This Valve Corporation gaming device was launched on February 25m 2022, may be a newcomer to the scene, but it is quickly becoming popular, especially among Nintendo users. It is the most preferred because this handheld packs some amazing features, has a decent battery life and a solid performance, and you can connect it directly to a monitor.
Steam deck reset
However, despite its many positives, the Steam Deck has experienced its share of issues, which isn’t all that surprising considering the device is a newcomer to the market. In particular, a large number of users have noticed that the device breaks during tinkering or emulation.
Fortunately, if you’re experiencing problems with your Steam Deck, you may be able to perform a reboot or reset to get it working again. By factory resetting your steam, you should be able to fix most routine problems, and following these instructions should be your first port of call before you reach out for a replacement handheld related valve.
How do you restart your steam deck?
Before you choose to reset your Steam Deck, you should note that restoring it to factory settings will erase all data on your Steam Deck, as well as all games, operating systems, user data, and applications you have installed.
Therefore, if you are facing any problem, it is better to try restarting your Steam Deck first before choosing to reset it. Just like a PC, a restart usually clears up problems without forcing you to reinstall all your data.
- Find the Power button on the Steam Deck
- After that, press and hold this power button for minimum 12 seconds. You may need to hold it for up to 20 seconds.
- Keep the console off for about five minutes
- Once the five minutes are up, you can press and hold the power button on the other to turn the Steam Deck back on.
Once it’s back on, it should restart and handle any minor issues. However, if your problem persists, a factory reset may be the next step.
Steps for factory reset
If you’re having trouble fixing your Steam Deck with a reboot, you may want to try a factory reset.
- Download a special recovery image directly to your computer from the Steam Store. You need a USB stick with a minimum of 8GB of storage space, and it’s worth noting that the existing content on that stick and it will be deleted from the process.
- If you are currently using a Windows computer, you will need to use the Rufus utility. Using Rufus, you choose the recovery file and place it on your USB. Then, select “Close” and safely eject your USB.
If you use Linux or Mac, the process will be very different. You need to use Balena Etcher to put this recovery file directly on your USB. Linux users can alternatively choose to use the command line:
You should be able to locate the file in the Downloads folder: cd: /home/USERNAME/Downloads
Set /dev/sdX to your USB.
- Using a hub or USB-C adapter, plug your boot disk directly into your Steam Deck
- Hold the “Volume Down” and “Power Buttons” on the Steam Deck together. Stop when you hear a sound; This indicates that you are being taken to the “Boot Manager” menu.
- When you finally reach the menu, select Boot from “EFI” USB. Your screen will go black for a few minutes.
- Once it boots properly, you will see a desktop layout. Navigate it directly to your trackpad and then trigger.
- Select the Factory Reset/Re-Image Steam Deck option directly from this screen.
Once you’ve completed the reset, you’ll be offered access to your Steam account and should have resolved any issues you’re facing. If this fails to work, contact Valve support For more help.
