Here are all the important tips and tricks every Steam user should know! Make sure you use the detailed guidelines for new Steam deck users.
Table of Contents
6 STEAM DECK TIPS AND TRICKS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Deal With Graphic Settings
If you’re a Steam Deck owner experiencing performance issues like stuttering, crashes, or other problems while gaming. This is important and a good idea to adjust your settings. Here are five steps to enhance your gaming experience, especially for demanding games on the Steam Deck.
While you’re playing, the Steam Deck features a performance overlay that provides real-time performance information displayed. This includes essential details such as frame rate (FPS), CPU and GPU usage, and the temperature of the device. If you’re interested in the frame rate then set the Performance Overlay Level to 1. This will show the FPS in the top left corner of your screen with minimal distraction. On the other hand, if you want the complete performance package, choose level 4. This will display an extensive view of GPU and CPU usage, temperature, VRAM usage, RAM usage, battery status, FPS, latency, fan RPM, FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), Gamescope, battery status, FPS, and latency.
Shortcuts To Make Steam Deck Awesome
Here’s the list of every shortcut that a Steam Deck owner must learn!
- Steam button + left on D-Pad = Escape key
- Steam button + down on D-Pad = Tab key
- Steam button + right on D-Pad = Enter Key
- Steam button + right touchpad click = Use the right touchpad as a left click
- Steam button + right touchpad = Use the right touchpad as a mouse (must continue to hold down the Steam button)
- Steam button + right analog Stick = Use the right analog stick as a mouse (must continue to hold down the Steam button)
- Steam button + R2 = Left mouse click
- Steam button + L2 = Right mouse click
- Steam button + Long press on B = Force a game to shut down (if it freezes, etc)
- Steam button + down on the left analog stick = Decrease screen brightness
- Steam Button+ up on the left analog stick = Increase screen brightness
- Steam button + L1 = Bring up the magnifier to zoom in on the text
- Steam button + Xc = Bring up the keyboard
- Steam button + R1 = Take a screenshot
Extend The Battery Life
To make your Steam Deck‘s battery last longer, try these tips! First, lower the screen brightness which is an easy way to save power. Also, turn off things you don’t really need when using the Steam Deck which helps prevent the battery from running out quickly. When you play games, adjust the graphics settings in the game. This helps find a good balance between how the game looks and how much power is used. Changing how fast the game runs (called the frame rate) can also help the battery last more.
You can even set different power levels for each game to use just what’s needed. If your Steam Deck has AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution, using it in the performance settings can help keep games looking good even if they’re not as detailed. Lastly, you can try playing games from another device using Steam Link. This moves some of the hard work to that device and saves your Steam Deck’s battery. Using these ideas can help you enjoy playing for a longer time on your Steam Deck.
Try Personal Customization
Ready to give your Steam experience a personal touch? You’ve got a bunch of cool options to play with! Tweak the overall theme and the on-screen keyboard, swap library icons, experiment with fonts, and even freshen up the lock screen. To keep things smooth, start by choosing what you want to customize like going all “System-Wide.” When the choices seem endless, use nifty sorting filters like “Most Stars” or “Most Downloaded.” And if you’re on a hunt for something super specific, the trusty search bar’s got your back. You can even fine-tune the number of icons per row with a slider.
Haven’t got Decky Loader on your device yet? No worries, just flip into Desktop Mode. Then it’s off to the races – hop onto the Decky Loader GitHub page in your browser. One-click, and boom, Decky Loader’s yours. The developers went all out to make this homebrew plugin launcher a breeze to set up. With the magic of CSS Loader, you can give Steam’s style a snazzy makeover. Plus, the name says it all: Audio Loader lets you jam out with personalized background tunes while you navigate Steam. You can even tinker with those UI sound effects. Get ready to take your Steam game to the next level!
The Brilliance Brought By MicroSD Card
Let’s talk microSD cards – these pocket-sized storage devices we usually use for pictures and videos. But guess what? Gamers can employ this tech to supercharge their Steam Deck storage! Now, the Steam Deck comes in various types. Storage capacity, dear friends translates to different price tags. You’ve got the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB options to choose from. But hold on, with games today often larger than 64GB, that basic version might fall short of a big AAA title. The beefier ones can handle a good five or six games, which is cool, but hey, we’ve all got a craving for more, right? Enter the microSD card! Pop one in and suddenly your downloaded game library gets a turbo boost. So, if you’re all about having extra games at your fingertips, this is your move – grab a microSD card and go wild!
Get to know everything about Steam Deck at one place. Whether you want to know features, specifications, price, or compare it with other devices!
Control Settings
While playing a game, hit the Steam button and then go right twice to customize controls and assign additional actions to the rear paddles. This simple tweak enhances your command over the game. Certain games could be labeled as “unsupported,” but with a bit of adjustment, you can still play them. Start a game and tap the Steam button on the left. From there, push the thumb stick to the right twice to get to the controller settings. You’ll find a layout of the current controls, and if you want to expand, just hit the controller settings to add more.
After that, you’re free to remap a variety of settings. The added advantage is that the rear paddles often go unused. These four paddles are named L4, L5, R4, and R5. You have the option to assign these to in-game functions, enhancing your gameplay comfort.
WHAT COOL THINGS CAN I DO WITH STEAM DECK?
There are so many things that you can do to make your Steam Deck. However, the main thing is to make your Steam device the most up-to-date. The Steam Deck is all about giving you the best gaming experience with portability. It’s perfect for those who refuse to limit their gaming to just one spot. Make use of each of the above tips and trick to make your Steam Deck gaming device out of the world!
