Wrong resolution when connecting to HDMI

[Old Man Broski]

As it says, often Game Mode will be the wrong resolution when first connecting to HDMI after each boot, and sometimes need to be disconnected and reconnected before it outputs properly.

[Marlock]

did you test if it happens with any output device you try (eg: both a 4K TV and a 1080p monitor) or did you try just one?

is it plugged via an usb-c dock? if yes, which?

[Dopeytree]

I've had this.
The hdmi output is usually fine but the steamdeck's screen swaps to a square 640x800 image that is down the middle of the steam deck screen.

In desktop mode - It's easy to fix by opening up system preferences then screen and using the touch screen to scroll down and change the resolution back to 1200x800.

Anyway I have no idea why people want to hook up a 1200x800 image to a 4k tv.

[Old Man Broski]

I've only tested it on my Avermedia Live Gamer HD 2 capture card, using OBS as a Deck screen. It is going through a hub, a cheap Sabrent HB-TC5P I picked up for quick testing.

To the other poster's comment, that's what mine is doing except it's to the left, so Steam menu will display but the quick settings on the other side is off-screen. It only does it in Game Mode, never Desktop, and is always fixed with a quick re-plug.

[SzurkeEg]

I have a 1440p monitor and the steam deck always outputs at 4K when in steam deck/game mode. When I switch to desktop mode I can set the external monitor to 1440p.

[ka]

Originally posted by SzurkeEg:

I have a 1440p monitor and the steam deck always outputs at 4K when in steam deck/game mode. When I switch to desktop mode I can set the external monitor to 1440p.

I found a simple solution, and it works!!!
In desktop mode, type these 3 lines on the command line:

sudo steamos-readonly disable
sudo sed -i 's/-w 1280 -h 800/-W 1920 -H 1080/g' /usr/bin/gamescope-session
sudo steamos-readonly enable

Fixed!!!

(from https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/wro0s8/comment/ikua0e7/)

You can also run a script for doing this. Create a text file named "fix_hdmi.sh" with the 3 lines above.

To run the script type:
sh fix_hdmi.sh [ENTER]

sh f [TAB] [ENTER]
also works.

(or, for the Linux savvy people, just edit the gamescope-session file yourselves)


Now I can run Dirt Rally 2 on my 4k OLED with awesome picture quality and a solid 60fps.
Steam Deck HDMI output at 1080p.
LG 55BX OLED doing upscaling and sharpening.
Hard to tell from real 4k.

[Marlock]

It finally happened (in beta)! I'm going slightly maaad...

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/0/3362523432278178550/

SteamOS 3.3.2 Beta Patch Notes: September 22nd, 2022

• Added external display output resolution and refresh rate selection UI in Display Settings (requires Steam Client Beta)
  
• Automatically avoid problematic resolutions like 4096x2160 or 30Hz modes on external displays

[zed_dog1]

This fix worked for me today. I can finally use my dock!

[Marlock]

i posted on september 2022... you posted jan 2024

there was probably some other fix for your particular issue that came later tgan the one i mentioned, unless you haven't tried steam linux with that dock since 2022