protonscr

On-screen keyboard opens with Bluetooth keyboard and freezes input in Game Mode (Steam Deck OLED)

steamopen overlayDistro Family: SteamOS
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13054 · opened 2026-03-30 by Anulot · updated 2026-03-30 · 0 comments · github
AAnulot 2026-03-30 github

Description:

In Game Mode, the on-screen keyboard appears automatically whenever a text field is selected even while using an external Bluetooth keyboard. This behavior started recently and did not occur before.

Additionally, when the on-screen keyboard appears inside games, it sometimes registers repeated or stuck key input without being pressed. This stuck-key behavior has been present since I first received the device.

While the on-screen keyboard is visible, I also cannot interact with anything else on the screen until the keyboard is closed.

This behavior only occurs inside games. The touchscreen and on-screen keyboard work normally in the SteamOS interface outside of games (menus, search fields, etc.).

Steps to reproduce:

  1. Connect a Bluetooth keyboard
  2. Launch a game in Game Mode
  3. Select any text input field
  4. The on-screen keyboard opens automatically despite being connected to a Bluetooth keyboard
  5. While the keyboard is visible:
    • a key may become stuck and repeat without input (Happens almost every time)
    • the rest of the screen becomes unresponsive

Expected behavior:

  • On-screen keyboard should not automatically appear when a Bluetooth keyboard is connected
  • Keys should only register when pressed
  • The rest of the screen should remain interactive while the keyboard is open

Actual behavior:

  • On-screen keyboard opens every time a text field is selected in games despite a Bluetooth keyboard being connected
  • Occasionally a key becomes stuck and repeats without input
  • While the keyboard is open, the screen cannot be interacted with

Additional notes:

  • Issue only occurs inside games in Game Mode
  • Does NOT occur in SteamOS interface menus
  • External Bluetooth keyboard input works normally
  • Stuck-key issue has been present since first receiving the device
  • Automatic on-screen keyboard popup started recently
  • Removing third-party plugins did not resolve the issue
  • BIOS reset did not resolve the issue
  • Battery storage mode did not resolve the issue
  • Rolling back SteamOS did not resolve the issue
  • Resetting the Bluetooth keyboard and forgetting/re-pairing the device did not resolve the issue

Video evidence:
Steam Support reviewed a recording demonstrating the issue:

https://youtu.be/PQdUotnbOe4?si=VHpuJrVOe0loMrQC

Device:
Steam Deck OLED 512GB

SteamOS version:
SteamOS 3.7.20 (Stable)

Nothing extracted yet.