Tabbing out from a game in desktop mode without a keyboard?

[Mr.I]

I've tried everything I can find on the first page of google. Nothing worked so far.

I know that while in game, Steam Input feeds all my inputs to the game which makes the desktop unable to read my Alt + Tab input.

Someone said that calling Steam Overlay is a work around and someone else said that you can achieve that by opening the Virtual Keyboard. I can open Steam Overlay by binding two buttons to Shift and Tab, yet Alt + Tab and Show Keyboard don't work when Steam Overlay is in display either.

All these above were done by editing controller settings of that game directly.

Any ideas?

[Mr.I]

I also tried "Disable Steam Input" in game options, which never made a difference, ever.

[Mr.I]

Help

[Thomastronaut]

Assign alt+tab to a button in steam input

[Mr.I]

Originally posted by Thomastronaut:

Assign alt+tab to a button in steam input

If only it was as simple as that.

[Mahjik]

Looks like you need to be able to HOLD ALT, then TAB while ALT is held down to select the next available open app/window.

I'm not good with Steam Input, but maybe ugafan will drop in to help with that type of configuration.

[Mr.I]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

Looks like you need to be able to HOLD ALT, then TAB while ALT is held down to select the next available open app/window.

I'm not good with Steam Input, but maybe ugafan will drop in to help with that type of configuration.

I've looked online and found that Steam Input always sends all the input events to the game. So the Alt + Tab input simply cannot be read by the desktop. I think Valve should give us an option to make an input command to be a regular desktop input instead of a game-only input.

---------------

But there's still hope. There has to be a workaround.

[Thomastronaut]

Originally posted by Mr.I:

Originally posted by Mahjik:

Looks like you need to be able to HOLD ALT, then TAB while ALT is held down to select the next available open app/window.

I'm not good with Steam Input, but maybe ugafan will drop in to help with that type of configuration.

I've looked online and found that Steam Input always sends all the input events to the game. So the Alt + Tab input simply cannot be read by the desktop. I think Valve should give us an option to make an input command to be a regular desktop input instead of a game-only input.

---------------

But there's still hope. There has to be a workaround.

What if you add it to the guide button chord layout?

[Mr.I]

Originally posted by Thomastronaut:

Originally posted by Mr.I:

I've looked online and found that Steam Input always sends all the input events to the game. So the Alt + Tab input simply cannot be read by the desktop. I think Valve should give us an option to make an input command to be a regular desktop input instead of a game-only input.

---------------

But there's still hope. There has to be a workaround.

What if you add it to the guide button chord layout?

I don't have that option on my deck. I don't know if it's removed from the deck, but I can only see it on my PC.

It looks like I'm late to the party, I only bought my deck 1 week ago. It's an OLED deck with an (presumably) up-to-date SteamOS.

[Mr.I]

aur/input-remapper-git failed as well. I shall accept this defeat and just go play some games.

[Mahjik]

Or just buy a portable (foldable) Bluetooth keyboard if it's that important. They are cheap.

[Mr.I]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

Or just buy a portable (foldable) Bluetooth keyboard if it's that important. They are cheap.

I have something in my mind: a small bluetooth keyboard that can be attached to my forearm like a buckler. A Steam Deck Keyboard that is designed for people who want to use the deck as a portable computer, playing a cozy single player game while doing other things in desktop mode anywhere with any posture, that would be so cool.

If I need to find a table to put my deck and keyboard down in order to properly use them, than that defeats the purpose of using steam deck's desktop mode. I'd prefer a laptop in that case.

If you know of any keyboard that meets the description above, please recommend it to me. I've searched online but I didn't find a cool keyboard like that.

[Mahjik]

I don't know about attaching to a body part, but this is the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/iClever-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Foldable-Smartphones/dp/B00YWLJNPQ/

You can just have it sitting anywhere near the Deck. However, it seems like you are trying to treat it like a laptop rather than a gaming device so maybe also adjusting your expectations may be a piece as well.

[Mr.I]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

I don't know about attaching to a body part, but this is the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/iClever-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Foldable-Smartphones/dp/B00YWLJNPQ/

You can just have it sitting anywhere near the Deck. However, it seems like you are trying to treat it like a laptop rather than a gaming device so maybe also adjusting your expectations may be a piece as well.

Yeah, I'm trying to use my deck as a portable computer. I want to use it while standing and walking. But I don't think it's too much of an expectation though, it has an x86 CPU and a Linux OS in it after all.

Nice keyboard, thanks for the link.

[ugafan]

Go to the controller layout for the game and try this

Command: Right Alt
Extra Command: Tab (Add fire start delay)

[Aklinstar]

The fire delay addition on tab worked for me. 4ms start, 12ms end. Was able to tab out of the game and to Discord. Lifesaver.