steam controller works but doesn't get identified by steam so can't use community profiles

steamopen Steam controller

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11853 · opened 2025-03-28 by tjbbjt · updated 2026-05-19 · 4 comments · github

Ttjbbjt 2025-03-28 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): 1741737356
Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): bazzite-arch (Arch Linux distrobox)
Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No
Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Yes
GPU: AMD

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Controller works fine in games but if I go to: Settings -> Controller it says no controller detected. Same if I go to any controller configurations on any game it says controller is not connected but works fine in-game. The problem is I can't use community profiles because it won't detect the controller.

steam-logs.tar.gz

Ttjbbjt 2025-03-29 github

@kisak-valve bazzite-arch is an Arch Linux based distrobox

Ccyrhinka 2025-04-03 github

I have a similar issue on Ubuntu. The controller is not detected but some inputs works (not all). But it seems to make keyboard inputs in both steam big picture and in game (not sure it is the same issue here)
For instance
A: Enter
B: Escape
And the right pad as mouse.

Some buttons don't seem to work. Like Y has not effect in Big picture and I can't use the filters in some list views.

It is the same result either I use the dongle or I remove the dongle and plug the USB cable.

Main issue is that the controller make inputs but is not detected.

Ttjbbjt 2025-06-20 github

@cyrhinka have you tried plugging in the controller before launching steam? I've noticed if I plug in the controller after steam has launched I don't get full functionality but if I restart steam full functionality is restored.

Still haven't figured out how to use community profiles because it won't detect the controller even though it's fully functional.

AAll-The-Foxes 2026-05-19 github

Updated to beta 1779155395 (May 18th), no change. Steam does not detect the controller, but it works in some games like VRChat. It does not work correctly in some others, like Party Animals.

I'm on the HWE 6.17 kernel on Ubuntu 24.04 with libhidapi-hidraw0 and libhidapi-libusb0 installed. Steam is installed through apt, Knuckles controllers and Vive trackers work in VR with my Index, steam-devices is installed and always has been, and it doesn't matter which of the three connection types the controller is connected to my computer with. The beta client was able to update the firmware even before the patch that addressed that issue, but Steam does not see the controller when it's connected.

Nothing extracted yet.