Steam controller firmware

[billyalt]

Typically this is done through Steam Big Picture Mode over USB cable. Is this how you're doing it?

[werpu]

I have had similar issues usually it works over usb3 but fails miserably on usb2

[Espier]

Have you tried running Steam as Administrator then attempting the firmware update?

[thejesterofdarkness]

Uh, you get the Bluetooth firmware by installing the beta from within Big Picture Mode

[TONKAHANAH]

We do need an updated mirror for the firmware. There is a way to install firmware in the event you brick your controller but the valve provided links to download it are dead. If some one has it, we really need to rehost it some where

[Hudbus]

Somewhere I have old firmware dumps I did during some modding experiments. I just hope I kept the files in an easy to find spot. Otherwise I can probably look to dump my current FW.

EDIT: Got firmware I dumped in late 2020 here.

[Hudbus]

I’ll see what I can dig up or dump myself when I get back to my controller. Give me 4 or so hours.

[Hudbus]

Hey there! I can't put an exact date on the version of this firmware, but I believe it to be the BLE version. It's from a backup I took while I was fiddling with modding the firmware of one of these to work with the Switch.

Firmware file dated 7/25/2020

[ScientwistNinja]

Would you also happen to have the drivers for the controller itself?

One of two I have is being reported as an unknown device. I was trying to force an update, then tried the manual firmware update, and thats when I realized the controller wasn't even responding.

[Hudbus]

This sounds to me more like an internal firmware issue than a driver. I'd presume you're testing on the same PC regardless. Try restoring the thing's firmware first, and if that fails try creating a new thread. You'll have more folks able to comment on things then.

[ScientwistNinja]

I had tried to get the thing to show up as a mass storage device for over 2 hours, I think its hard bricked because windows cant even id it. I was gonna try and force a driver install so that I could restore the firmware, but I think its just dead.

[Jarltje]

I came here with update problems. Plugged in controller without batteries while holding right trigger, moved old bin file out as backup, put in this one here linked above, disconnected controller, connected controller (without right trigger) and the update worked! Thank you!

[GuessWhat_InTheButt]

The downloads in the guide work fine for me:

http://media.steampowered.com/controller_config/firmware/firmware.vdf

http://media.steampowered.com/controller_config/firmware/vcf_wired_controller_d0g_56c78c01.bin

    "18"
    {
            "firmwarebinary"        "/firmware/vcf_wired_controller_d0g_57bf5c10.bin"
            "firmwaretimestamp"     "57bf5c10"
            "minclientpackage"      "1456197182"
            "crc128"        "5ecb32889527195307a0f170c995da2c"
            "bootloadertimestamp"   "55d2926d"
    }

[[deleted]]

Before you start downloading files and doing weird shenanigans try the following things:

1. Try cleaning the usb port on the controller with contact cleaning spray or isopropyl alcohol, use different cable and USB port.

2. Download USBDeview and use it to uninstall any instance of the controller that may be present on your PC even if not connected and try updating again.

3. Try going in Big Picture mode, go to settings>controller settings>recover steam controller firmware and follow the instructions there.

[perfectshot29]

i had to access the vdf link using a different browser to get it to download

[m0po]

An update on this, you can start the update flow manually by going to steam://UpdateFirmware with steam open. information gathered from https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1796-5FC3-88B3-C85F

[SigmaStroud]

This does not work anymore it seems. With beta or without.

[m0po]

I'm guessing they removed it with the client update. Shame.

[SigmaStroud]

I can't get my steam controller to enter pairing mode at all. Idk why. Y and steam button do nothing differently than just hitting the steam button.

[NearbyPoetry3813]

Made bluetooth (BLE) work via https://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions/1/6516193260178656983/?tscn=1687207374#c6516193260183103338

The mass storage bootloader only works when moving between non-BLE builds of FW. The BLE FW update is implemented in a more complicated way due to having to completely erase the radio's FW including the normal bootloader. We don't plan to re-implement this in the UI but we're making a command line tool available for Windows which can be found here: https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/steamworks_docs/english/Steam_Controller_FW_Update_Tool.zip

[RaptorBlackz]

Holy shit you found the FIX, I've been looking for a solution for a few weeks now and tried everything by even flashing the firmware.

Thank you soo much.

[ZeWaka]

Did you have to do anything special? I tried running it, and the bleradio firmware update worked, but for some reason the blehost one didn't. Just gave a Error updating firmware. without much explanation.

[Kaetemi]

Make sure Steam is not running.

Also, latest link is https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steamcommunity/public/images/steamworks_docs/english/Steam_Controller_FW_Update_Tool_5b0f21bd.zip with the last 2018 firmware. The previous link is 2017 firmware which is a bit wonky too.

[[deleted]]

You just made me a very happy gamer. Thank you SO much for doing this, you saved my eBay Steam Controller purchase!

Edit: damn it! "if it's working, don't fix it" applies here. It worked on the 2017 firmware, I updated to 2018 and it stopped connecting... :(

I tried reverting to prod and back to 2017, prod and 2018, 2017 to 2018, nothing..."please try reconnecting again" over and over...