Controller layout keeps resetting to default

[CleverUsername]

Whenever I load a custom controller layout in Steam, as soon as I go back into the game, the controls reset to the default profile. It used to work fine. Maybe it has to do with the big Steam update a few months ago? Anyway.. is there a way to fix it? Where are the profiles saved.. maybe I can edit them manually in a hex editor.

[Johnny in the Clouds]

If you are saving customised profile it is best to start steam in Big Picture Mode. That is more stable when configuring controllers. From Big Picture Mode you can also delete or remove local profiles for the platform you are currently running steam on and so on. Profiles can become cluttered with different names and that may help loading the correct one or removing a corrupt profile too.

Saved Profiles may be downloaded from community uploads or may exist on you local network, local to the PC or a Personal save. Big picture seems to be more reliable distinguishing which is downloaded and also more reliable removing the ones you don't want and remembering the default ones you previously used, Profiles saved from different accounts can be saved with Big Picture may exist on the same PC as Personal or Local saves.

Big Picture Mode is recommended for setting up controllers and saving the profiles and once it all works then you can either remain in Big Picture mode or return to the normal steam UI and hopefully it will then load the correct profile you saved.

After a game update that has changed the functionality of controller configurations it is recommended to download the 'updated' Official Hello Games set ups once again. Then rebuild your customised profiles from that. That procedure avoids breaking commands trying to fix or customise an old setup. You can then be sure that button commands will work as expected. Sometimes if the commands break the default controller setup is loaded or reset which might be what you have experienced.

[CleverUsername]

Just tried editing the default config instead of loading my own, and now all of my custom configs are overwritten by the default >:( >:( >:(

[CleverUsername]

Is there any way to get back my custom profile? :( Probably not. It took me forever to get all of that just how I like it.

[CleverUsername]

Ok. Now I can't even edit the configs. Clicking on a new function does nothing

[Johnny in the Clouds]

Originally posted by CleverUsername:

Is there any way to get back my custom profile? :( Probably not. It took me forever to get all of that just how I like it.

Unfortunately I had to rebuild my custom settings from the Official Set Ups several weeks back following updates to the game. I have had no problems since. It's just something that can't be avoided when any game adds new commands and is the only reliable way to be sure the controller does what it's expected. At least the new Steam configuration UI has improved a bit. Though currently still lacks better information and helpful tips. But it works okay.

Back up any software you might remove, is always wise. Maybe only delete profiles you do not need once you get your chosen profile to work. But do delete profiles local or community shared on each account, you know may have been customised from earlier updates once you are happy they will not be needed ever again. (Shared profiles can be stubborn to remove, possibly if they are in use by other players) Downloading a new or different shared profile first, before trying to delete an old or non functioning one can help.

Something else that may be worth doing is checking third party controller software is not conflicting with steam. It can usually be disabled or removed. In steam also general configuration selects the default controller to be used. There it can be calibrated too if needed. Try to avoid calibrating though unless absolutely necessary. Once the General controller has been determined as the default then you can setup controller profiles via each games Management or Properties tab using Big Picture Mode. Windows also has it's own calibration USB controller software which can be adjusted for any controller. Again try to leave that in default settings and do any calibration for your controller in Steam.

[CleverUsername]

Ok.... closing down Steam and restarting restored my old configurations.. (it undid the overwrite) So, at least I can copy down what they were. Now, to figure out how to actually change the controls without them resetting. (Honestly just glad that the info is not lost forever)

[CleverUsername]

now, I can edit buttons again, but the profile name changes to SAVEDDEFAULTTITLE and the reverts back when I save changes.

[wkitty42]

this sounds like a steam problem instead of a NMS problem... you'll probably get more support and information in a steam support area...

[Phoach]

I'm having the same issue on the steam deck and it's the only game I have an issue with.

[CleverUsername]

So.. I found a way to make the game playable for me:

1. Start game. Doesn't matter if it's in Big Picture mode or not. (I prefer not)
2. Once save file is loaded up, alt-tab out to Steam and load up the controller config. Set the config to your custom layout.
3. alt-tab back into the game. The controls will automatically revert back to the default settings.
4. alt-tab back out a second time and set the controller profile back to your custom profile a second time.
5. alt-tab back into the game. Your custom profile will now stick.

It will stick until you alt-tab back out, or something on your desktop generates a popup, or you pause the game for long enough for it to go idle. Then, you have to alt-tab back out and reset your profile again (sometimes twice).

[CleverUsername]

Originally posted by wkitty42:

this sounds like a steam problem instead of a NMS problem... you'll probably get more support and information in a steam support area...

by the way, I did contact Steam support about this. They said that it seems like a game problem and that they could not provide me with support specific to this situation.

[Alice]

Having this same issue on steam deck.

[wkitty42]

Originally posted by CleverUsername:

Originally posted by wkitty42:

this sounds like a steam problem instead of a NMS problem... you'll probably get more support and information in a steam support area...

by the way, I did contact Steam support about this. They said that it seems like a game problem and that they could not provide me with support specific to this situation.

yeah, i can see that... just like i see them telling me that NMS has native support for my controller and that Steam Input is not needed... yet, when i turn off Steam Input as directed, NMS actually does not find my controller at all and reverts to kbd/mouse which i cannot use without pain...

yes, there's (at least) two problems there...
1. Steam telling me something false.
2. NMS' native support not knowing where to look for my controller.

maybe one day they'll get it figured out...

[Gψχ]

This is a persistent issue on Steam for Windows and SteamOS on Deck. Compared to my first few months using a custom controller configuration in 2022, just attempting to use the game is a labour and a tease.

Given that this is one of the first titles to support the Steam Input API, the impossible task of getting touch menus, button chords, outer ring commands, and mouse-melding between joystick, touchpad, and gyro... is a perplexing departure from how it used to work. I have written down my configurations on ink and paper for my periodic re-attempts that are invariably rendered incompatible.

We're talking hours and hours lost to trying to restore a previously-operable control paradigm. Are both Valve and Hello Games really just rallying the fault back and forth? If they would cooperate, No Man's Sky could be the prime example of game input configurability. As I used to tell people!

[Alice]

I just want to use Gyro for aiming on my deck. There's an official "steam deck with gyro" control scheme from HelloGames but it doesn't add gyro.

I can add gyro manually to the default layout, then switch back to nms, and it will work until I open the steam menu, then the controls get reset.

Also, every time I open or close the steam menu, the entire screen blacks out for half a second, which is really annoying.