Steam Deck · Devices

Remap buttons, gyro, and trackpads with Steam Input

Steam Input is the layer that lets you remap the Deck's built-in controls per game, create custom layouts, and enable extras like gyro aiming or trackpad-as-mouse — without the game itself needing native support.

What you should know

  • In-game, press ... (Quick Access) and select the controller (gear) icon tab to open the current layout's Configuration.
  • Browse Templates or Community Layouts for a game to apply a ready-made mapping instead of building one from scratch.
  • Edit Layout lets you remap any button, stick, trackpad, or back grip individually, including action-set switching for context-specific bindings.
  • Gyro behavior (always-on, as-mouse-while-touching-trackpad, etc.) and stick/trackpad sensitivity curves are set per layout under the same Configuration screen.
  • Global controller behavior, such as swapping A/B or disabling Steam Input entirely for a specific game, is under STEAM button > Settings > Controller.

Why it matters

Many PC games were never designed for a handheld's control layout, and Steam Input is what makes them playable at all on Deck — a bad or default mapping is one of the top reasons a game feels unplayable even when performance is fine.

Best practices

  • Try a highly-rated Community Layout before building a custom one — most popular games already have a well-tuned option.
  • Save custom layouts with a clear name so they're easy to find again after tweaking multiple versions.
  • Use action sets to give menus and gameplay different bindings instead of compromising on one universal layout.

Common problems and fixes

A game ignores Steam Input remaps entirely
Confirm Steam Input is set to 'Enable' (not 'Forced Off') for that title in Settings > Controller > Desktop Layout/Per-Game settings, then relaunch the game.
Trackpad or gyro feels too sensitive or jittery
Lower the sensitivity multiplier and increase the smoothing curve in the layout's trackpad/gyro settings rather than disabling them outright.

Tips and tricks

  • Hold the QAM (...) button and press a face button to quickly reassign it on the fly without opening the full configuration screen.

Frequently asked questions

Does Steam Input work with games that have native gamepad support?

Yes — you can leave native support active and only override specific bindings, or force Steam Input on for extras like gyro that the game doesn't natively support.