Steam Controller Disconnecting

[Sukki Blue]

I was playing Spintires with the controller when it started disconnecting frequently, then I realized that the steam controller was actually connected, but whenever I put in inputs it would disconnect itself from my PC. Anyone know what to do?

[HW Support]

Hi there,

I need a little more information regarding the problem so that I can help.

How is the controller connected to your PC? Is the connection wired or wireless?

Is the Steam/Home button light blinking and shutting off when trying to connect?

Does the controller work in Big Picture Mode menu and stop when a game is launched? 

What kind of batteries other than the ones that came with the Steam Controller have you tried (are they rechargeable by any chance?) 

Do fresh alkaline batteries fix the problem?  

[45h <AUS>]

I have the same or similar issue. Playing GTA V, everything working fine and then the controller stops responding. Then when it comes back, it's in desktop mode. Tried combinations of wired/unwired, big picture, normal, changed batteries out for fresh ones (high quality), beta and non-beta steam builds, rolled back firm-ware - nothing fixes it. The light doesn't blink when this happens, the controls just drop out for a bit, usually with the accelerator jammed down so my car goes off a cliff or something while I scramble to resolve the issue.

[Ubervillin]

This happens to me as well, ever since a few patches ago(steam beta). It only happens in games and only when the game is trying to make the controller vibrate. It doesn't happen for instance when I have haptics set to on for the touchpads. The light goes out then(since I have light set to lowest point) it comes back on super bright like when it is first connected and remains that way until I use my keyboard to alt tab to the steam client. The only other way I can get it to work again when this happens is if I unplug it then plug it back in again(yes I'm wired because I can't afford luxuries such as multiple pairs of batteries per month). The only way I have found to avoid the issue all together is to turn off vibration in game, which can be detrimental for games like the Witcher series and the latest Tomb Raider series, both of which use vibration not only in combat but, as an indicator/warning as well.

[zediiiii]

Same issues here for multiple years. I've tried different dongles, computers, games. I usually only have problems when connecting more than two controllers - and video performance lags when the issues occur. I'm on a wired gb connection to my steam link with a very reliable Enterprise network, but the issue occurs directly connected on computers too.

Occurs with any controller being used through the steam overlay -- which leads me to believe the issue is the overlay.

[zediiiii]

My solution.

I had much more success when I connected two controllers to a dongle plugged into the steam link, and the other two to the steam link directly -- almost no issues with four controllers after that. I don't actually know how to get all four controllers to connect to the dang dongle -- you really don't get to pick what device they connect to without hard resetting the steam link (an option I suppose).You can check to see what device the controllers are connected to by looking at the device mac in controller settings.

I wired a dedicated 20 amp 14 gauge line to my tv, computer, and steam link -- so I would be skeptical about electrical signal fluctuations in that system related to different lines. Of course, it isn't impossible at all...

EDIT
This method did provide slightly better performance... Until it didn't. I don't get drops with two controllers, but it's definitely going to happen with 4 when the steam overlay is turned on. I'm working to isolate the issue further, but there stream overlay is the common denominator.

[IcyCyborg]

Just searched through forums and realized my controller kept unpairing cause I forgot to plug in my wireless adapter that makes Bluetooth stuff connect to my computer better so thank you XD.