Big-Screen Gaming: How to Connect Your Steam Deck to a TV or Monitor

Thanks to the many docking stations that came along shortly after the handheld PC was released, connecting your Steam Deck to a TV or monitor has never been easier. You can play on a big screen with a wired or wireless controller, or turn your Steam Deck into a workstation. Even better, some of these tiny docks, like the popular Jsaux Upgraded Docking Station ($49.99) or the official Valve Steam Docking Station ($89), accept firmware updates so you can enjoy a streamlined, big-screen experience. They’re must-have devices if you don’t want to work or play with the Steam Deck’s 7-inch display.

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Most Steam Deck Docks have similar features, although some of the more expensive versions come with a few extras. They all have a USB-C port to accept a charger, an HDMI port to connect to a display, and a USB-C dongle to connect to the Steam Deck. Most also come with additional USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports. Your HDMI connection may vary, with some being specified as HDMI 1.4 (4K@30Hz) or HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz).

Ethernet ports also vary by manufacturer, although this is common on many docks. However, keep in mind that the Steam Deck and its many docks are all fairly new, so there are still some display-related bugs to be fixed.

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How to connect your Steam deck to a dock

(Image credit: PCMag)

Luckily, connecting a Steam deck to a dock is a fairly plug-and-play affair. Minimal fiddling is required once you’ve plugged in your desired cables where they need to be. Here’s how to do it.

• Connect an HDMI cable from your dock to the monitor or TV.

• Plug the USB-C charger into a power source and into the rear USB-C port of the docking station. You want to use the USB-C charger that came with your Steam Deck unless the manufacturer states otherwise. Note that Valve’s official docking station comes with its own USB-C charger.

• Place the Steam Deck on the dock and connect the USB-C dongle to the port on top of the Steam Deck.

At this point you should be ready. Switch your monitor or TV input, give the display about 10 seconds to recognize the signal, and enjoy the Steam Deck feed on the large display.

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How to set up dual monitor support for your Steam Deck Dock

If you want to run a dual-display setup with your dock, you’ll need to switch the Steam Deck to desktop mode. We strongly recommend connecting a keyboard and mouse for PC-like navigation. It makes setting up dual screens much easier. Here’s how to do it.

• Connect your monitors to your Steam Deck Dock.

• Press the Steam deck’s physical Steam button or the Steam button icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.

• Click Performance.

• Select Switch to desktop. From here, you’ll need to navigate using the touchscreen or a connected mouse.

• Click the white KDE icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.

• Choose System Settings.

• Choose Display Settings.

• Scroll down and select the screen display setting that is appropriate for your setup.

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Troubleshooting and updating a Steam deck dock

Despite the relatively smooth setup, it’s entirely possible that your TV won’t detect or display a signal. If your setup isn’t showing correctly, your dock may need a firmware update.

Several docks have hardware that can be improved with firmware updates. Valve’s docking station accepts firmware updates directly through Steam Deck. Others must be connected to a computer to receive updates. For example, Jsaux’s various Steam Deck Docks can be connected to a Windows PC via USB-C for firmware updates. In this particular example, the update improves compatibility with certain LG TVs. You can read more about it here(Opens in a new window).

If your device is up to date but you’re still having signal issues, try toggling between sleep modes once or twice to clear things up. The steam deck has an odd quirk that messes up the on-screen display when docking. If the TV or monitor isn’t displaying properly after about 10 seconds, try this simple trick to get the picture working.

• With the Steam Deck connected to the dock, put the system to sleep by tapping the power button.

• Once the system is in sleep mode (give it a few seconds), tap the button again to wake it up. Wait 10 seconds to see if the display is receiving a signal.

• If your TV shows no signal, repeat the previous two steps.

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More Steam Deck Stories

Valve’s Steam Deck is a beauty capable of intriguing even the most jaded of gamers. Keep your deck in pristine condition by staying up to date with firmware updates. To get even more out of your Steam Deck, check out our ever-growing list of Steam Deck Verified games.