r/SteamController 2d ago

Steam Controller (2026) Are we all holding steam button

And scrolling in short bursts/flicks to avoid turning off the controller like me or am I missing something?

53 Upvotes

55 comments sorted by

62

u/CriticalBlock9792 2d ago edited 1d ago

Use the quick access (3 dots) button instead

18

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

Ain't that a bih. Thanks!

2

u/Kevstroke 1d ago

Life saver, didn’t know that was a thing

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

1

u/FearEternal 2d ago

Explanation please

4

u/BanzaiBasher 1d ago

There's the steam button higher on the controller, and a button with 3 dots below it. They both can function as the shortcut button, but the 3 dots button does not turn off the controller like the steam button will after holding it down

2

u/voyagerfan5761 2d ago

Move the ) two words to the left.

36

u/SineApfel 2d ago

I dont get the question. I only hold the steam button when I want to turn off the controller.

40

u/flinjager123 2d ago

You hold the steam button to turn it off? I just press steam+y to turn it off.

23

u/Kevadu 2d ago

You turn your controller off? I just put mine down and it turns off eventually.

23

u/Natetoriouzz 2d ago

You put your controller down? I just hold it when I sleep.

7

u/Top5CutestPresidents 2d ago

You hold your steam controller? I just duct tape it to my face and shake my head to use the gyros

7

u/New_Worldliness4910 1d ago

You all got a steam controller yet? 😭

3

u/JM-Gaster 1d ago

best possible way to end that lmao

2

u/gergobergo69 Steam Controller (2026) 1d ago

Not anymore, I ate it

1

u/Natetoriouzz 1d ago

Yep, I spammed the buy button 10 min before the actual release time until I got it. Been playing exclusively with it for several months. I LOVE this thing.

4

u/Tyoccial 1d ago

You duct tape your Steam Controller? I've ascended and became the Steam Controller.

3

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

And another 1. I did discover this on my own and it's certainly quicker

2

u/MagnumBlood 2d ago

Damn TIL

2

u/Total_Opportunity_24 2d ago

I just tried this and i never knew about this. I thought all the extra combos that weren't on the Deck were for like using Bluetooth instead or switching the connection profile.

1

u/throwthewaybruddah 2d ago

On the OG Controller and the Deck you can keep the Steam button down to make the controller go into desktop mode. Useful for alt tabbing.

Now it's the 3 dots button you gotta hold onto

2

u/PapagenoX 1d ago

Wait, are you saying there's a 2026 Steam Controller shortcut to go from gaming mode to Desktop mode, without having to go into the Power sub menu?

2

u/throwthewaybruddah 1d ago

Just hold down the three dots button and you can use your mouse and desktop controls.

If you're talking about big picture and stuff I dont know about that tbh.

1

u/PapagenoX 1d ago

Well, the default game mode on the Steam Machine is Big Picture mode, but I'll try it anyway, thanks!

1

u/throwthewaybruddah 1d ago

Oh yeah that wont work for switching between gaming mode and desktop on steam deck and idk how the machine works but if it's like the deck then should be the same.

It's mostly for the controller layouts. You've got one setup as the "default layout" that Steam uses when you aren't playing a game. If you are playing a game, you've most likely got another layout setup. Holding down the three dots will put the controller back in the default layout until you release it. Useful if you need your mouse for menus or if you're launching a launcher in gaming mode.

8

u/Tiny_Rick85 2d ago

Steam button + Y to turn off.

3

u/voyagerfan5761 2d ago

Only if Steam is running.

1

u/Tiny_Rick85 2d ago

Didn't know that. Ty.

4

u/kbachert 2d ago

So on one hand, pretty sure there's supposed to be a feature that prevents the controller from turning off if you're doing anything else.

On the other hand... Bind scroll elsewhere?

1

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

You were right!

2

u/fpekal 2d ago

Only the original steam controller had this issue.
The new one won't shut down if during holding the steam button you also used any other input.

2

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

Very true. I see now that there is a timer and that the thumb sticks DONT reset them. Apologies.

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

2

u/fpekal 2d ago

I checked it now and it's true

Every time you make a non-analog input or touchpad input the timer to turn off the controller resets

If you hold a steam button, then controller will turn off after 6-7 seconds. But if in the mean time you pressed any button (face button, options, menu, qam, back buttons, bumpers) OR move your finger on the touchpads the timer resets back to 0 and you have to wait another 6-7 seconds to turn off the controller.

That's the behavior I checked on mine 2026 SC

2

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago edited 2d ago

When just moving the mouse around with the right thumbstick on mine it turns off after a few seconds. Could just be a setting I need to change?

2

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

Updated to show I was using the right thumbstick + steam when controller turned off

1

u/fpekal 2d ago

Yup, thumbstick doesn't reset the timer. Maybe to allow controller to turn off if it has a drift?

2

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

Ahhh ok my misunderstanding. That was my main issue 😂

1

u/fpekal 2d ago

Oh, then sorry. I was 100% sure

0

u/Charred01 1d ago

Unfortunately imo the new one sucks.  It's so poorly laid out it feels bad to use in my hand 

2

u/Low_Excitement_1715 1d ago

That sucks for you, genuinely. I'm sure you wouldn't have any problem selling it for what you paid, even used. I have two and am waiting to get more.

1

u/Charred01 1d ago

Maybe.  I still like the original steam controller so I don't really lose anything.  

I put it in my closet as a backup in case something happens in the future.  

1

u/Low_Excitement_1715 1d ago

Heh. I didn't like the OG SC much. I'd trade you two of those straight up for one 2026 SC.

1

u/Charred01 1d ago

I'm good.  I have backup OG's

1

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

Curious about the bindings too. Anybody bind it to the trackpads?

1

u/DukeMutem 2d ago

Even more confused about your question now. You can configure how long it takes till auto turn off. Set it to 10 minutes and you shouldn't have any issues.

3

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

See this is why I post. I didn't know that and you did. Thanks!

1

u/DukeMutem 2d ago

Google the Short cuts. Someone posted them here once, really useful stuff. For example steam plus start is alt tab

1

u/Fit_Carob_7558 2d ago

Haha this was me when using a DualSense or DS4. I've had it turn off on me a few times while moving the cursor. 

I've been pretty busy and haven't had too much time using the SC, but isn't that what the trackpads are for? That was one of the huge reasons I bought one. In my short use one of the trackpads controlled the cursor and the other one scrolled around.

1

u/Godzlittlehand 2d ago

Me too. That's the part I'm working my way up to

1

u/caffeinatedchaosbean 2d ago

My most common rebind with mine is Right Trackpad as mouse > Right trackpad click as Left Mouse. Never have to hold the Steam button to use it as a mouse and risk turning it off.

1

u/FearEternal 2d ago

I do the same thing in basically every game. Is there not a way to just have a global default profile that you can use as a base to jigger with per game? Ive thought I changed it so many times but it guess back to trackpad joystick with every new game it seems =\

1

u/caffeinatedchaosbean 1d ago

Not that I've found but I'll keeping hunting!

-2

u/BagelBagelDog 2d ago

I understand your question... it's not a bad question. I want you to have a good quality of life in all aspects. Follow the advice given already: use the ellipses button