Hold the Steam button to see the shortcuts available on your Steam Deck. For example, press Steam + X to open the on-screen keyboard. Because the built-in guide shows the combinations available on your device, it is a better reference than assuming a static shortcut chart applies to every setup.
How to view the available shortcuts
- Press and hold the Steam button. The Deck displays its available shortcuts on screen. Check this guide when you need a combination rather than relying on an unofficial list that may not match your software or configuration. Valve’s Steam Deck FAQ describes the shortcut guide.
- Release the button when you have found the combination. Use the buttons shown in the guide together with Steam as indicated.
Open the on-screen keyboard with Steam + X
Press Steam + X to bring up the on-screen keyboard. It is useful when entering text without connecting a physical keyboard. Valve documents this combination in its Steam Deck FAQ and confirms it for Desktop Mode while Steam is running in its Desktop FAQ.
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Switch to Desktop Mode
Switching to Desktop Mode is a menu route rather than a button chord in Valve’s instructions:
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- Press the Steam button to open the menu.
- Select Power.
- Choose Switch to Desktop.
A USB-C hub or dock can connect a monitor and keyboard for Desktop Mode, but external accessories are optional; they are not needed for the built-in Steam-button shortcuts. Valve discusses connecting peripherals in its Steam Deck dock and hub FAQ.
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Change a game’s controls
If a button combination does not behave as expected in a particular game, check its control layout. From the game’s details, open its control settings to view or edit the layout. You can also select shared Community Layouts from there. These game-specific controls are separate from the general shortcuts shown by holding the Steam button. Valve explains the control options in its Steam Deck FAQ.
Keyboard hotkeys for Steam menus
Valve’s June 2, 2025 Beta Client release note listed Shift + Tab as the default Main Menu hotkey and Ctrl + Shift + Tab as the default Quick Access Menu hotkey. Those defaults were documented for the Preview/Beta client, not established as universal defaults for every Steam Deck setup; the note says they can be changed in Settings > In Game. See the Steam Deck Beta Client update for that release context.
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If a shortcut does not work
- Hold Steam and consult the shortcut guide currently displayed on your Deck.
- For behavior inside a specific game, inspect that game’s control layout and settings.
- For the keyboard shortcut, confirm that Steam is running; Valve’s Desktop FAQ documents Steam + X in that context.
The available sources do not establish one exhaustive shortcut list that applies across every software version and configuration. The on-device guide is the practical reference for the combinations available on your own Deck.
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