To expand upon what the title says, I recently ran pacman -Syu, I was installing Emu Deck and it prompted a “sudo pacman -Syu –noconfirm”, and upon rebooting, none of the button on my deck apart from the main steam button and 3-dots button worked while in a game.
So I’m wondering if anyone knows what could be the cause of this happening. I really don’t wanna have to revert back to SteamOS as my internet situation isn’t any good to do so at the moment.
Update(-ish): I tried restoring a previous snapshot before the update to see if that would do it, but it did nothing. So it’s obviously something else, I just don’t know what.
it’s not a steam deck issue, i’m having same problem on desktop since recent update last day or two unsure when since i haven’t used it to game in a few days. i use an 8bitdo ultimate 2c wireless with 2.4ghz dongle.
you have to right click on game in library and click properties and click disable steam input on override drop down menu, then it will work again (for that one game) every other method i’ve tried doesn’t work.
edit: unfortunately this probably wont work for you on steamdeck unless you use a separate gamepad since steam controller is “enabled, always required” even when forced disabled and i’m guessing steam deck is same way? i dunno
edit2: okay i found an option that may help you
in game launch options add PROTON_PREFER_SDL=1 %command%
this also fixed it for me, without having to disable steam input
it’s still a bad fix because you have to do it for every game but at least it seems to work and should even work with steam controller/deck.
i’ve tried enable & disable steam input for generic & xbox controller, no effect
i’ve tried PROTON_NO_STEAMINPUT=1& 0 in launch options, no effect
the controller still works in cachyos game controller test, it works in steam controller test, it works to navigate in steam big picture mode, and i can turn big picture mode on/off with controller, but it does not work in any game unless i manually open properties for it and disable steam input.
hopefully this is being fixed soon ?
here is all my updates for last 2 days if that helps
[2025-09-17T05:21:42-0500] [ALPM] upgraded libnghttp2 (1.67.0-1.1 -> 1.67.1-1.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:42-0500] [ALPM] upgraded appstream (1.0.6-1.1 -> 1.1.0-1.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:42-0500] [ALPM] upgraded appstream-qt (1.0.6-1.1 -> 1.1.0-1.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:42-0500] [ALPM] upgraded eza (0.23.2-1.1 -> 0.23.3-1.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:43-0500] [ALPM] upgraded firefox (142.0.1-1.1 -> 143.0-1.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:43-0500] [ALPM] upgraded fish (4.0.2-1.1 -> 4.0.6-1.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:43-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libnghttp2 (1.67.0-1 -> 1.67.1-1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:43-0500] [ALPM] upgraded noto-fonts-emoji (1:2.048-1 -> 1:2.051-1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:43-0500] [ALPM] upgraded pinentry (1.3.2-1.1 -> 1.3.2-2.1)
[2025-09-17T05:21:43-0500] [ALPM] upgraded python-setuptools (1:80.9.0-1 -> 1:80.9.0-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:19-0500] [ALPM] upgraded expat (2.7.1-1.1 -> 2.7.2-1.1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:19-0500] [ALPM] upgraded openssl (3.5.2-1.1 -> 3.5.3-1.1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded jdk-openjdk (24.0.2.u12-2 -> 25.u36-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-expat (2.7.1-1 -> 2.7.2-1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded libnm (1.54.0-1 -> 1.54.1-1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-openssl (1:3.5.2-1 -> 1:3.5.3-1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libnm (1.54.0-1 -> 1.54.1-1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libpipewire (1:1.4.8-1 -> 1:1.4.8-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded mesa (1:25.2.2-4 -> 1:25.2.3-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-mesa (1:25.2.2-3 -> 1:25.2.3-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded opencl-mesa (1:25.2.2-4 -> 1:25.2.3-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-opencl-mesa (1:25.2.2-3 -> 1:25.2.3-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-pipewire (1:1.4.8-1 -> 1:1.4.8-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded vulkan-radeon (1:25.2.2-4 -> 1:25.2.3-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-vulkan-radeon (1:25.2.2-3 -> 1:25.2.3-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded libgexiv2 (0.14.6-1.1 -> 0.14.6-1.2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded nano-syntax-highlighting (2025.07.01.r0.g256995b-1 -> 2025.07.01.r0.g256995b-2)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded networkmanager (1.54.0-1 -> 1.54.1-1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded openssh (10.0p1-4.1 -> 10.0p1-5.1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded python-fonttools (4.59.2-1.1 -> 4.60.0-1.1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded python-pydantic-core (2:2.33.2-2.1 -> 3:2.33.2-1.1)
[2025-09-17T13:23:20-0500] [ALPM] upgraded python-pydantic (2.11.7-1 -> 2.11.9-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:36-0500] [ALPM] upgraded alsa-card-profiles (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:36-0500] [ALPM] upgraded libpipewire (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:36-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd-libs (257.9-1 -> 258-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:36-0500] [ALPM] upgraded pipewire (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:36-0500] [ALPM] upgraded pipewire-audio (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:36-0500] [ALPM] upgraded gst-plugin-pipewire (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded libtiff (4.7.0-1.1 -> 4.7.1-1.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded jdk-openjdk (25.u36-2 -> 25.u36-3)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libltdl (2.5.4+r62+g6389dce8-1 -> 2.6.0-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-libtiff (4.7.0-1 -> 4.7.1-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lib32-systemd (257.9-1 -> 258-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded lsfg-vk (1.0.0.r55.0048283-1 -> 1:1.0.0.r0.7113d7d-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:37-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd (257.9-1 -> 258-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded mkinitcpio (39.2-4 -> 39.2-6)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded ntp (4.2.8.p18-3 -> 4.2.8.p18-4)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded pavucontrol (1:6.1-1.1 -> 1:6.2-1.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded pipewire-alsa (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded pipewire-pulse (1:1.4.8-1.1 -> 1:1.4.8-2.1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd-resolvconf (257.9-1 -> 258-1)
[2025-09-18T21:45:38-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd-sysvcompat (257.9-1 -> 258-1)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded fish (4.0.6-1.1 -> 4.0.8-1.1)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded ldb (2:4.22.4-1.1 -> 2:4.23.0-2.1)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded libwbclient (2:4.22.4-1.1 -> 2:4.23.0-2.1)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd-libs (258-1 -> 258-2)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded smbclient (2:4.22.4-1.1 -> 2:4.23.0-2.1)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd (258-1 -> 258-2)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd-resolvconf (258-1 -> 258-2)
[2025-09-19T14:18:17-0500] [ALPM] upgraded systemd-sysvcompat (258-1 -> 258-2)
[2025-09-19T16:26:02-0500] [ALPM] upgraded firefox (143.0-1.1 -> 143.0.1-1.1)
[2025-09-19T16:26:02-0500] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos (6.16.7-2 -> 6.16.8-2)
[2025-09-19T16:26:03-0500] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos-headers (6.16.7-2 -> 6.16.8-2)
[2025-09-19T16:26:04-0500] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos-lts (6.12.47-2 -> 6.12.48-2)
[2025-09-19T16:26:04-0500] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos-lts-headers (6.12.47-2 -> 6.12.48-2)
Thanks for the help, but, I tried the steam input fix you mentioned and it did nothing. After looking at the controller section in the properties, the Steam Controller (what the deck itself is registered as) is always required. I’ve also yet to try the method with a controller via USB, and don’t know if I ever will, as using the deck by itself is more important to me.
To update my last response, none of that helped at all, which is unfortunate. But again, thanks for the suggestions/tips.
I posted on the official CachyOS subreddit with the same thing and told them about the tips given and how none worked, I just hope I get a response or something.
Also, I’ve been running the same install of CachyOS on my laptop for at least 5-6 months at this point and steam input works exactly as it should.
did you try the launch option?
PROTON_PREFER_SDL=1 %command%
sorry was unsure if you had tried that as well.
Yeah, I did try that. It did nothing.
I got a reply on my Reddit post saying that the core packages broke yesterday so Cachy on handhelds is is just non-functional until an update is released.
Apparently the whole thing broke due to a systemd update.
ahh that’s a bummer, very sorry hjopefully they fix it quickly.
I hope the same happens for you with a future update.
As a sidenote, the bug explains why steam input still works fine for me on my laptop running normal CachyOS but not for you as I haven’t updated my laptop in like 2 weeks.
Out of curiosity, what’s the output of
lsmod | grep uinput
Thank you!
lsmod | grep uinput
returned no output
so in konsole:
sudo nano /etc/modules-load.d/uinput.conf
hit enter then type
uinput
press
cntrl + o
then press
enter
after rebooting tested again it is running, no more per game disabling steam input or per game launch options!
OP you should try this
thank you and Reboot
Was having the same issue with my 8BitDo Pro 2 on my CachyOS install. @c_s fix worked perfect!
This seems to have been after an update, just not sure which one.