Unable to output to two external monitors

[Devin]

Hello, I'm using the official Steam Deck docking station, which has one HDMI and one DisplayPort available. I have successfully managed to get the Steam Dock working with both external display via both ports (HDMI and DisplayPort) however it will only work with one external display at a time. In other words, it will not output to both external monitors simultaneously. Is the docking station limited to show the output on one display only even though there are two ports available?

Ideally, I'd be able to see the output on the Steam Dock itself plus on both two external monitors as extended. And I'd like to try making it work with a third monitor later on (again extended) using a USB-HDMI adapter.

[OrganicAnarchy]

I've had the same issue, it works in desktop mode, but not the the deck gaming mode. Are you running in Desktop mode?

[Devin]

Originally posted by OrganicAnarchy:

I've had the same issue, it works in desktop mode, but not the the deck gaming mode. Are you running in Desktop mode?

Yes, I'm unable to get two external monitor working in both Desktop and Gaming mode.

[Devin]

Originally posted by OrganicAnarchy:

I've had the same issue, it works in desktop mode, but not the the deck gaming mode. Are you running in Desktop mode?

To clarify, did you manage to get two external monitors working simultaneously in Desktop mode using both HDMI and DisplayPort?

[promethean]

I'm having the same issue. Using the official Steam Deck dock. I have the same issue on both Desktop Mode, and in Windows (booting via an SD card). Each of the monitors work independently via both HDMI and via an active Displayport to HDMI adapter. Swapping monitors, to the other port works as well. So the connection is not the issue. However, both of them refuse to work together. If the HDMI port is connected, that port takes precedence. As soon as I remove the HDMI port cable, the disployport output becomes active.

I'm simplifying things a bit because everything needs me to connect and disconnect a few times to get the output to work even on that one output. Either the dock firmware or the Steam Deck firmware itself is kinda buggy. Things sometimes don't show up. And I have to play around with the cables a bit. But despite what I try, I cannot get both external displays to work at the same time.

In case it matters, both my displays are 1440p. I tried lowering resolution to 1080p, but that doens't help either. Also, just for awareness, I've made sure all firmware is up to date on both Steam Deck OS, and on the desktop mode.

[PopinFRESH]

Do you have a DisplayPort on one of those monitors so you can try to use it without the adapter? The Steam Deck Dock is leveraging Multi-Stream Transport (MST) for the display outputs so if your DisplayPort to HDMI adapter doesn't support MST that may be causing an issue.

[miguelangelpereiratome007]

Originally posted by promethean:

I'm having the same issue. Using the official Steam Deck dock. I have the same issue on both Desktop Mode, and in Windows (booting via an SD card). Each of the monitors work independently via both HDMI and via an active Displayport to HDMI adapter. Swapping monitors, to the other port works as well. So the connection is not the issue. However, both of them refuse to work together. If the HDMI port is connected, that port takes precedence. As soon as I remove the HDMI port cable, the disployport output becomes active.

I'm simplifying things a bit because everything needs me to connect and disconnect a few times to get the output to work even on that one output. Either the dock firmware or the Steam Deck firmware itself is kinda buggy. Things sometimes don't show up. And I have to play around with the cables a bit. But despite what I try, I cannot get both external displays to work at the same time.

In case it matters, both my displays are 1440p. I tried lowering resolution to 1080p, but that doens't help either. Also, just for awareness, I've made sure all firmware is up to date on both Steam Deck OS, and on the desktop mode.

Hello did you find any solution on this? I have the same problem, dont know if another dock solve the problem, cant find a solution for this ☹️

[Dierkshizzle]

Originally posted by miguelangelpereiratome007:

Originally posted by promethean:

I'm having the same issue. Using the official Steam Deck dock. I have the same issue on both Desktop Mode, and in Windows (booting via an SD card). Each of the monitors work independently via both HDMI and via an active Displayport to HDMI adapter. Swapping monitors, to the other port works as well. So the connection is not the issue. However, both of them refuse to work together. If the HDMI port is connected, that port takes precedence. As soon as I remove the HDMI port cable, the disployport output becomes active.

I'm simplifying things a bit because everything needs me to connect and disconnect a few times to get the output to work even on that one output. Either the dock firmware or the Steam Deck firmware itself is kinda buggy. Things sometimes don't show up. And I have to play around with the cables a bit. But despite what I try, I cannot get both external displays to work at the same time.

In case it matters, both my displays are 1440p. I tried lowering resolution to 1080p, but that doens't help either. Also, just for awareness, I've made sure all firmware is up to date on both Steam Deck OS, and on the desktop mode.

Hello did you find any solution on this? I have the same problem, dont know if another dock solve the problem, cant find a solution for this ☹️

Same issue here :( my steam deck will display to each of my monitors independently but the second I plug both in at the same time they both go black and only the Steam Decks built in display will show anything. I can see it detecting the monitors in the display properties but even after ensuring that they're both enabled it won't output to them

[idoodler]

Hi, so I recently bought a Steam Deck, I was planning to use it as my main PC as I do some light Gaming and browsing on the side.

I do have a Caldigit TB4 dock (I know its Thunderbolt and not USB-C) and two 2k displays.

The TB4 Dock is capable of MST, tho I can only output to one display at a time.

I tried using just the DisplayPort of the TB4 Dock using MST and the passthrough functionality of my displays, which worked on my current Gaming PC and also using the DisplayPort for one display and an active USB-C to HDMI port adapter for the other display, but still it only outputs to one display (That setup works on my M2 MacBook).

I am on the stable version of SteamOS, did anyone fix this yet?

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by idoodler:

Hi, so I recently bought a Steam Deck, I was planning to use it as my main PC as I do some light Gaming and browsing on the side.

I do have a Caldigit TB4 dock (I know its Thunderbolt and not USB-C) and two 2k displays.

The TB4 Dock is capable of MST, tho I can only output to one display at a time.

I tried using just the DisplayPort of the TB4 Dock using MST and the passthrough functionality of my displays, which worked on my current Gaming PC and also using the DisplayPort for one display and an active USB-C to HDMI port adapter for the other display, but still it only outputs to one display (That setup works on my M2 MacBook).

I am on the stable version of SteamOS, did anyone fix this yet?

on the official dock it states that MST requires both ports (DP and HDMI) to be in use. So you won't be using it for now.

[idoodler]

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

Originally posted by idoodler:

Hi, so I recently bought a Steam Deck, I was planning to use it as my main PC as I do some light Gaming and browsing on the side.

I do have a Caldigit TB4 dock (I know its Thunderbolt and not USB-C) and two 2k displays.

The TB4 Dock is capable of MST, tho I can only output to one display at a time.

I tried using just the DisplayPort of the TB4 Dock using MST and the passthrough functionality of my displays, which worked on my current Gaming PC and also using the DisplayPort for one display and an active USB-C to HDMI port adapter for the other display, but still it only outputs to one display (That setup works on my M2 MacBook).

I am on the stable version of SteamOS, did anyone fix this yet?

on the official dock it states that MST requires both ports (DP and HDMI) to be in use. So you won't be using it for now.

As mentioned I am using both DP and HDMI, but it still doesn't work

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by idoodler:

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

on the official dock it states that MST requires both ports (DP and HDMI) to be in use. So you won't be using it for now.

As mentioned I am using both DP and HDMI, but it still doesn't work

doesn't your dock only has one display port?

[idoodler]

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

Originally posted by idoodler:

As mentioned I am using both DP and HDMI, but it still doesn't work

doesn't your dock only has one display port?

The dock itself has an DP 1.4 port, in addition, I am using an active USB-C to HDMI adapter which works by itself.

[Prezidentas]

Originally posted by idoodler:

Originally posted by Škoda 14Tr:

doesn't your dock only has one display port?

The dock itself has an DP 1.4 port, in addition, I am using an active USB-C to HDMI adapter which works by itself.

wait so let me get this straight - one monitor is using the DP port, and the other is using USB-C to HDMI adapter (and it doesn't work)?

[idoodler]

Exactly, it always uses the DP Display, the HDMI also recognizes smth as it switches on, tho then it falls asleep again

[Jeronimo]

Got the same problem. Steam dock with 2 monitors, one on DP and one on HDMI. Connecting only one at a time works fine for both of them (including the builtin screen), but connecting both at the same time leaves both of them black and even completely freezes the deck's builtin screen and inputs. Disconnecting one monitor and it works again.

No MST involved, just plain old single monitor per cable. Is that maybe the problem? That the dock magically switches to MST as soon as 2 monitors are connected?