Valve has finally answered one of the Steam Deck community’s longest-standing requests – the ability to download games while the screen is off.
The new feature, now available in the Steam Deck’s beta client, lets users queue up downloads in a low-power “display-off” mode. Once everything’s finished, the handheld automatically slips into sleep mode.
By default, the feature kicks in when your Deck is plugged in, but you can also enable it for battery use under Settings > Power. Valve even thought ahead: if you’re downloading on battery and the charge dips below 20%, the system will put itself to sleep to avoid data loss or overheating.
The update makes managing large downloads far less of a chore. Now, pressing the power button while downloading brings up a new dialogue box asking if you’d like to continue with the screen off. Choose Continue, and the Deck enters its new low-power mode.
“While in this mode, if you press a button or move the Steam Deck, a new status screen will be shown with download progress,” Valve explained in its update notes. “From here, you can fully wake Steam Deck or let it continue downloading with the screen off.”
It’s a small change, but one with a big quality-of-life impact, especially for players who don’t want to waste power just staring at a download bar. Valve originally dismissed the idea back when the Steam Deck OLED launched, citing heat and power concerns, but this new approach seems to address those issues head-on.
Early reactions from Steam Deck players have been overwhelmingly positive, with many calling it a long-overdue fix. Some said it’s less about power savings and more about avoiding OLED screen burn-in, while others simply described it as “a feature that should’ve been available way sooner.”
For now, the feature is limited to the beta and preview channels, though if Valve’s usual update cycle is any indication, it should reach the stable SteamOS branch within the next month.
In short: no more leaving your Deck glowing on the desk overnight just to finish a download. Finally.
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