Option to switch between booting into desktop mode or native steam deck interface on startup.

[dimen363]

Seems kind-of obvious - add a setting where you can change which interface the steam deck is going to boot to on power up. Useful for those using steam deck as a desktop PC only.

[Minds]

Agreed!

[Kaibre]

This! Also useful for odd people like me, who are going to check for updates to all software installed on the device after boot and before playing a game in nearly 100% of cases. Currently this means that I:

1.) Turn on the device. Wait. 2.) Go through a couple of button presses to switch to desktop mode. Wait. 3.) Check everything from Discover store, Steam library, and the Steam desktop client itself, etc. for updates. 4.) A couple more button presses to switch back to Game mode. Wait. 5.) Now actually go through my library and play a game.

I mean, yeah, that's because I am doing a potentially unnecessary task, but also it's my machine, let me do my unnecessary task my way, right?

[maxwellwasnounicorn]

I totally agree as well. It would be so nice to be able to choose in the settings if the steam deck boots into desktop or gaming mode and to be able to enter a normal password instead of having to log in to my steam account every single time I power up my Steam Deck. It gets pretty annoying over time...

[NaNdO]

We need this. It would be better to add a shortcut to desktop mode. For example, pressing X while switch on, boots to desktop mode.

[DoomerCat]

+1

[Wizamir]

Originally posted by Kaibre:

This! Also useful for odd people like me, who are going to check for updates to all software installed on the device after boot and before playing a game in nearly 100% of cases. Currently this means that I:

1.) Turn on the device. Wait. 2.) Go through a couple of button presses to switch to desktop mode. Wait. 3.) Check everything from Discover store, Steam library, and the Steam desktop client itself, etc. for updates. 4.) A couple more button presses to switch back to Game mode. Wait. 5.) Now actually go through my library and play a game.

I mean, yeah, that's because I am doing a potentially unnecessary task, but also it's my machine, let me do my unnecessary task my way, right?

I know this isn't the solution you requested, but to save you time in the meanwhile keep in mind you can add the Discover store as a non-Steam app and load it while in Game mode in order to install updates.

[Kaibre]

Ooh, thanks Wizamir, that's a super solid workaround to shave off a few seconds in the meantime, I didn't even think of that.

[jayarenarielle]

+1 to this option. I would also like the ability to select what happens when i dock my steam deck. For example i would love it if every time i docked my steam deck while not in a game it would automatically switch to desktop mode.

[Sakre]

+1 this

[rklrkl64]

This is such an obvious feature request that I'm really surprised it's not been implemented by Valve yet. Two obvious use cases are 1) when the Deck is your primary PC and will docked most/all of the time to a keyboard/mouse/monitor and 2) when the SteamOS 3 ISO is released, most installs to a desktop/laptop will want to default to Desktop Mode.

Of course, it would be nice if Valve spent some more time on Desktop Mode enhancements in preparation for the ISO release such as full internationalisation and more pre-installed desktop apps i.e. closer to a full-fat distro's desktop. Maybe categories of software could be listed in the SteamOS 3 installer so users can decide what to pick'n'mix from (Anaconda does this in the Red Hat family of distros).

[Devin]

+1 to auto boot into Desktop mode and manually switch to gaming mode as needed. I like the idea of holding down a key if you'd like to boot differently or bring up the boot menu list.

Found this thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/wirkk7/is_there_a_way_to_always_start_steam_deck_in/

[JThrockmorton206]

Yessss!

[Kolinetic]

Agreed, would be really helpful! I think, like a lot of other people, having it be a button press would be nice

[RealWewpt]

+Agree!

Too many games just run better (or properly) in Desktop Mode.

While you're at it, *please* give me an option to disable confirmations. Purchasing is dead easy, but to sleep or power down I need to confirm? Yes that makes sense.

Originally intended for important or critical actions, it quickly went viral and is now used for damn near everything but at least in the beginning there was usually a 'Don't Show This Again' checkbox until apparently that was no longer desireable.

Freaking annoying. If I press a button or choose an option I mean it, enough with useless (yes useless!) confirmations!

:)

[paladin181]

I also would support this. I spend more time in Desktop mode than gaming mode for many reasons.