Tech Sep 12, 2012 @ 2:22pm
Stuck in Big Picture Mode
After starting 'Big Picture' mode once, I have been unable to get back to the standard UI. When I click Exit, 'Big Picture' closes briefly then reopens. If I totally restart my computer, 'Big Picture' comes up when I access Steam by the normal shortcut. I have checked and there is no additional parameters on the shortcut.

I am also unable to switch back by disabling Beta participation because this option is not available.

Please let me know if I have posted in the wrong forum or there is another post for this issue.
I have searched and do not see anything like this so far.
Originally posted by pinappleSquid:
just in case anyone else ends up having the same issue I had here's my story of how this kind of worked for me.

Normally steam is set to start in big picture mode when the computer starts, but for some reason it was starting, connecting to my account, and then just showing a blank screen. You could see the cursor and hear sounds when you clicked the mouse, but no interactions of any kind with steam.
I tried the steps described above (close steam completely, disconnect wifi, start steam) and it started again in big picture mode. after failing to sign in because the wifi was off, it finally showed some actual buttons! however, there was no option to exit big picture or adjust any settings other than a few controller settings.
so I reconnected wifi, signed in again, and suddenly this time it was working as normal. no clue why. but if anyone has a similar problem, maybe it just needs this weird wifi jiggle.


btw, this was on a windows 10 pc, in the process of updating. I wouldn't be surprised if something got tweaked in the ridiculous ms update process. :P

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Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Terror Sep 12, 2012 @ 2:48pm 
on my windows 7 64-bit I click it and exit back to the old steam, but the beta you disable your account and download the steam again that he should come with the old version
DEADBRiNGER Jan 2, 2013 @ 8:07pm 
Try this. Close steam completely. Disconnect from your wifi/ethernet cord, restart steam, click on "Stay Offline", hit the "Exit" or power Icon in the top right, and then restart Steam. You should be in Default steam. Go to the "Steam" tab in the top left, click on "Settings", go to the "Interface" tab, and there should be a box that says "Start Steam in big picture mode". You're done.
Sources- Being pissed off enough to where I found out how to solve it myself :)
The author of this thread has indicated that this post answers the original topic.
pinappleSquid Nov 7, 2018 @ 9:07pm 
just in case anyone else ends up having the same issue I had here's my story of how this kind of worked for me.

Normally steam is set to start in big picture mode when the computer starts, but for some reason it was starting, connecting to my account, and then just showing a blank screen. You could see the cursor and hear sounds when you clicked the mouse, but no interactions of any kind with steam.
I tried the steps described above (close steam completely, disconnect wifi, start steam) and it started again in big picture mode. after failing to sign in because the wifi was off, it finally showed some actual buttons! however, there was no option to exit big picture or adjust any settings other than a few controller settings.
so I reconnected wifi, signed in again, and suddenly this time it was working as normal. no clue why. but if anyone has a similar problem, maybe it just needs this weird wifi jiggle.


btw, this was on a windows 10 pc, in the process of updating. I wouldn't be surprised if something got tweaked in the ridiculous ms update process. :P

fgl821 Mar 10, 2019 @ 2:46pm 
Squid, that worked perfectly!
KenpoJuJitsu3 Jun 19, 2022 @ 11:31am 
Originally posted by pinappleSquid:
just in case anyone else ends up having the same issue I had here's my story of how this kind of worked for me.

Normally steam is set to start in big picture mode when the computer starts, but for some reason it was starting, connecting to my account, and then just showing a blank screen. You could see the cursor and hear sounds when you clicked the mouse, but no interactions of any kind with steam.
I tried the steps described above (close steam completely, disconnect wifi, start steam) and it started again in big picture mode. after failing to sign in because the wifi was off, it finally showed some actual buttons! however, there was no option to exit big picture or adjust any settings other than a few controller settings.
so I reconnected wifi, signed in again, and suddenly this time it was working as normal. no clue why. but if anyone has a similar problem, maybe it just needs this weird wifi jiggle.


btw, this was on a windows 10 pc, in the process of updating. I wouldn't be surprised if something got tweaked in the ridiculous ms update process. :P

Take my points, you saved my brother's day.
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Date Posted: Sep 12, 2012 @ 2:22pm
Posts: 5