Are you excited about the release of the highly anticipated Steam Deck, but facing a problem where it won’t turn on? Don’t worry, you are not alone. The new handheld gaming device by Valve has already faced its fair share of issues, with one of the most reported ones being the inability to turn it on.
If you’re facing this issue, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss 11 fixes that you can try right now if your Steam Deck won’t turn on. But first, let’s understand what could be causing this problem.
Possible Reasons Why Your Steam Deck Won’t Turn On
Before diving into the solutions, it is important to understand the possible reasons why your Steam Deck may not be turning on. Knowing the root cause can help you troubleshoot more effectively and save you time and effort.
- Dead Battery: This is probably the most common reason why your Steam Deck won’t turn on. If your battery is completely drained, it won’t have enough power to boot up the device.
- Software Glitches: Another possibility could be software glitches or bugs that are preventing the device from turning on. This could happen due to incomplete updates, corrupted files, or other technical issues.
- Faulty Power Button: If the power button on your Steam Deck is faulty or damaged, it won’t be able to send the signal to the device to turn on.
- Hardware Issues: There could also be a hardware malfunction or defect that is preventing your Steam Deck from turning on. This could include problems with the display, motherboard, or any other internal components.
Now that we have an idea of what could be causing the problem, let’s move on to the solutions.
Charge Your Steam Deck for At Least 30 Minutes
The first thing you should do if your Steam Deck won’t turn on is to charge it for at least 30 minutes. As mentioned earlier, this could be due to a dead battery and charging it may solve the issue. Make sure to use the official charging cable that came with the device and plug it into a power outlet or a USB port on your computer.
If after 30 minutes of charging, your Steam Deck still won’t turn on, try the next fix.
Perform a Hard Reset
Performing a hard reset can help resolve any software glitches or bugs that may be preventing your Steam Deck from turning on. To do this, follow these steps:
Press and Hold the Power Button
Press and hold the power button on your Steam Deck for at least 15 seconds. This will force the device to shut down.
Wait for a Few Seconds
Release the power button and wait for a few seconds before moving on to the next step.
Press the Power Button Again
Press and hold the power button again for at least 5 seconds, and your Steam Deck should turn on as usual.
If this doesn’t work, try the next fix.
Update Your Steam Deck’s Firmware
Updating your Steam Deck’s firmware can help fix any underlying software issues that may be causing it not to turn on. To update the firmware, follow these steps:
Connect to Wi-Fi
Make sure your Steam Deck is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
Go to Settings
Navigate to Settings > System > System Update.
Check for Updates
Click on Check for Updates and follow the prompts to install the latest firmware.
Once the update is complete, try turning on your device again. If it still won’t turn on, try the next fix.
Perform a Factory Reset
Performing a factory reset can help resolve any major software issues that may be causing your Steam Deck not to turn on. However, keep in mind that this will erase all data and settings on your device, so make sure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.
To perform a factory reset, follow these steps:
Go to Settings
Navigate to Settings > System > System Information.
Select Factory Reset
Scroll down and click on Select Factory Reset.
Confirm the Reset
Confirm the reset by clicking on Yes when prompted.
Once the reset is complete, try turning on your Steam Deck again. If it still won’t turn on, try the next fix.
Check for Loose Connections
If none of the above fixes work, there could be a problem with the hardware of your Steam Deck. Check for any loose connections or damaged components, such as the display or motherboard. You can also try disconnecting and reconnecting the battery to see if that helps.
If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, it’s best to take your device to a professional for repair.
Contact Steam Support
If you’ve tried all the above fixes and your Steam Deck still won’t turn on, the last resort would be to contact Steam support. They will be able to provide you with further assistance and possibly even replace your device if it’s under warranty.
Keep in mind that contacting support may take some time, so it’s best to exhaust all possible fixes before reaching out to them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there could be various reasons why your Steam Deck may not be turning on. These include a dead battery, software glitches, faulty hardware, or other technical issues. We hope the above solutions were able to help you fix the problem and get your device up and running again. Remember to always use official accessories and firmware updates to avoid any potential issues with your Steam Deck in the future.
