Left trackpad doesn't feel correct :: Steam Deck Bug Reports

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MrMaidx Mar 3, 2022 @ 6:03am

Left trackpad doesn't feel correct

Hey,

I got my 256GB Deck today and after a bit of using I don't think that the left trackpad is working correctly. The right one vibrates nicely and click is "satisfying". The left one is vibrating noticeably louder and clicks feel much worse - and in Desktop Mode left clicks don't seem to register at all. It felt "weird" immediately when I picked up the device for the first time.

Is it possible to somehow calibrate this? Or maybe tweak something physically inside the device to fix the issue?

Thanks.

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Originally posted by Phokal:

This was my first Google hit but I found and used the solution here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/t7whpk/left_trackpad_haptics_are_weak_and_dont_transmit/ihozjq6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3

“ I was having this issue and I was getting crazy OCD about it. Finally, I managed to find a solution here, and it completely fixed my issues. The trackpads feel the same now, and the mushy feeling has been replaced with a satisfying click on both sides. I have followed the following instructions to solve my issues (credit to ZombeGavinS on Reddit):

"Go into haptics settings, set the left trackpad to 10 and the right trackpad to 1 (if the left one is weaker).

Restart the Steam Deck.

Go back into haptics settings and set them both back to 5 and then turn off the haptics completely using the toggle switch.

Restart the Steam Deck again.

Go back into haptic settings one final time and use the toggle switch to turn the haptics back on.

Restart the Steam Deck one last time."

It seems like a software issue indeed, I was sure that it might be a hardware fault and I need to RMA. I hope this helps others as well!”

And indeed it worked. I also had the exact issue of “during reboot for a few seconds it felt ok” and in the controller test the first pressure test click worked but then the sensitivity fell off and I could barely get it over 5k instead of 32k.

Most obviously it made typing with the valve keyboard impossible.

But this worked! Hope it helps someone else.

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Showing 1-15 of 227 comments

MrMaidx Mar 3, 2022 @ 6:16am

The inconsistency between trackpads is very noticeable when turning on the device. When moving my thumb on both trackpads they vibrate very differently. The left one is sort of "rattling". I worry that it might be a hardware issue.

Jannylili Mar 3, 2022 @ 6:17am

Hey Mr Maidx. I have the same/similar problem. Pushing down on my left track pad feels mushy but for me the haptic is barely noticeable while the right track pad is a lot more "responsive".

MrMaidx Mar 3, 2022 @ 7:01am

Sorry but I am kinda relieved that you do have the issue too. That means it's not just my unit and it might be a software issue. I doubt it's faulty hardware.

Eugene Mar 3, 2022 @ 8:21am

i have the same issue, i have wrote a ticket to steam support. I hope i will get an update soon.

NanoSector Mar 3, 2022 @ 9:52am

I thought this was just a miscalibration in my mouse config, but I can also confirm the left trackpad doesn’t have a satisfying click, either in D-pad mode or mouse mode. It’s almost like it is too late or too early in the press, it’s just not right. Good to know I’m not alone!

DeepoDerDeomancer Mar 3, 2022 @ 11:10am

Same issue here. Smooth rumble and statisfying click on the right touchpad. Left touchpad rumble is way weaker and the click is barely noticable. Noticed it immidiately upon first launch where haptic feedback was different for both pads.

Last edited by DeepoDerDeomancer; Mar 3, 2022 @ 11:11am

nebulr Mar 3, 2022 @ 11:24am

I have the same issue. The left trackpad feels very mushy and is much more sensitive than the right one.
In Desktop Mode, with the right trackpad I have to apply a force of ~150g to trigger a click. But with the left trackpad, I only have to apply a force of ~50g.

minceyeet Mar 3, 2022 @ 6:16pm

Im having the exact same issue. Haptics on the left track pad feel very puny. The right pad feels fine. When testing inputs in the settings, if you squeeze either trigger the same side vibrates. When I squeeze the left there is hardly any vibration... Big Sad

Last edited by minceyeet; Mar 3, 2022 @ 6:21pm

CDSK Mar 3, 2022 @ 7:43pm

Exact same.

Right trackpad is completely responsive -- satisfying rumble, click. Left trackpad provides little to no feedback -- I honestly don't feel a thing, but my wife says it's subtle. I honestly thought it wasn't working until I ran the input test from settings (everything was responding as it should).

Last edited by CDSK; Mar 3, 2022 @ 7:46pm

The Deer of Democracy Mar 3, 2022 @ 8:17pm

i also am having the same problem to note glad i am not the only one

#10

Nukewire Mar 3, 2022 @ 8:46pm

Same issue here too. Thought I was just crazy.

#11

thoughtsofspeaking Mar 3, 2022 @ 11:26pm

Make sure your trackpads aren’t set to rollerball in both your SteamOS settings and your Linux KDE settings. I had the same issues as OP but those change helped massively.

#12

Jannylili Mar 4, 2022 @ 3:02am

It's astonishing how many people have that problem, so in that case it really is a software problem? Or a very common hardware one. Nontheless could people who opened a ticket keep us up to date on what Steam Supports opinion is on this matter?

#13

Underdrill Mar 4, 2022 @ 3:58am

Yeah, I have a feeling this is a software issue, specifically it seems that the feeling of the trackpads is context-dependent, yet entering the same context multiple times (e.g. switching to desktop mode) results in the trackpads sometimes feeling different. I'm not using them too much, so it's not a big deal, but overall it is a bit odd.

Originally posted by MrMaidx:
in Desktop Mode left clicks don't seem to register at all. It felt "weird" immediately when I picked up the device for the first time.

This is something I've experienced too. Sometimes the left clicks didn't register, but leaving and going back to desktop mode would sometimes make the left clicks register and feel right again, hence why I think there's an issue with the trackpads responding consistently to the same contexts.

Last edited by Underdrill; Mar 4, 2022 @ 4:02am

#14

Coldhand Mar 4, 2022 @ 4:08am

for me, the left track pad rumble doesn't work at all, only rumbles on boot with the same intensity as the right side, but after the boot is complete, it stops rumbling....

#15

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Date Posted: Mar 3, 2022 @ 6:03am

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