Desktop Mode Downloads while in Gaming Mode?

[TheBrad]

Hi, is it possible to start a download in Desktop Mode, then switch to Gaming Mode and the started download will continue? I didn't try that before, because i'm scared interrupting the download.

And if this works, does it also work for downloads started by a Linux app? For example: I started several downloads inside Heroic Games Launcher (from Epic Store) and some of them are very big. Waiting for finishing them is very annoying and i would like to play during that in Gaming Mode.. is that possible?

[darrenphillips666]

Just try it, then tell us 😂
What’s the worst thing that will happen, it stops downloading? 🤔

[Tetravalence]

I've done the opposite. Started a download in Gaming Mode, switched to desktop for a while and moved back to gaming. The last time I did this, the downloads ceased and when I returned to gaming mode it gave me no indication that any games were partially downloaded until I manually when to them in my library and started each download individually. Not sure if they fixed that yet because I don't leave Gamong mode without letting a download finish anymore.

[retrogunner]

I just tested this and it worked for me. I would make sure you "Pause" downloads first before switching modes. If you just switch modes, it could be terminating the Steam client.

I had no problem starting a download of Stardew Valley in game mode.
Pausing it.
Switch to Desktop mode which resumed download.
Pause it again.
Switch back to Game Mode where the download and install finished.

Every time Steam entered the new mode, it immediately resumed the download.

[TheBrad]

Originally posted by retrogunner:

I just tested this and it worked for me. I would make sure you "Pause" downloads first before switching modes. If you just switch modes, it could be terminating the Steam client.

I had no problem starting a download of Stardew Valley in game mode.
Pausing it.
Switch to Desktop mode which resumed download.
Pause it again.
Switch back to Game Mode where the download and install finished.

Every time Steam entered the new mode, it immediately resumed the download.

Sounds good, many thanks.

[Tetravalence]

Last night I started downloads ingaming mode, promptly forgot about them, put the deck to sleep, went to work today, turned on my mobile Hotspot then my deck, switched to desktop mode, and while I was working my downloads finished.

TLDR: looks like they patched the problem with downloads halting out of gaming mode.

[Pierre]

Any chance we can download something in desktop mode then switch to game mode and for it to continue?

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by Pierre:

Any chance we can download something in desktop mode then switch to game mode and for it to continue?

For steam yes, for other software no.

[Smokey]

The "instance" of the desktop shuts when you move to gaming. It's by design so none of those resources are being used in the background while gaming. you could get a plugin which updates flatpacks within steam when in game mode?

[d[-_-]b]

Game mode and Desktop mode are different environments. Each is independent while the main OS is the same.

This means that depending on how the app functions or how its launched then yes this i possible.

To get it to work with the majority of apps youd need to launch the app within gamemode, if they support displaying in the environment.
There are some apps that download and can be run completely in the background, these maybe good to just run from a daemon.

For steam it may just register that it should be downloading something and continue. ive never actually noticed a problem with this.