Xbox Series X Controller Bluetooth connection dropping since recent SteamOS updates

[Phantom Limb]

When I first got the controller, I had many months of blissful use and it was great. No issues. Suddenly out of nowhere a few months ago, it no longer would remain connected if I was not close to the Steam Deck. And I mean if I venture more than a foot away, it starts to lag, and a few feet further and it disconnects. Nothing changed other than a SteamOS update so clearly that's the issue.

Problem solving attempts I have made:
- new batteries
- update controller firmware
- turn on developer mode and turn off wireless power management
- turn off rumble
- many restarts

I don't know how to alert to those who need to know that one of the SteamOS updates broke my controller's connection but this is driving me nuts!

Anybody know any solutions other than plugging it in because the whole reason I want to use wireless is so I can sit on my couch to play...

[RealSolution9]

For a while I was jumping all around with all levels of stability on top of Decky pre-re. and was crashing constantly. But none of it was annoying as when my Xbox Series controller wouldn't connect via Bluetooth. I don't have any Win boxes up to update my two wireless controller dongles, so I used my existing 20 ft USB-A -> C into the controller until it all chilled out and the software all realigned. The BT sort of WAS connecting to the SD for me, but the controller would immediately restart and start blinking again while I could see it's BT connection flapping on and off rapidly in the BT settings screen.

Most of my various issues have been cured using firmware and updates much more "current" (just not tested as much!!) Stable Channel's *Main* Steam OS and Client. You first must enable Developer Mode in Settings|System, and then in the Developer settings that pop up at the end of the menu list enable "Show Advanced Update Channels" and then you'll have two drop-downs to choose from for updates...

I'd just try Stable Main on for size and see if all the new updates work. Last I looked, most other updates in Stable and Beta were certified back in October 2024, while I'm pretty sure Main gets updated and added to when security, fw, sw, new features, bug fixes, are dreamt up and released. It's new and probably the way it is now won't feel all too different than when today's Main finally reaches the current Stable release.

OS 3.7 is different and requires updates for the Plasma version upgrade. If you go back to Stable afterwards, it'll just revert pretty seamlessly. Besides I think it's worth it because even the beta and pre-release channels/updates are only a few (literally) days off from Stable/Stable, so Main's SteamOS itself has all the new hotness fixes in it and even a much more current FW for the Steam Deck Controller among everything else that's just way more fixed. I think I'll go back to SteamOS 3.7 because it's better and has actual graphics driver updates lol. Hope that helps! I factory reset mine while the controller wouldn't BT connect, I'll just say it didn't get fixed that way from the reset, fyi. Haha