'm still having issues despite using the Preview branch. I doubt a new model would help but I'm not sure what else to do.

Other than troubleshooting the issue with an engineer in my ticket as I previously mentioned in this thread, not much else has happened.

[Dragon Protector]

Originally posted by DoomTheRobot:

Originally posted by Blaizden:

Did steam support provide you any further insight or fix the problem?

If so, what was your solution?

Thanks a bunch!

Right now I'm currently going through the RMA process to replace my original OLED model. I held off on doing that because this seemed like it could be fixed with an update (that and I was mostly away for the holidays) but I'm still having issues despite using the Preview branch. I doubt a new model would help but I'm not sure what else to do.

Other than troubleshooting the issue with an engineer in my ticket as I previously mentioned in this thread, not much else has happened.

So recently mine started doing this. Was perfectly fine. Played it in the morning and turned it off. Turned it back on when I got home from work later that day and no internet.

[RedAsKetchum]

Originally posted by Dragon Protector:

Originally posted by DoomTheRobot:

Right now I'm currently going through the RMA process to replace my original OLED model. I held off on doing that because this seemed like it could be fixed with an update (that and I was mostly away for the holidays) but I'm still having issues despite using the Preview branch. I doubt a new model would help but I'm not sure what else to do.

Other than troubleshooting the issue with an engineer in my ticket as I previously mentioned in this thread, not much else has happened.

So recently mine started doing this. Was perfectly fine. Played it in the morning and turned it off. Turned it back on when I got home from work later that day and no internet.

Yeah its been confirmed its a software issue. No RMA will fix this.

[Dragon Protector]

Originally posted by RedAsKetchum:

Originally posted by Dragon Protector:

So recently mine started doing this. Was perfectly fine. Played it in the morning and turned it off. Turned it back on when I got home from work later that day and no internet.

Yeah its been confirmed its a software issue. No RMA will fix this.

Only fix so far been rebooting my router or well turning it off for a few minutes then back on. Till I leave home.

[RedAsKetchum]

Originally posted by Dragon Protector:

Originally posted by RedAsKetchum:

Yeah its been confirmed its a software issue. No RMA will fix this.

Only fix so far been rebooting my router or well turning it off for a few minutes then back on. Till I leave home.

Make sure to download the preview updates since its where they are slowly pushing the attempts at fixing this problem. The github is also a good place to report the problem since they are actively monitoring and replying to the issue.

[Dragon Protector]

Originally posted by RedAsKetchum:

Originally posted by Dragon Protector:

Only fix so far been rebooting my router or well turning it off for a few minutes then back on. Till I leave home.

Make sure to download the preview updates since its where they are slowly pushing the attempts at fixing this problem. The github is also a good place to report the problem since they are actively monitoring and replying to the issue.

Ohhh. I have not tried the preview updates. Do I just enter the beta participation?

[RedAsKetchum]

Originally posted by Dragon Protector:

Originally posted by RedAsKetchum:

Make sure to download the preview updates since its where they are slowly pushing the attempts at fixing this problem. The github is also a good place to report the problem since they are actively monitoring and replying to the issue.

Ohhh. I have not tried the preview updates. Do I just enter the beta participation?

So instead of the stable or beta, download the update from the preview option.

[LeonidasFett]

Just gonna chime in and say that I am also in the boat of having unstable WiFi. When waking up, it will download at around 400Mbit/s on a gigabit line. Eventually this will drop to around 20-30Mbit/s. Only putting the console to sleep and waking it up will "fix" the issue, but this is inconsistent at best.

I went on the preview channel for around half an hour today and it didn't seem to fix it.

Hopefully, Valve will be able to fix this with software updates. It would really suck if this turns out to be something we just have to live with if we are out of RMA.

[Dragon Protector]

Originally posted by LeonidasFett:

Just gonna chime in and say that I am also in the boat of having unstable WiFi. When waking up, it will download at around 400Mbit/s on a gigabit line. Eventually this will drop to around 20-30Mbit/s. Only putting the console to sleep and waking it up will "fix" the issue, but this is inconsistent at best.

I went on the preview channel for around half an hour today and it didn't seem to fix it.

Hopefully, Valve will be able to fix this with software updates. It would really suck if this turns out to be something we just have to live with if we are out of RMA.

agreed. Luckily I got mine working again i think. I removed all networks to my router and only connected the 2.4 ghz one and so far it stuck. Will have to see how it goes when not at home.

[BigfootIndy]

Any update if the preview build worked for most people? I returned my launch LE due to these wifi issues with my eero 6 pro, and fingers crossed that it’s in a much better place now

[Dragon Protector]

Originally posted by BigfootIndy:

Any update if the preview build worked for most people? I returned my launch LE due to these wifi issues with my eero 6 pro, and fingers crossed that it’s in a much better place now

So I been on stable build and my wifi been working great again. Only on 2.4ghz band though so no idea what happened