Your system information

• Steam client version (build number or date): 1737514353 (Stable) / 1738026274 (Beta)
• Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): SteamOS 3.6.20 / 3.6.21 / 3.7.0 (Deck) and Manjaro w/ Gnome 46 (Desktop)
• Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes. Issue is present on both Stable and Beta
• Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
• Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
• GPU: AMD Van Gogh RDNA 2.0 (Steam Deck) and RX 7800XT (Desktop)

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

SteamOS provides three seperate ways of invoking the Controller Configurator: Steam Menu (Controller settings > Controller Settings), Game Details (Controller Icon), Title's Properties (Controller > Controller Configurator). When a title is actively running, dismissing the Controller Layout using the Steam button returns focus to the title when opened via the Steam Menu or Game Details page. When opened via the Title's Properties however the game is successfully returned to the foreground but input focus remains on SteamOS. This will cause the user to have to blindly navigate SteamOS for input to be regained. Pressing the Steam followed by A tends to work to regain input but wasn't consistent in doing so. Once gamepad input is regained the Steam Menu and Quick-Access Menu will fail to open until the game is closed and relaunched.

Video

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/de888e76-1520-4095-a486-49db425f3587

Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Launch any title with controller support.
2. Press Steam to open the Steam Menu.
3. Navigate to View game details > Manage (⚙️) > Properties > Controller.
4. Using the touchscreen, select Controller Configurator.
5. Press Steam to dismiss and return to the active title.

Reproduction Rate: 5/5

Affected Platforms

• LCD / Jupiter: Yes
• OLED / Galileo: Yes
• Desktop Deck-like session (gamescope -e -- steam -gamepadui -steamdeck): Blocked - Mouse input does not function and prevents the Controller Configurator from being opened.
• Desktop: Yes, in Big Picture Mode

Actual result

• Title loses gamepad input as well as the Steam Menu and Quick-Access Menu fail to open.

Expected result

• Similar input issue can be reproduce on Linux Desktop if a title is launched while the Controller Configurator is open.
• In Big Picture Mode on Desktop, the Controller Configurator link opens a secondary window:

Properties Link :x:	Game Details Page :white_check_mark:

Notes

• This issue can be worked around by launching a title and manually setting the Steam Deck Controller back to slot 0 / #‍1 from the QAM (Quick-Access Menu -> Quick Settings -> Rearrange controller order). Rebooting the device via the power menu will also resolve this (Steam -> Power -> Restart)