protonscr

RemotePlay to PC Desktop from SteamOS on SteamDeck only detecting trackpad pressure

steamopen StreamingDistro Family: SteamOSGeneral controller / Steam Input
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12393 · opened 2025-10-19 by PistolShrimpPimp · updated 2025-10-19 · 0 comments · github
PPistolShrimpPimp 2025-10-19 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version: SteamDeck: 1760657741 PC: 1759461205 after reinstalling from Beta client
  • SteamOS version: 3.7.16
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] Yes
  • Opted into SteamOS beta?: [Yes/No] Yes
  • Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: [Yes/No] Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen.

Expected:
SteamDeck input to function in SteamOS over streaming remote play and Steam Link.

Result:
Only the Trackpad pressure / click is detected, no other input is detected from SteamDeck.

Details:

  1. Steam Deck can stream desktop game (local and WAN)
  2. Cannot control input on the game being streamed from the SteamDeck, including touchscreen or buttons
  3. PC Steam detects SteamDeck as input device and the calibration menu detects the track pad pressure input (visible from the desktop overlay, all input shows working on the local overlay on the SteamDeck during this time - the PC and SteamDeck are both showing their own overlays during the Stream)
  4. Steam input is enabled and functional otherwise with controllers paired to the desktop device
  5. SteamLink while in SteamOS has the same issue
  6. Steam button only loads local overlay on SteamDeck, not the RemotePlay overlay.
  7. This issue does not occur when using SteamLink or RemotePlay streaming on SteamDeck's desktop mode or in NestedDesktop.
  8. The remote desktop has no visual differences or settings that seem to impact this
  9. Similar to what's mentioned above, opening the overlay on the desktop that's streaming the game shows the SteamDeck controller detected as input and disconnects when I close the stream.
  10. The remote desktop streaming the game does not detect a paired Bluetooth controller to SteamDeck, either
  11. Track pads do not move the cursor on the device nor does the touchscreen. The only input that functions is pressing the track pad which detects it as mouse press
  12. This issue also persists when you minimize a game window and attempt on the desktop - window, fullscreen, and borderless have no impact

Just to clarify: Everything seems perfectly normal and that there is nothing that indicates it shouldn't work. The PC goes from showing no controller detected to showing the SteamDeck as the controller when the Streaming starts. Both SteamLink and RemotePlay streaming work on the Steam's Desktop Mode and even Nested Desktop to the full capability. It's as if Steam cannot read the input or the input is not being translated to the remote host.

#### Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Power on SteamDeck to SteamOS
  2. Launch latest SteamLink or select "Stream" on a any game

####Troubleshooting Steps:

  1. Fully restart both devices.
  2. Disabled and enabled all Steam controller options for Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch controller support
  3. Updated Microsoft to latest version
  4. Reinstalled Steam on PC (did not fully uninstall first, seems unrelated to remote host PC)
  5. Disabling and re-enabling Steam Input on both devices
  6. Unlinked both devices and re-linked
  7. Updated SteamLink to latest flatpak (to resolve Relay issues) and and also ran flatpak update
  8. Forwarded TCP and UDP ports used by Steam (issue occurs on LAN though, so irrelevant)
  9. Removed / Disabled any potential 3rd party software that may impact (such as VirtualHere and TeamViewer)
  10. Tested with and without big picture mode.
  11. Launched SteamLink in SteamOS and ensured that the remote device had input enabled.
  12. Used SteamLink on SteamDeck desktop mode then switched back to SteamOS and attempted again.

Nothing extracted yet.