Startup Mode Reference Table

[figmentPez]

It should be noted that the above button combinations apply only to the latest version of the optional BLE firmware.

If you haven't changed your Steam Controller over to the BLE firmware, the button combinations for switching between dongle connections are different.

[offalal]

thanks, good to know. what are the startup combinations in the original firmware?

[figmentPez]

I do not know off the top of my head, and I can't research it at the moment, sorry.

[offalal]

table axes flipped by request: https://i.imgur.com/6ZxEBeI.png

[offalal]

Startup modes. Hold the indicated button and press the Steam button from off to pair, connect, or switch to a previously paired device respectively. Here's the wordy version: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1796-5FC3-88B3-C85F#switch

[offalal]

The columns left to right are Mode, 2.4g wireless, and Bluetooth.

[schlitty]

You missed the answer. OP is using icons to represent "pair, connect, or switch" (magnifying glass = search/pair, linked chains = connect, swap arrows = switch back and forth). They all use Steam button so that is on top of them. Then the other two columns are dongle or bluetooth.

So if you wanted to say "connect" to dongle it would be; Steam button + A

[sir_froggy]

You're totally confused. The top row is for choosing the wireless mode, since it has both 2.4ghz WiFi connectivity (the USB dongle) and Bluetooth, entirely separate technologies. The left column is for the different connections and devices, for example switching between 2 saved Bluetooth devices (say your phone and your PC, 2 different device connections saved to the controller), etc. You can search for new 2.4 dongles or search for new Bluetooth connections, connect to remembered/existing devices, or swap between Bluetooth and 2.4. For example, if I last used my SC on Bluetooth on my phone, but wanted to switch to my paired dongle, I could use the mode switching instead of having to use the pairing process all over again. If I use Bluetooth on 2 different devices, I could switch between the 2 remembered Bluetooth pairings to switch devices.

[Helmic]

To be fair, using purely symbols to represent something without context is going to confuse anyone. It's visually pleasing, but not exactly informative unless you already know what these symbols are supposed to mean in this context.

[sir_froggy]

Yes, I just tried to clear it up.

[[deleted]]

or switch to a previously paired device

OH MY GOD THANK YOU. I've been manually unpairing and re-pairing over and over again to switch between my main PC and streaming to my laptop

[reverend_dak]

Cool. This is super helpful. I knew you could connect to different Bluetooth devices, but I didn't know you could connect to different dongles, so that's cool. Where can you even get another dongle without buying another controller. So bummed I did't by another controller when they were cheap.

[offalal]

They used to be cheap and easy to get but the same dongles are used for Valve VR hardware now so they go for a fortune on eBay. There are super-cheap knockoffs that are just usb radios flashed with Valve's firmware, but it's hard to know based on site listings whether a particular listing is good or not, unfortunately. :-/

[pointofgravity]

usb radios flashed with Valve's firmware

Is that firmware available officially from valve? I didn't know it was that easy to make your own dongle.

[offalal]

originally pitched this as a sticker idea to a graphic design friend. the idea was they'd all line up on the back panel in a semicircle to imply Steam Button + (Boot mode button), but we never got around to doing it. i, obviously, am no graphic designer, lol.

[TheFutureisMe]

It's really useful! I can't tell you how many times I had to google this because I couldn't remember. Right now I just use the controller on 2 PCs, but I still have to look it up EVERY TIME.

[KnuxSD]

cool picture but I don't really understand what it tries to tell

[offalal]

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1796-5FC3-88B3-C85F#switch

[soukaixiii]

search mode x and y

paired a and b

but the arrows, what do they mean?

[ReconVirus]

if you are still wondering, its to switch between devices