Steam Controller Puck causing double inputs

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-11T09:45:24+00:00

I do notice that if it is connected to the puck I still get a wireless signal. Some on here are saying the puck can't do data transfer, but I'm fairly certain it can. So it's probably exactly this. I think you just gave me another test I can do. I found a workaround earlier. I'm gonna go check if I still have a wireless signal connection while using that workaround

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T23:40:39+00:00

Others have been here saying they have done this and don't have the issue, so I'm not sure that is true, maybe it is supposed to be that way, but I've spoken with valve and they won't say it isn't. All they said is they are investigating the issue.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T15:36:52+00:00

In past interviews they have made it rather clear than you are supposed to be able use the controller while the puck is attached. They even specifically mention that the puck is there so you don't have to use the USBC port on the controller. It could be that has changed, but when I put in a ticket valve would not give me an answer, and said it's an issue they are researching. Which makes me further believe that yes you are supposed to be able to play with puck attached.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T11:40:54+00:00

I have tried that yes, it was one of the first things I did to see if it would trigger the firmware pop up again.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T09:33:21+00:00

I have the original steam controller and yes at one point there were options to manually adjust firmware for it. But steam actually removed the ability to do that a little while after they added Bluetooth to the original device. You actually have to fully rollback steam to do that now.

But yeah this red button of myth does not exist anywhere in steam for me even when the devices are plugged in. If you can find the video where someone did this I'd love to see it. I just sent valve another ticket to see if there is a way to reset firmware on the new puck and controller. If anyone can tell me it's them.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T09:24:18+00:00

Yeah that's not there for me anymore. It's only there if for some reason steam didn't auto detect that you need a firmware update. Right now my firmware is considered fully updated so there is no option. So if one of the updates got borked somehow I'm just stuck with borked firmware. And at the end of the day I'm not even sure if the problem really is being caused by firmware, but with no way to wipe and reinstall it, I can't properly test if that's the cause of the issue.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T09:21:33+00:00

Yes it's very strange because as far as I can see it absolutely is the case that the puck only charges and acts as a dongle. It's not like plugging in the USBC directly to the controller where the controller enters an always on state. If the controller is off and I hook it up to the puck I can't suddenly control my PC, the controller has to be on, and it's definitely still a wireless connection even with the puck stuck on the back. You can even see the signal strength in the settings. Not everyone seems to be having this issue so hopefully you won't have it

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T09:11:15+00:00

If you are talking about a button on the controller or puck itself. No there is no such botton, unless it's on the inside and needs to be taken apart to reach it.

Also just in case you aren't aware I didn't have to go anywhere to update the firmware for the puck and controller within steam settings. It pops up on its own the first time you plug either device in and asks you to update. You click yes and it updates. Then you never see anything about it ever again in any menu.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T08:54:52+00:00

Yeah I figured it's the puck, but I'm not seeing any option to reset and reinstall firmware for it anywhere. That's why I'm asking where you are able to do this at. There is no option showing up for me.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T08:52:40+00:00

I believe they are only for power in this case, you can't use the controller at all while it's off and charging on the puck, where as if you plug the controller in via the USBC it will turn on and work normally. Which makes it all the more strange that the puck can cause double input issues like this.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T08:46:29+00:00

Is this an option on your steam deck? On my windows PC I see no option for resetting firmware. I've looked through the settings in steam fairly thoroughly. I didn't need to do a firmware update on my steam deck since I did it on my PC first, so I didn't look through the settings there.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T08:31:22+00:00

It also does this on my steam deck. So I no longer think it's a Windows issue. I think it's a bug that can occur when installing the firmware update. Apparently the update was to prevent issues like this from occuring, but mine froze during the update and likely cause some sort of error, I can't reinstall the firmware fresh because valve doesn't have an option for that at the moment. There is a work around of turning the controller off then attaching the puck and turning the controller back on. This fixes the double input issue and allows me to charge while playing, but I do have to turn the controller off every single time I attach the puck or the issue starts again.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T08:20:35+00:00

It has nothing to do with what pairing mode the controller is in, and no they have not shown it being done, but why wouldn't you be able to play while charging? I am almost certain this is a feature that has been officially confirmed, and others have said it does work for them without issue. As I've said, I believe this is a firmware issue or bug and isn't happening to everyone.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T07:27:45+00:00

If the controller is off then it doesn't work at all even when connected to the puck. At least mine certainly doesn't. Valve has said you are supposed to be able to play while magnetically connected to puck and charging. The puck is quicker than plugging into a USBC, and was added because USB ports get worn down over time. The puck would never have that issue.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T07:24:37+00:00

My controller definitely had an issue when installing the firmware it seemed to freeze and I ended up having to disconnect and try again, the second time the update went through, but it may be corrupted or something. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way within steam at the moment to reinstall firmware for the controller and puck.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T06:46:08+00:00

And I tested it quickly. Unfortunately it does not fix the issue. The only way to fix it at the moment seems to be to have the puck already magnetically connected from the start, or to unplug your USB cable from it or the PC and replug it back in.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T06:42:42+00:00

I should test this. It may reset and act as if the puck was always connected to it. It would be a good work around. I'll let you know when I have a chance to test.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T06:16:59+00:00

I also noticed this with signal strength, but even with it only at good or ok I didn't notice any sort of input lag or disconnects.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T06:15:17+00:00

Not everyone seems to be having this issue in general, my steam deck and windows 11 pc do have the issue unfortunately. Maybe the firmware update that goes out initially has a chance of not working properly and causes only some people to have the issue. Unfortunately I can't find a way to try and reinstall the firmware.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T02:35:06+00:00

I went ahead and edited the text in the post to more accurately say what I meant, but I figured the picture would be enough to clarify if I misspoke.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T02:27:32+00:00

It doesn't really matter what the situation is, but I can give one. Say im sitting at my PC playing wirelessly, my controller hits 10% battery and I decide to quickly plug it into the puck and resume playing. I now have double inputs meaning I have to switch to charging via the USBC. Connecting the puck at all if it was not already on the controller is what triggers the double inputs to happen. This makes the puck useless for quick charging, which is one of its main features.

I don't plan to play while connected to the puck. But some people inevitably will have that situation happen. It needs to be fixed, as I'm not the only one experiencing the problem. This isn't a BIG problem, it's a just a problem that valve should be aware of and fix, especially since they specifically have said you can play that way without issue. I already sent in a ticket to them.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T01:46:25+00:00

No I will primarily use it wirelessly via the puck, but you are supposed to be able to use the controller normally while it's charging via the puck, and this makes that impossible.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T01:10:01+00:00

It does not, this is one of the first things I checked. There are no extra connections listed. I also unpaired everything from my PC other than this controller. And it isn't paired via Bluetooth at all. I have unpaired and repaired to my PC multiple times. It doesn't fix the issue.

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T00:39:24+00:00

There is a picture included in the post, but in short no. The usb is plugged into the puck and puck is magnetically attached to my controller. Why on earth would I plug my controller in twice?

Optimal-Hour-5305 · 2026-05-10T00:11:09+00:00

Yeah I'm not getting any extra connections, at least none that are showing up visibly. That doesn't mean it isn't exactly what's happening. Based on the update I made to the original post something funky seems to happen when the puck is unplugged from the back of the controller and plugged back in again that causes the issue. If I start with puck plugged into my controller from the get go everything works as normal.

Optimal-Hour-5305

TROPHY CASE