Get more out of your Steam Deck with the right keyboard shortcuts. Learn how to make your life easier here!
Why keyboard shortcuts?
Sometimes you need to act quickly: You're in the middle of a game and want to adjust the brightness, take a screenshot, or open the on-screen keyboard on the fly. This is where the Steam Deck's handy keyboard shortcuts come into play.
They save you time, are easy to remember, and make your gaming experience even better. Whether you're a beginner or already know the Steam Deck like the back of your hand, you should know these shortcuts.
The most important keyboard shortcuts for the Steam Deck
On-screen keyboard and text input
If you're playing a game that doesn't support controller input for text, you can simply open the on-screen keyboard:
- Steam + X: Opens the on-screen keyboard.
Additionally, you can use the directional pad to perform important functions:
- Steam + D-pad right: Confirms inputs (Enter).
- Steam + D-pad down: Jump to the next field (Tab).
- Steam + D-pad left: Closes menus or windows (Escape).
Mouse clicks and navigation
The Steam Deck offers integrated trackpads, but sometimes additional mouse click functions are helpful:
- Steam + L2: Simulates a right click.
- Steam + R2: Simulates a left click.
For detailed navigation, you can also activate the screen magnifier :
- Steam + L1: Enlarges the screen area.
Brightness and screenshots
Dark games? No problem – with the brightness shortcuts, you can adjust your display in seconds:
- Steam + left joystick up: Increases screen brightness.
- Steam + left joystick down: Reduces brightness.
Screenshots can also be taken quickly and easily:
- Steam + R1: Saves a screenshot of your game.
Ending the game made easy
When it's time to close a game:
- Steam + B (hold): Exits the current game and returns you to the main menu.
Keyboard shortcuts at a glance
| function | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open on-screen keyboard | Steam + X |
| Confirm (Enter) | Steam + D-pad right |
| Tab jump | Steam + D-pad down |
| Escape (close menu) | Steam + D-pad left |
| Right-click | Steam + L2 |
| Left click | Steam + R2 |
| Activate screen magnifier | Steam + L1 |
| Take a screenshot | Steam + R1 |
| End game | Steam + B (hold) |
| Increase brightness | Steam + left joystick up |
| Reduce brightness | Steam + left joystick down |
| Show shortcuts | Steam (long press) |
Conclusion
The Steam Deck's keyboard shortcuts are real game-changers—in the truest sense of the word. They make your gaming experience more intuitive and let you use functions without having to dig through menus. Integrating these shortcuts into your everyday routine often makes your life easier.
Are you already using any of these? Let us know in the comments! 😊