The Ultimate Guide to Connecting Steam Deck to a TV

The Steam Deck is Valve‘s handheld gaming PC that lets you play your Steam library on the go. With its powerful AMD hardware, you can play AAA games at 720p 30fps or bump up framerates on less demanding titles.

But what if you want to play your Steam Deck games on a big screen TV? The good news is that it‘s easy to connect the Steam Deck to a TV or monitor thanks to its USB-C port and docking capabilities. In this guide, I‘ll go over everything you need to know to hook up your Steam Deck to a TV and get gaming on the big screen.

What You‘ll Need

To connect the Steam Deck to a TV, you‘ll need:

– A Steam Deck
– A TV or monitor with an HDMI port
– A USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable

Alternatively, you can use the official Steam Deck Dock which includes an HDMI 2.0 port. The dock provides a more convenient and tidy solution compared to a single adapter cable.

How to Connect with a USB-C to HDMI Adapter

Connecting your Steam Deck to a TV is super simple:

1. Acquire a USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable. These can be purchased for $10-15 from retailers like Amazon. Make sure it explicitly supports video out capabilities.

2. Plug the adapter into the Steam Deck‘s USB-C port located on the top edge.

3. Connect the HDMI end of the adapter to an available HDMI port on your TV.

4. Turn on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input.

5. Boot up the Steam Deck and you should now see the SteamOS interface on your TV.

6. Launch any game and it will display on your TV, while the Steam Deck becomes a controller.

It‘s that easy! The Steam Deck automatically routes its video output to HDMI when connected. The USB-C port delivers both power and video to the attached display.

One thing to note is that the Steam Deck cannot charge while using a USB-C to HDMI adapter since the port is occupied. You‘ll need to keep an eye on the battery level when gaming on a TV.

Using the Official Steam Deck Dock

For a more permanent and convenient solution, consider picking up Valve‘s official Steam Deck Dock.

The dock includes the following ports:

– HDMI 2.0
– DisplayPort 1.4
– 3x USB 3.1 ports
– Ethernet
– USB-C power delivery

To use the dock:

1. Connect the dock power supply and an HDMI cable from the dock to your TV.

2. Insert the Steam Deck into the dock. It may take a few seconds for the external display to activate.

3. On your TV, switch to the HDMI input the dock is connected to.

4. The SteamOS interface will now display on your TV. Launch any game to play it on the big screen.

The main benefits of the dock are that it charges your Steam Deck while playing on TV, provides additional USB ports, and gives a cleaner overall setup. The official dock costs $89 directly from Valve.

Enabling Controller Mode

When connected to a TV, the Steam Deck will automatically enter a controller mode, allowing you to control gameplay using the built-in controls. This means the Steam Deck‘s screen turns off and all input is handled through the controllers.

If for some reason the controller mode does not activate:

1. Press the Steam button to open the Quick Access Menu

2. Select the Controller icon in the bottom right

3. Choose "Switch to Controller Mode"

This will force your Steam Deck to enter the dedicated controller interface needed for TV gaming.

Adjusting Resolution and Refresh Rate

The Steam Deck will automatically set resolution and refresh rate based on the capabilities of your TV. But you can further customize these settings:

1. From the Quick Access Menu, go to the Settings tab

2. Select "Display"

3. Here you can change the resolution and refresh rate if needed.

The Steam Deck supports up to 4K 60Hz or 1080p 120Hz output when docked. Make sure to set a resolution and refresh rate your TV supports. Higher resolutions like 4K will tax the Steam Deck‘s hardware more.

For most TV gaming, aim for 1080p 60Hz as a sweet spot between performance and visuals.

USB Devices and Bluetooth

When playing games on your TV with the Steam Deck docked, you may want to connect additional input devices:

– For wireless devices, enable Bluetooth on your Steam Deck from the Quick Settings menu. You can then pair Bluetooth gamepads, keyboards, mice, and headsets.

– For wired devices, plug them into the USB ports on the official dock. This allows wired controllers, keyboards, mice, headsets and more.

Using external input devices makes controlling games on a TV much easier. The Steam Deck‘s built-in controls work fine when mobile, but are less suited for big screen gaming sessions.

Steam Link and Remote Play

If you want to play games from your main PC on your TV using the Steam Deck, this is also possible thanks to Steam remote play streaming.

To set this up:

1. On your gaming PC, enable remote play in Steam‘s settings and ensure your PC and Steam Deck are on the same network.

2. On your Steam Deck, select "Remote Play" from the Steam menu.

3. Choose your gaming PC from the list of available devices.

4. Your PC‘s Steam interface will now stream to the Steam Deck. Launch any game and it will begin streaming over your home network.

5. For the best experience, connect your gaming PC via Ethernet and play in the same room as your router.

This allows you to conveniently access your entire Steam library from the Steam Deck. You can play games your main PC could handle but the Steam Deck itself might struggle with.

Game Recommendations for TV Play

Here are some great Steam games to try out on your TV once you‘ve hooked up your Steam Deck:

– Elden Ring – This expansive action RPG looks fantastic on a big screen.
– God of War – Crank up the visuals with this cinematic adventure.
– Forza Horizon 5 – This gorgeous racer is perfect for TV gaming.
– Death Stranding – Experience the epic storytelling on display.
– Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla – The Viking era comes alive in beautiful detail.

Any of your existing Steam games will work well on a TV thanks to the Steam Deck‘s docking capabilities. Go through your library and try out current and older titles to relive them on the big screen.

Conclusion

The Steam Deck opens up handheld gaming to your entire Steam library. And connecting it to your TV is a breeze whether you use a simple USB-C adapter or the official dock. With just a few steps, you can play your favorite Steam games on the couch on a giant display for that true big screen gaming experience.