Steam Input always uses Desktop controller layout with non-Steam games/apps in Desktop Mode

[XanderXAJ]

ISSUE
When in Desktop Mode, using the Steam Deck's built-in controls, launching a non-Steam game/app via Steam will result in no change in controller layout for that app. The Desktop controller layout will still be in effect.

I believe this has been broken for months for me. It's only recently I started trying things in Desktop Mode more and realising the issue affected all non-Steam games and not just the odd thing.

I'm only using the Steam Deck's built-in controls (Neptune) and have not connected any external controllers.

Note that controller layouts work as expected in Game Mode -- this issue only occurs in Desktop Mode.

STEPS

1. Boot the Deck and switch to Desktop Mode
   
2. Boot a non-Steam game
   
3. Verify that the controls on the Deck are still using the Desktop layout, even when the non-Steam game is focussed or fullscreen

STEPS: EXAMPLE WITH FIREFOX

1. Boot the Deck and switch to Desktop Mode
   
2. Run a non-Steam game. This is easy enough to test with Firefox or Chrome, so I'll use Firefox in this example -- it'll work with any non-Steam game however. Go to Start > Firefox > Add to Steam to add it as a non-Steam game.
   
3. In Steam, go to Firefox > Cog button > Manage > Controller layout. Confirm that the controller layout is not the desktop layout. In this case, Steam smartly detects Firefox and uses the Web Browser controller layout.
   
4. For testing, note differences between selected layout for non-Steam game and desktop layout. In this case, L5 is middle-click for Firefox and Mouse Back for Desktop, so we can use that. Note that all buttons are affected, and it doesn't matter if the layout is emulating a gamepad or a KB+M, but we want an obvious difference for testing.
   
5. In Steam, launch Firefox
   
6. With Firefox selected, press L5. Note that Firefox will go back in history, as Firefox received a Mouse Back event as per the Desktop layout. It does not get the Middle Mouse that is configured for L5 in Firefox's layout.
   
7. Try other buttons and confirm it affects all inputs, not just the one button. L4 and R4 for example should do nothing in Firefox's layout, but instead are Page Down and Space respectively as per the Desktop layout.

RESULTS
When the non-Steam game is focussed, regardless of whether it is an app, windowed or fullscreen game,the Desktop controller layout is in use.

EXPECTED
When the non-Steam game is focussed, the controller layout for the non-Steam game would be used.

VERSIONS
Steam Deck Stable channel
OS Version 3.3.2
Steam Version 1666117138

ATTEMPTED FIXES

• Modifying the controller layouts for non-Steam games.
  
• Resetting controller layouts for non-Steam games and Desktop using recommended/community layouts.
  
• Re-imaging the Deck (twice, once during my debugging, once as requested by Steam support).
  
• Clearing download cache, restarting Deck and logging back in.
  
• Deleting `userdata/<user_id>/config` and restarting Deck.
  
• Deleting all controller profiles inside of `steamapps/common/Steam Controller Configs` (while a game is running to ensure the deletions are synced) and then restarting the Deck

[Ninja Waffles of DooM]

I also have this problem. It's extremely frustrating.

[Thanone]

Can someone help us??? I've installed w11 on my deck and I have tge same issue

[Lunar Flare]

Same issue but with the Windows version of steam, and doesn't happen with all games. For me it's only happening with Minecraft when launched through Prism, but Prism seems to have the controls I intend to use for Minecraft; This was not the case until recently, as all Minecraft instances inherited Prism's mapping as of a week ago.

[Thanone]

Lunar Flare eredeti hozzászólása:

Same issue but with the Windows version of steam, and doesn't happen with all games. For me it's only happening with Minecraft when launched through Prism, but Prism seems to have the controls I intend to use for Minecraft; This was not the case until recently, as all Minecraft instances inherited Prism's mapping as of a week ago.

I was trying to play roblox (launching it through steam) and roblox doesn't have full screen

[firepower451]

Luigi eredeti hozzászólása:

Lunar Flare eredeti hozzászólása:

Same issue but with the Windows version of steam, and doesn't happen with all games. For me it's only happening with Minecraft when launched through Prism, but Prism seems to have the controls I intend to use for Minecraft; This was not the case until recently, as all Minecraft instances inherited Prism's mapping as of a week ago.

I was trying to play roblox (launching it through steam) and roblox doesn't have full screen

Hi, if you haven't figured this out, mapping a random button to F11 or tapping F11 on a keyboard fullscreens Roblox in gaming mode.