In this context, I would be explaining all the steps on how to connect a mouse and Keyboard to your steam deck. Once this is done, you would be able to enjoy some much better controls and even use your steam deck as a windows computer if you have installed any windows on it.
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Why Connect a Mouse and Keyboard to Steam Deck?
While it the steam deck carries a set of built-in controls that works well for tons of games, they are not perfect for all games. The steam deck does not allow you to customize the functionality of the analog sticks, buttons, triggers, paddles, and touchpads, but some games need you to make use of a mouse and keyboard. If you are trying to play one of those games, or you can just prefer a mouse and keyboard over a controller, then you would want to connect these peripherals to your Steam Deck.
Another reason for you to connect a mouse and keyboard to a steam Deck is the setting called the Desktop Mode. While it is possible for you to navigate the desktop mode by making use of the touchscreen in place of a mouse and type using the on-screen keyboard, it is not very efficient. Also, it can be difficult for you to tap on some icons using the touchscreen and various other functions are all easier with a mouse and keyboard. Heck, dragging and dropping is problematic.
If you would like to connect your steam Deck to your monitor and make use of it for word processing, web surfing, or even gaming, a keyboard and mouse are basically essential. While the on-screen keyboard is good enough for basic tasks like searching for files, it does not offer anything more involved than that.
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How to use Steam Deck with a Mouse and Keyboard
The Steam Deck offers support to a variety of peripherals, that you can connect using your USB or Bluetooth. Since the steam deck only has support for the USB-C port, connecting your mouse and keyboard would require you to get a USB-C port or hub.
Bluetooth has been built right into the system though, so you really do not need any extra hardware to make a wireless mouse and keyboard connection as long as they are both making use of Bluetooth and not a Proprietary 2.4GHz system.
The steps involved in connecting a mouse and keyboard to your steam deck via Bluetooth differ depending on if you connect them in a game mode or desktop mode. This works like you are connecting your Bluetooth to a computer running on Linux computer if you do it in the desktop mode, but this process relies mainly on the steam deck settings menu found in Game mode.
How to Connect a Mouse and Keyboard to your Steam Deck
You can choose to connect your USB mouse and Keyboard to your steam Deck if you have a USB-C or dock. The hub or dock would require enough ports in other to accommodate the mouse and keyboard.
If you would like to make use of the keyboard and mouse for a long period of time, then a powered USB-C hub would work best, mainly because the USB-C ports that are used to connect peripherals like a mouse and keyboard is the same port used for charging the device. Below, I would be stating the steps that you need to follow in other to connect your USB mouse and Keyboard to your Steam Deck. The steps include:
- First, you need to connect a USB-C hub or dock to your Steam Deck
- Plug your mouse and your keyboard right into your hub or dock
- With this, your steam deck would be automatically recognized, and you can start by making use of them the right way.
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How to Connect a Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard in Game Mode
The Steam Deck also offers support for wireless mouse and keyboard connection via Bluetooth. You can choose to establish the connection in either the game mode or the desktop mode, and the devices would remain connected when you choose to switch between each of the modes.
Below, the steps on how to connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard to the steam deck are well-detailed. The steps include:
- First push on the “Steam Button”
- Click on “Settings”
- Then Select “Bluetooth”
- Check the “Bluetooth toggle” to be sure it is on, tap on it if it is not, and then place your mouse in pairing mode.
- After that, Select the mouse name from the list of devices available
- Also, place your “Keyboard” into pairing mode, and then select it once it pops up on the available devices list.
FAQ
How Do I Bring Up the Keyboard on my Steam Deck?
Press the Steam+X buttons in other to bring up your on-screen keyboard that is on your steam deck. Make use of the same key combination in other to close the virtual keyboard.
How to Connect a Steam Deck to my PC?
In other to connect your steam deck to your PC, make use of the indicator app. You can choose to transfer files using an exFAT formatted microSD card or USB stick, a network drive, or a Samba share.
Does the Steam Deck have USB Ports Ports?
Once docked, the steam deck’s USB-C port can entail video, audio, input, etc. Just connect your peripherals, or make use of the docking station, and you would be ready to go.
How Powerful is the Steam Deck?
The GPU clock speed is 1-1. 6GHz. GPU power is 1.6 TFLOPS. The resolution is 1280 x 800. The refresh rate is 60Hz.
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