4 Easy Ways to Fix Your Steam Deck Touchscreen

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Get your touch screen working again with these quick tricks

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: February 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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Enter Battery Storage Mode

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Force Restart

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Update SteamOS

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Remove Your Screen Protector

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Video

Is your Steam Deck's touchscreen not working properly? While this issue is frustrating, it's thankfully pretty easy to fix. In this article, we go over four ways to fix a Steam Deck touchscreen that isn't responding, one of which (entering Battery Storage Mode) fixes the issue most of the time. Keep reading to learn how.

Fixing an Unresponsive Steam Deck Touchscreen

The best way to fix your Steam Deck touchscreen is to put the device in Battery Storage Mode, as many users have found that it fixes touchscreen issues. You can also try force restarting your Steam Deck, updating SteamOS, or removing your screen protector, if you have one.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Enter Battery Storage Mode

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1
Turn the Steam Deck down normally. To do this, open the power menu and choose Shut Down. Allow the Steam Deck to shut down all the way.
- Many users have found that forcing the Steam Deck into Battery Storage Mode can fix the touch screen when it stops working.^{[1]
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This will force the Steam Deck to boot into the BIOS menu when it turns back on. Keep holding the volume up button, but only press the power button once.

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Use the A button to select this option.
Use the down button on the d-pad to scroll down to this menu.
Use the right button on the d-pad to scroll over to this option.
The Steam Deck will ask you to confirm that you want to enter Battery Storage Mode. Press A again to confirm.
Once you're in Battery Storage Mode, you won't be able to turn your Steam Deck on unless you plug it into a charging cable.
Using the power button, turn on your Steam Deck. You should find that your touchscreen now works again once the device finishes booting.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Force Restart

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1
Press and hold the power button until the screen turns off. Some users have found that force restarting their Steam Deck was enough to fix their touchscreen not working.
- You'll need to hold the power button for 10 to 16 seconds for the device to fully shut off.
2
Press the power button to turn the device back on. If desired, you can wait a few seconds after shutting the Steam Deck down to power the device back on.
- Once the device is back on, test the touchscreen. If it's still not responsive, try one of the other methods in this article.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Update SteamOS

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To do this, press the STEAM button, then use the d-pad to scroll down and select Settings. To open settings, press A.
You'll need to use the down button on the d-pad to scroll down to it. To select this option, press the A button.
3
Select Check For Updates. You'll need to use the right button on the d-pad to scroll over to this option. It's under the "Software Updates" header.^{[3]
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Research source} To select this option, press the A button.
- If there's an update available, you may see an Apply button instead.
Once the update has been installed, select Restart with the A button to restart your device. Once the device has restarted, check to see if the touchscreen works. If it's still not responsive, try one of the other methods in this article.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Remove Your Screen Protector

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1
Peel off a screen protector, if you have one on. If you placed a screen protector on your Steam Deck, it may be interfering with how the touchscreen works. Your screen may not work at all, or it may be very difficult to get the touchscreen to respond.
- You should be able to see the edges of the screen protector around the edge of your Steam Deck screen. Do not peel up the protective coating on the screen itself!
If it's still not responsive, try one of the other methods in this article.