How to Force Steam Deck Compatibility Mode
To force Steam Deck compatibility mode, you can highlight the game in your Library, press the Menu button, and select > Properties > Compatibility > Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool, or alternatively, you can right-click on the game, choose Properties, and then Local Files, and then browse to the .exe file to alter the compatibility mode to your desired settings. The Steam Deck also utilizes Proton, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux operating systems, which can be enabled for a specific game to improve compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enabling Compatibility Mode on Steam
- How do I enable compatibility mode on Steam? Setting compatibility mode isn’t that hard – in your Steam library, right-click on the game and choose Properties and then Local Files, then Browse, and examine the properties of the .exe file to alter the compatibility to whatever you want.
Submitting a Steam Deck Compatibility Review
- How do I submit a Steam Deck compatibility review? You can manually request a review for an upcoming or a back-catalog title by using the “Steam Deck Compatibility Review” link in the Technical Tools sections of your app landing page.
Resolving Compatibility Tool Failed Error
- Why is my Steam Deck saying compatibility tool failed? If you are trying to run a native game using Proton but get a Steam compatibility tool error immediately after starting the game, you might have to reinstall the runtime by navigating to your Steam library.
Disabling Compatibility Mode
- How do I get Steam out of compatibility mode? The following instructions are to be applied to both the Steam.exe as well as the steamwebhelper.exe, by browsing to your Steam installation, right-clicking on Steam.exe, choosing Properties, and then unchecking any checked boxes and clicking Apply.
Forcing Steam Play Compatibility Tool
- How do I force a Steam Deck to use a Steam Play compatibility tool? You can force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool by highlighting the game in your Library, pressing the Menu button, and selecting > Properties > Compatibility.
Incompatible Games
- What games aren’t compatible with Steam Deck? Games like Apex Legends, Black Desert Online, DayZ, Dead by Daylight, Destiny 2, Fall Guys, Hunt: Showdown, and Paladins are not compatible with the Steam Deck.
Resetting the Steam Deck
- How do I force a Steam Deck to reset? Hold down the power button for five seconds to force a restart on the Steam Deck, then press the Steam Button, highlight System, ensure the System Update Channel is set to Stable.
Understanding Proton Compatibility Layer
- What compatibility layer is Steam Deck? The Steam Deck utilizes Proton, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux operating systems, improving their compatibility.
Handling Lost or Stolen Steam Deck
- What happens if my Steam Deck is stolen? If your Steam Deck is lost or stolen, contact Steam Support to report the incident, and for hardware orders made through the Steam Store in the European Union or United Kingdom, check if your shipment is stored at a GLS or DHL depot.
Locating Compatibility Mode Settings
- Where can I find compatibility mode settings? You can find compatibility mode settings by searching for the program or app in the taskbar, selecting and holding (or right-clicking) it, and then selecting Open file location, and then selecting and holding (or right-clicking) the program file, selecting Properties, and then selecting the Compatibility tab.
Resolving Compatibility Mode Issues
- How do I resolve compatibility mode? To resolve compatibility mode, click File and select Info, click Convert to convert the document to DOCX and leave Compatibility Mode, or if there’s no Convert button, click Save As, select the .docx format, and save the file to exit Compatibility mode.
Accessing Compatibility Settings
- Where are compatibility settings? You can access compatibility settings by right-clicking the executable (.exe) of the application, selecting “Properties”, and selecting the Compatibility tab.
Upcoming Steam Deck Models
- Will there be a Steam Deck 2? According to Valve designer Pierre-Loup Griffais, a Steam Deck 2 won’t release until at least 2025, as the portable PC won’t get a meaningful hardware refresh for at least “a couple years.”
Steam Deck Battery Life
- How long does Steam Deck battery last? The Steam Deck battery can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours on a single charge, depending on your settings or the games you’re playing, and you can extend the battery life by changing your settings.
Fixing Steam Deck Boot Issues
- How do I fix Steam Deck not booting? To fix the Steam Deck not booting, press and hold the power button for ten seconds, or perform a power reset by powering down, disconnecting power, leaving it for a few minutes, and then reconnecting the power cable, or try to power back up, and also consider reinstalling the SteamOS using Rufus or resetting the Steam Deck battery by unplugging the device, playing games until the battery dies, and then reconnecting the charger until the battery charges back to 100%.