protonscr

Screenshots not working on steam OS 3.7.13

steamclosed
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12216 · opened 2025-07-21 by nomadfh · updated 2025-07-26 · 5 comments · github
Nnomadfh 2025-07-21 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version: 1751405894
  • SteamOS version: 3.7.13
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No
  • Opted into SteamOS beta?: [Yes/No] No
  • Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: [Yes/No] Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Screenshots taken in game mode either using the hot key of steam+r1 or using built in screenshot keys do not actually save a screenshot and just makes the noise as if it did. Weirdly enough after booting into a game, taking a screenshot of the main menu doesn't even do anything. If I reboot my system, I can take a screenshot of them main menu, but once I boot into a game, I can no longer do that again.

Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen.
I'm expecting to take a screenshot and see the screenshot in my media or saved anywhere else, but it doesn't seem to save anywhere

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Boot into a game
  2. Attempt to take a screenshot
  3. Check media for the screenshot

EDIT:

I solved this issue by deleting this file in desktop mode:
/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/userdata/(your steam id)/760/screenshots.vdf

returning to desktop mode will have you greeted with all of your failed screenshot attempts, so be prepared for that.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2025-07-21 github

Hello @nomadfh, this issue is already being tracked at https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/12127. Closing in favor of the older issue report.

Nnomadfh 2025-07-21 github

Hello @nomadfh, this issue is already being tracked at ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12127. Closing in favor of the older issue report.

That issue seems to be different from mine. That user seems to have a record of the screenshot being taken and can't open the file (with an error), whereas I have no record of the screenshot happening at all, other than the sound.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2025-07-21 github

I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt and transferred this issue report to the steam-for-linux issue tracker because it would need to be evaluated on the Steam client / Steam overlay side, not the OS / Distro side, but ... something's gone awry with GitHub and I'm unable to re-open this issue report after the transfer.

Please open a new issue report in the steam-for-linux issue tracker focusing on your issue.

Nnomadfh 2025-07-21 github

I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt and transferred this issue report to the steam-for-linux issue tracker because it would need to be evaluated on the Steam client / Steam overlay side, not the OS / Distro side, but ... something's gone awry with GitHub and I'm unable to re-open this issue report after the transfer.

Please open a new issue report in the steam-for-linux issue tracker focusing on your issue.

Gotcha, will do. For some added context, screenshots work perfectly fine in desktop mode.

Nnomadfh 2025-07-26 github

I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt and transferred this issue report to the steam-for-linux issue tracker because it would need to be evaluated on the Steam client / Steam overlay side, not the OS / Distro side, but ... something's gone awry with GitHub and I'm unable to re-open this issue report after the transfer.

Please open a new issue report in the steam-for-linux issue tracker focusing on your issue.

FYI, I have solved my issue by deleting this file:

/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/userdata/(your steam id)/760/screenshots.vdf

I'm not sure what causes this problem, but someone on reddit referred me to this solution.

I should note, that now it seems the steamdeck reboots each time I take a screenshot.