Valve has added a long-requested quality-of-life feature to the Steam Deck – a low-power download mode that completes active downloads with the display off. The change is part of a firmware update available now in the Beta and Preview channels and will be made available to all users later.
Since the Deck launched in February 2022, downloads and updates paused when the handheld went to sleep, forcing players to keep the screen on while large files finished. The new mode lets the device keep downloading while the screen is turned off, then automatically goes into sleep once the downloads are complete.
While a download is running with the display off, a short button press or moving the Deck will briefly wake an information screen showing progress. From that prompt players can choose to continue downloading with the screen off or thoroughly wake the handheld again.
The feature is enabled by default when the Steam Deck is connected to a power supply. To allow display-off downloads on battery power, go to Settings -> Power and turn the option on. Valve built two ways to enter the mode, by pressing the Power button during an active download brings up a dialogue asking if the device should keep downloading with the screen off, or the Deck can switch to the low-power download state automatically after a short idle period.
This is a small but practical change that should shave time off managing large downloads and reduce the annoyance of having to babysit the handheld until an update finishes. Valve has continued iterating on SteamOS and Deck features since launch; the company previously discussed future hardware plans during the unveiling of the Steam Deck OLED.
For more background on Valve’s recent SteamOS moves, see our write-up of the company introducing compatibility ratings for non-Deck devices: Valve Introduces SteamOS Compatibility Ratings for Non-Steam Deck Devices.
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