When you use a Steam Deck instead of a desktop computer to play games from your Steam account, you feel liberated in a way different from your previous experience. But, it can be extremely frustrating when the Steam Deck won’t turn on and you don’t have the understanding of how to fix a Steam Deck that won’t turn on.
Gaming has changed as a result of Steam Deck. It recreates the experience of playing games on a handheld gaming system in the past. However, this time, you are playing contemporary games like The Last of Us, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends. High-definition 3D games can now be played without a gaming PC or Mac.
Steam Deck also has Wi-Fi so you can play games online or offline that you have purchased or downloaded for free via your Steam account. A powerful rechargeable battery allows for up to 8 hours of gameplay.
Read on to find out the reason why your gaming device is not turning on and how to fix the Steam deck won’t turn on problem.
Why My Steam Deck Won’t Turn On?
A Steam Deck may not switch on or it may display a black screen for several reasons. These might be as a result of any of the following factors:
- Malfunctioning power button.
- A dead battery.
- A frayed charging cable.
- The charging adapter is not compatible.
- A Software glitch.
- A recent software update that caused a bug, etc.
You can try rebooting the device by pressing and holding the power button for a short period to see if that fixes the problem.
- A hardware problem could be the cause of the power button appearing stuck or unresponsive.
Using the recommended charger to charge the device for at least an hour, reverting to an earlier firmware, and inspecting the charger for damage are further potential remedies you can try to fix your Steam Deck won’t turn on.
How to Fix Steam Deck Won’t Turn On
If you can’t get your Steam Deck to turn on, there are a few things you can do; hopefully, one of these fixes should get you back to gaming swiftly and puts your Steam Deck on track. Follow the steps below:
Charge up the Steam Deck’s Battery
The charging issue is a minor problem preventing the Steam Deck from turning on. There could be a problem with the wiring, the Steam Deck adaptor, or even the USB port itself.
A new charging cable should be used, and the device should be charged for 30 to 60 minutes to confirm whether it’s a charging-related problem or not. You should notice that an LED light is turned on.
This displays the current charging state. If there isn’t an LED light, there is a problem with the power adapter. Therefore, changing the charging adapter should fix the Steam Deck if it won’t turn on because the battery isn’t charging or charged.
- Connect one end of your Steam Deck charging wire to an electrical outlet before connecting the other to the device.
- Check to see if it responds once you push the power button after letting it charge for at least three hours.
- In such a case, you can start playing the top Steam Deck games once more.
Check the Charging Cable and Outlet
Make sure that the charging cord is not damaged by looking at it thoroughly. By connecting the charging cord to another outlet and seeing if your Steam Deck charges that way, you can also determine if the outlet is the issue. You will need to use or buy a new cable if the one you have seems to be damaged. If you don’t want to spend the money on the pricey official converter, the replacement power charger from JSAUX will work just as well. You can try it!
Clean the Steam Deck Carefully
Use a toothpick or other specific cleaning tools to thoroughly clean the region surrounding the power button. If you are not careful, using water or other liquids or being overly rough with cleaning tools could permanently damage the Steam Deck.
Check if the Power Button is Stuck
If the power button doesn’t click or provide any feedback when you press it, it’s probably stuck. The cause could be anything from recent wear and tear to a manufacturing error.
There may occasionally be junk inside the power button as well. If this is the case, turning on the device by tapping the power button won’t work. Carefully clear away any debris from the power button’s sides with a toothpick. Try turning on the device once more to fix Steam Deck won’t turn on issue.
Use a Compatible Adaptor
The Steam Deck needs a charging adapter that can deliver at least 45W; otherwise, the battery will charge up a lot slower, and the battery will drain during use even if it’s plugged in. You should switch to a 45W or greater charging cable if the one you are using is not the original.
Try a Different Charger
You can use any USB-C charger to see if the charger is your issue, but we recommend using the charger that came with your Steam Deck to help extend the life of the device. You might also want to try a different wall outlet and a different charging cord. Allow the Steam Deck to charge for at least one hour before attempting to turn it on again. This should fix the Steam deck won’t turn on issue, if not you can try the next fix.
Allow the Steam Deck to Cool Off a Bit
If the problem persists you may want to allow the Steam Deck to cool off a bit before you continue to either use it or charge it.
How to allow the Steam deck to cool down:
- All of the Steam Deck’s cables should be disconnected.
- The Steam Deck is still on if it has a dark screen that won’t turn off and you can make out a bright light coming from behind the screen.
- The device must be turned off by pressing the power button repeatedly for at least 10 seconds, or until the screen is completely dark and the screen’s back is completely dark.
- Allow the device to cool down a little bit now.
- After that, try to turn on the device by gently pressing the power button.
That’s it! This is how to fix Steam Deck won’t turn on issue.
Force Restart your Steam Deck
One of the wonderful features of your Steam Deck is the ease with which you can move from playing a game on your PC to finishing it on your console. Both devices run compatible software and share a game library, but you must frequently update that software to keep everything functioning properly.
When your device goes to sleep, those updates ought to take place automatically. If they don’t, though, you can force your Steam Deck to restart, which should update your console, remove any bugs, and fix the steam deck won’t turn on issue.
Let’s say you occasionally get the “Steam Deck won’t turn on” problem. In that situation, adhere to the following instructions to force restart your Steam Deck:
- Hold down the power button for three seconds.
- If this does not work, hold the button down for another 10 seconds.
- This should immediately shut down the device.
- To start the device, press the power button once.
That’s it! Your Steam deck should be back on by now.
Hard Reboot your Steam Deck
In case forcing a restart on your Steam Deck didn’t work, then you can try hard rebooting your device. To force a recovery, hold down the volume up and power buttons for about 12 seconds.
- You will have to wait a few seconds for it to reboot, but the Steam Deck should then turn back on.
- Debris or case damage may be preventing the power button from functioning normally.
That’s all about force restarting your Steam deck if it will not turn on.
Revert the SteamOS update
If your Steam Deck does not come on after a failed game installation, software update, or app installation, follow the procedures below to roll back SteamOS:
- Ascertain that the Steam Deck is turned off and that the screen is entirely black.
- Hold down the Power + Ellipses keys until you hear a quick click sound.
- Hold down the power button while continuing to press the Ellipses key.
- In front of you should now be a list of SteamOS images or restore points.
- Select the correct one and press the power again.
- The Steam Deck should return to the home screen and start functioning.
These are some quick and easy troubleshooting steps you may take if your Steam Deck won’t turn on. Contact Steam Support if the device still does not turn on after attempting all of the previous fixes. Don’t forget to mention any other fixes that you know would be beneficial in the comments section below.
The Steam Deck won’t turn on is a problem with solutions. However, what works for my Steam Deck might not work for your own. Therefore, you’d need to try all these methods before you jump to the conclusion that none works.