protonscr

Steam Deck: Controller cannot refocus on game after switching to a different app in Gaming Mode

steamopen Distro Family: SteamOSGeneral controller / Steam Input
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13418 · opened 2026-07-15 by DHyperYT · updated 2026-08-03 · 1 comments · github
1 matching comments, n / p to jump
DDHyperYT 2026-07-15 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version: 1782861641
  • SteamOS version: 3.8.14
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: No
  • Opted into SteamOS beta?: No
  • Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

When you're in Gaming Mode, you can have multiple apps open. I opened Discord after already being in my game to copy something from a server (copied using the trackpad and triggers), and when i went back to my game the controller no longer communicated with the game, and if you use the trackpad afterwards it requires 2 clicks to click something in the game. This is a recurring issue that has been happening for weeks. The controller should have had control over the game again the moment i switched back to it. This only happens if the game was already opened. The game can be controlled again once it's restarted.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Open your game
  2. Open Discord (example)
  3. Go back to the game
  4. The controller no longer controls the game
Ggustavray 2026-08-03 github

I am having the same issue since I first got my Steam Deck. I've previously succeeded in fixing it by using Proton 11.0 or 9.27. None of the Proton 10 versions work (including GE and CachyOS), and then tapping the screen.
Sometimes I have to plug a controller in for the Steam Deck's own gamepad to be recognised in game, but sometimes that doesn't work. Restarting the game also doesn't fix it.

Proton versions