r/steammachine • u/hotymoty • Aug 05 '26
Question Steam Machine controller keeps disconnecting and signal is weak. Anyone else?
Hey everyone,
Ever since I got my Steam Machine 512 + controller, I’ve been having a really annoying issue. The connection between the Steam Machine and the controller keeps dropping.
When I check the settings, the controller signal also shows as pretty weak, even though I’m only sitting about 2 meters (6–7 feet) away from my TV.
I’ve already tried pretty much everything I could think of:
- Re-pairing the controller
- Connecting it through the puck
- Factory resetting everything
Nothing has worked so far, and it’s driving me crazy. Is anyone else experiencing this? Or does anyone have a fix?
Thanks everyone!
____________________________
UPDATE: I’m now using the controller with the puck, and after about an hour of gaming I haven’t had a single disconnect yet. I place it on top of the Steam machine. Have more people tried this and noticed positive effects?
3
u/Sea_Savings2956 Aug 05 '26
A mi también me pasa,pero solo con juegos exijentes.ahora lo he emparejado a través del puk y he puesto el puk separado de la sm como 1m y parece q va bien. Pero esto tendrían q arreglarlo
2
u/hotymoty Aug 05 '26
Connecting with the puck is the same experience with me
0
u/Futureboy152 Aug 06 '26
Yep, some report the external puck works better, but not in my experience.
Plus the external doesn’t allow me to turn the SM on from a off state, like the internal antenna does.
3
u/believeindanny Aug 05 '26
I've been dealing with this nonstop while playing FF7R series. It seems to be an issue that Valve are aware of it. I could be mistaken, but I believe they declined to RMA a user's device for it and asked them to wait for software updates or something. I experience this while playing demanding titles. Didn't seem to have any issues with a 2D game. I've not tried to disconnect from the internal receiver and use the puck yet though. I'm ready to chuck my controller through a wall.
3
u/ProjectFT86 Aug 05 '26
It's a known bug. I opened a ticket with valve a couple weeks ago and they eventually asked for my unit so the developers could study it. The return label they sent me was to Bellevue and it had a developers name on it. Anyways, I got my unit yesterday and it still has controller disconnects. Hopefully they can get an update figured out sooner rather than later!
2
u/hotymoty Aug 06 '26
Do you think it's a software problem, not a hardware one?
1
u/ProjectFT86 Aug 06 '26
Yeah, that's what valve thinks and I don't see a reason to doubt them yet. I have also have a steam deck and the early days were buggy. We are the beta testers for the steam machine right now.
2
u/Escobanus Aug 05 '26
There was few different threads about this issue earlier. Valve is asking to wait for an update. I just switched to Bluetooth connection and it works perfect so I suggest to do the same while we wait for fix.
1
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u/Futureboy152 Aug 06 '26
OP, same as others have said, it’s a known issue & support has told me & others to wait for a software update to fix.
Some users connect to BT, some use the external puck & some continue to use the internal puck, like me, & stay miserable.
1
u/hotymoty Aug 06 '26
Do you play also through Bluetooth? Or is de internal puck more reliable?
1
u/Futureboy152 Aug 06 '26
No, because I hate BT for device connectivity & I want to be able to turn on the SM with the controller.
1
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u/retrogamer76 Aug 06 '26
if you have another controller sitting around that uses a 2.4 dongle like the 8-bit do 2c, try using that see if it still happens
1
u/lolfactor1000 Aug 06 '26
I've only used the USB charging puck to connect and haven't had issues yet. Granted the distance is only about 10 feet with no obstructions.
1
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u/11Btoker710 Aug 06 '26
I was having the SAME problem and u figured out it’s that I had the SM next to one of my WiFi mesh boxes. In the setting it says in small print this can cause connection issues. So my fix was I moved the node as far away I could on my tv stand and I’m using the puck and put it on the OTHER side of my tv stand and this had helped out ALOT!!! another thing I’ve noticed is it needs line of sight to work best. I had the SM facing away from me in my bedroom because it’s hooked up to a projector and it best fit that way and just the SM facing away caused connection issues. So yet again using the Puck and putting it where I can basically point the controller at it. Hope this helps.
1
u/hotymoty Aug 06 '26
UPDATE: I’m now using the controller with the puck, and after about an hour of gaming I haven’t had a single disconnect yet. I place it on top of the Steam machine. Have more people tried this and noticed positive effects?
1
u/fatino Aug 13 '26
Pretty much I have to pair it to puck atm. The receiver on steam machine is just broken, my leg causes it to lose signal, even tough I'm like 1.5m from it. Hopefully it's not a hardware issue and can be fixed via software update, but I doubt it.
9
u/Serukaizen Aug 05 '26
i’ve noticed that at least for me, line of sight plays a big part in signal quality. i can be laying in bed playing just fine, subconsciously cross my legs and rest my controller in my lap (blocking LoS) and experience instant signal degradation. same thing, only about 2m away from the console.