Want to know how to use the Steam Deck in desktop mode? Here’s how you can bring up the keyboard on the Steam Deck.
Under its sleek,gaming console-like body, theSteam Deckis a fully functional PC. This means that, like anyPCuser, there will be a time when you need a keyboard. Be it to type in passwords or to follow ourtutorialsthat use the desktop mode.
So, if you want to use a keyboard on your Steam Deck but need aphysical keyboardaround, Valve has got you covered. You can pull up a keyboard on the Steam Deck with just a few taps on the screen.
The only issue is that Valve doesn’t have a proper guide on using the on-screen keyboard in desktop mode. Unless a game triggers it, you could be in the dark about the keyboard shortcut for quite a while.
But worry not; using an onscreen keyboard on the Steam Deck is an absolute breeze. All it takes is a simple button combo that’s easy to remember.
How to use the Steam Deck keyboard in desktop mode
All you need to do to bring up the Steam Deck’s virtual keyboard ispress the Steam button and X. This will bring up the virtual keyboard. You can bring this virtual keyboard up no matter what you might be doing on the system itself.
The virtual keyboard can occasionally take a few seconds to appear, so if it has not immediately shown up, just wait a moment or two as it can cause a stutter on the system itself.
Once you’ve entered the Steam Deck’s desktop mode, ensure that Steam is running. Without it, the keyboard is not going to show up, as the shortcuts are tied to the Steam app itself.
For example, if you shut Steam down to use an app like Emudeck, you’ll need to rely on alternative input methods, which can initially be confusing.
If you’re looking for more guides to your Steam Deck, we’ve got anultimate starter guideto kick things off. This includes things like our best choices formicroSD cards, and even how to set up asudo passwordfor Linux.
Joel Loynds was Dexerto’s Deputy Tech Editor in the UK team. He has been writing about tech & games for over a decade, specializing in PCs, hardware, and handhelds such as the Steam Deck. He also has bylines at Scan, WePC, PCGuide, Eurogamer, Digital Foundry and Metro UK.
