Black screen when going into desktop mode? :: Steam Deck General Discussions

Steam Deck

All Discussions Artwork Videos News Guides Reviews

Steam Deck > General Discussions > Topic Details

KaiserSenpai420 16 Feb @ 1:30pm

Black screen when going into desktop mode?

I began running into this problem Monday or Tuesday, I combed the SteamDeck sub reddit trying to get answers.

I found two bandaid fixes that quickly got ripped off, "hold the power button and click change to desktkp" that worked about 2 - 3 times tops. Now it just stays on the black screen.

"Change the channel, ( Stable, Beta, Preview ) and it'll work." This worked for a good few days, I'll admit.

Now, those options don't work at all. I found posts about this issue dating back from a year ago, it's insane how this hasn't been patched yet.

I found posts about re-imaging and factory resetting only for the issue to still be there. I feel like I shouldn't have to factory reset my SD, going into desktop mode is part of the basic functions of the SD. I shouldn't have to risk losing how I setup my SD on a whim that it'll fix my problems.

Any suggestions?

The author of this topic has marked a post as the answer to their question.
Click here to jump to that post.

Originally posted by spiralings:

turning off decky loader replay worked for me

< >

Showing 1-15 of 16 comments

Zef 17 Feb @ 1:40am

So what happened on monday or tuesday that caused this issue?

Anything you know of?

Seems like a factory clean reset to stable version will be to most efficient to solve this.

Backup all your games to SD card or move them on a NAS/ portable HDD first so you can easily move them back in your steam folder after reinstall of the OS is done.

Nerdy Pete 18 Feb @ 11:52am

Same problem. I can boot into SteamOS but every time I switch to Desktop Mode all I see is a dark screen. I tried both the power button popup and the Steam > Power > Switch to Desktop Mode methods multiple times over many hours. I can feel the haptics when I use the right side touchpad, so the device is on but there is no video coming out of the USB-C port. I can also hear audio notifications. Because the display works fine for SteamOS and for the bios screen, it's got to be something going on with the software that handles the video, right? Something about the most recent update.

Also: I'm not running any beta. I have the System Update Channel set to "Stable."

Last edited by Nerdy Pete; 18 Feb @ 11:54am

KaiserSenpai420 22 Feb @ 9:56am

Originally posted by Zef:
So what happened on monday or tuesday that caused this issue?

Anything you know of?

Seems like a factory clean reset to stable version will be to most efficient to solve this.

Backup all your games to SD card or move them on a NAS/ portable HDD first so you can easily move them back in your steam folder after reinstall of the OS is done.

I didn't do anything crazy or different. I was watching anime at work the last time I used desktop mode.

KaiserSenpai420 22 Feb @ 9:57am

Originally posted by Nerdy Pete:
Same problem. I can boot into SteamOS but every time I switch to Desktop Mode all I see is a dark screen. I tried both the power button popup and the Steam > Power > Switch to Desktop Mode methods multiple times over many hours. I can feel the haptics when I use the right side touchpad, so the device is on but there is no video coming out of the USB-C port. I can also hear audio notifications. Because the display works fine for SteamOS and for the bios screen, it's got to be something going on with the software that handles the video, right? Something about the most recent update.

Also: I'm not running any beta. I have the System Update Channel set to "Stable."

Did you get it sorted out?

Welcome CityWok 2 Mar @ 12:28pm

same issue here

theddy 2 Mar @ 2:14pm

This is happening to me right now after latest stable update.. Guess that its not so stable.

The author of this thread has indicated that this post answers the original topic.

spiralings 19 Mar @ 6:48am

turning off decky loader replay worked for me

DeeKnow 5 Apr @ 1:17am

Get rid of decky recorder it be busted at the moment. Right now either disable decky recorder replay function or uninstall decky recorder.

Last edited by DeeKnow; 5 Apr @ 1:18am

sanfordmay 26 Apr @ 7:30pm

Originally posted by DeeKnow:
Get rid of decky recorder it be busted at the moment. Right now either disable decky recorder replay function or uninstall decky recorder.

Yeah this it. Turn off decky recorder replay.

jedaro004 17 May @ 1:30pm

turn of decky recorder worked for me to

#10

HybridZach 13 Jun @ 10:25am

Can confirm decky recorder is still causing issues 12/06/24. SteamOS version 3.5.19. Disabling decky recorders reply mode stops this issues immediately. Decky recorders replay mode works perfectly fine in game mode while turned on, but yeah having it enabled causes intermittent issues switching to desktop mode (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't).

#11

KaiserSenpai420 13 Jun @ 12:02pm

Thanks for the solution everyone!

#12

Rippling 17 Jun @ 9:23am

Guys this appears to be a kscreen issue. You will need a Bluetooth or usb keyboard.

1. ⁠Load into gamemode
2. ⁠Press alt control and f5 to open terminal.
3. ⁠Enter deck as user name then your sudo password.
4. ⁠Type cd .local/share/kscreen
5. ⁠Hit enter
6. ⁠Type rm-rf*
7. ⁠Hit enter
8. ⁠Type reboot

This should solve the issue

#13

larryyangsen 3 Jul @ 5:39am

Originally posted by Rippling:
Guys this appears to be a kscreen issue. You will need a Bluetooth or usb keyboard.

1. ⁠Load into gamemode
2. ⁠Press alt control and f5 to open terminal.
3. ⁠Enter deck as user name then your sudo password.
4. ⁠Type cd .local/share/kscreen
5. ⁠Hit enter
6. ⁠Type rm-rf*
7. ⁠Hit enter
8. ⁠Type reboot

This should solve the issue

Thanks for help, I fix my steam deck.

#14

Doctor Timbrwulf 9 Jul @ 5:51pm

Originally posted by DeeKnow:
Get rid of decky recorder it be busted at the moment. Right now either disable decky recorder replay function or uninstall decky recorder.

Had the exact same black screen issue; I finally discovered that I had Decky Recorder installed. Uninstalled it, and now I can access desktop mode again. Devs of Decky Recorder should've fixed this by now! 😕

Last edited by Doctor Timbrwulf; 9 Jul @ 5:52pm

#15

< >

Showing 1-15 of 16 comments

Per page: 1530 50

Steam Deck > General Discussions > Topic Details

Date Posted: 16 Feb @ 1:30pm

Posts: 16