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Steam Deck (Steam OS): Trackpad D-Pad bottom direction fails after edge-to-edge slide

steamopen Distro Family: SteamOSGeneral controller / Steam Input
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13273 · opened 2026-05-30 by yamico11 · updated 2026-05-30 · 1 comments · github
Yyamico11 2026-05-30 github

Your system information

  • SteamOS version: SteamOSHolo3.8.5
  • Opted into SteamOS beta?: beta and stable
  • Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

When using the left trackpad configured as a D-Pad, the bottom direction fails to register if I slide to it from another direction without lifting my finger.

This issue occurs consistently in SteamOS Game Mode UI screens such as Library, Store, and Settings. It is also reproducible in games when using the same "Trackpad as D-Pad" configuration.

For example, if I press and hold the top edge of the left trackpad and then slide my finger to the bottom edge without lifting it, the bottom direction is not registered. The same happens when sliding from the left or right edge to the bottom edge.

The issue only affects the bottom direction. Touching the bottom edge directly works normally.

In games, the trackpad haptic feedback still activates when my finger reaches the bottom edge, but the D-Pad input itself is not registered, so no downward movement occurs.

The issue is reproducible 100% of the time.

I reproduced the same behavior using both the Steam Deck OLED's built-in trackpad and a Steam Controller connected to the Steam Deck. Because the issue occurs on multiple trackpad devices while running SteamOS, I suspect this is a SteamOS or Steam Input software issue rather than a hardware problem.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Configure the left trackpad as a D-Pad.
  2. Open any SteamOS Game Mode screen (Library, Store, Settings, etc.) or a game using the same configuration.
  3. Press and hold the top edge of the left trackpad.
  4. Without lifting your finger, slide across the trackpad to the bottom edge.
  5. Observe that the bottom direction is not registered.
  6. Lift your finger and touch the bottom edge directly.
  7. Observe that the bottom direction now registers correctly.

The issue also occurs when sliding from the left or right edge to the bottom edge.

I couldn't upload the video, so I've provided a sharing link to a video demonstrating the issue.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XcNgbGH1QrZ8vdWC7SH28S6C6ZCEcorT/view?usp=sharing

TTheTharin 2026-05-30 github

Hello!
This also happens to me as well on the new Steam Controller.
For me, though, the issue is on both right and left trackpad for ALL directions, but DOWN direction is more frequent.
I can't seem to understand the exact pattern to reproduce it, but your "sliding from a different direction" seems to be the most reliable one. Happens for me in 80% of the occasions when I press directly on the edge.
I believe it could be happening after the recent gamepad firmware update.

What I noticed:

  1. I have "strong" haptic feedback set up, and when I click on the bottom edge of the pad and the press is not registered - I only sense one "click", but when the press successfully registers - there's an aftershock of haptics after the initial click.
  2. If I don't press on the very edge - it works fine even if I slide my finger from the other direction. I can't make myself play without touching the edges, as it serves as some sort of a directional hint for me and my finger when I press. If I just slide my finger around never touching the edge - it would be hard for me to reliably tell which part of the trackpad my thumb currently is on right now, and the accuracy of inputs is crucial for me.

UPD:
I have pinpointed the way to properly reproduce it. You have to successfully click near the edge and then, without lifting your thumb, slide it to the edge and try to click on the edge - it won't register. If you lift your finger and try to click on the edge again - the click goes through. Reproduces 80-85% of the time, sometimes the click actually goes through.
So roughly saying - if you click NEAR the edge and Steam Input successfully registers it as a D-PAD direction, sliding your finger to the edge of this direction and trying to click does not register the click anymore - only near the edge. If, however, you lift your finger up and then try to start clicking this direction on the edge of the pad - it registers this D-PAD direction input successfully. Hope this info helps you fix it.
I've recorded a video explaining it:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xPkYg3ACTMMvMSxCaTs57DdKq99Djgyi/view?usp=sharing

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