Why Can’t I Use My Controller While My Keyboard Is Connected on Steam?

Alright, so you’ve got Steam open, your trusty controller hooked up, and you find out it’s not working because of that pesky keyboard. It’s pretty common, actually. There are a bunch of reasons why this might be happening, mostly around how Steam or the game itself decides which device to pay attention to first. But don’t worry, I’m going to walk you through how you can fix it.

Input Prioritization—What’s That About?

Steam lets you connect all kinds of devices, right? You’ve got your keyboard and controller both plugged in, but sometimes games or system settings just want to focus on one of them. Usually, the game says, ‘Hey, I see you’ve got a keyboard,’ especially if you pounded a key first, and then your controller is left wondering why it’s not invited to the party.

What’s Messing With Your Controller?

• Input Device Detection: Some games have this knack for acknowledging only one gadget at a time. So, if they spot your keyboard first or you’ve been using it, that controller may just be gathering digital dust.
• Steam’s Own Thing—Steam Input: Steam has a little system to manage inputs, and sometimes it doesn’t play nicely with the game’s built-in controller support.
• Game Settings Going Rogue: Sometimes games have their own input settings that can mess things up by deciding which device should get the focus.

Get Your Controller Back in Action!

To make your controller work while your keyboard is connected on Steam, try these suggestions:

1. Reconnect That Controller

• Unplug it, then plug it back in. This usually nudges Steam to recognize it properly.
• Give it a go on different USB ports if it’s wired.

2. Give Steam a Quick Restart

• Close it down completely and fire it back up. It’s amazing how often this simple step solves minor gremlins in the system.

3. Dive into Game Settings

• Open your game and dig around in the settings. Find anything related to input devices or controls.
• If there’s an option, make sure ‘Controller’ is ticked off as your main squeeze.

4. Roll with Big Picture Mode

Big Picture Mode is Steam’s way of saying, ‘Hey controller, you’re special!’ Here’s how:

• Hit the Big Picture Mode icon in Steam.
• Head over to “Settings” > “Controller Settings.”
• Check to see your controller is listed under “Detected Controllers.”
• Tweak any settings that prioritize your controller over the other gadgets.

5. Turn Off Steam Input for Specific Titles

If it’s still acting up, here’s what you do with specific games:

• Right-click the game in your library.
• Select “Properties,” then mosey over to the “Controller” tab.
• Pick “Disable Steam Input” from the dropdown for that game. This tip lets the game itself handle the controller stuff instead of Steam.

6. Update Controller Drivers

Sometimes outdated drivers pull a fast one on you:

• Go into your Device Manager on Windows.
• Find your controller, right-click it, and hit “Update Driver.”
• Follow the prompts or pop over to the manufacturer’s site for manual updates.

7. Run a Test with Another Game

Check if it’s a game-specific hitch:

• Launch a different game that plays nice with both keyboards and controllers.
• See if your controller works while you’re using a keyboard in that game.

8. Freshen Up or Reinstall Steam

If you’re still left scratching your head:

• Make sure Steam itself is up-to-date by checking for client updates.
• If all else fails, consider uninstalling and reinstalling Steam—not your games, don’t worry—but it might smooth over any software shenanigans.

Bottom line? Your controller not wanting to play nice while the keyboard is connected on Steam usually boils down to input prioritization battles. Try the steps above—unplug and reconnect stuff, fiddle with game and Steam settings, and keep those drivers updated—and you should be back to gaming bliss with keyboard and controller living in harmony.

Alright, so you’re gaming on Steam, loving life, and out of nowhere, your controller just decides to ignore you while the keyboard’s plugged in. Total buzzkill, right? Don’t sweat it—I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to help you sort this out.

First up, give the Steam Input settings a once-over. Fire up Steam and hit “Steam” in the corner. Tap “Settings,” find your way to the “Controller” tab, and click on “General Controller Settings.” Make sure you’ve got the right configuration support for your controller going. If you’re not into generic gamepads, you might wanna uncheck that box.

Next, let’s tackle those device drivers. Pop open “Device Manager” by right-clicking the Start menu like a pro and picking it from the list. Peek into “Human Interface Devices,” right-click your controller, and go for “Update driver.” Follow the steps and cross your fingers for a fresh update.

If that’s not doing the trick, it might be time to deal with HID-compliant devices. Again, in “Device Manager,” fish out the “Human Interface Devices” section. Hunt down those entries labeled “HID-compliant” and anything screaming “Game controller.” Right-click ’em and hit “Disable device” for any that aren’t talking to your current controller. Give your PC a quick restart just in case.

Now, let’s dive into the game that’s messing with your mojo. Here’s hoping it’s just the game’s settings that need a tweak. Head into the settings menu and check out your controller or input options. You wanna make sure it’s all set to work with your controller, not forcing the keyboard on you.

Feeling adventurous? Try disconnecting everything—give the controller and keyboard a little break by unplugging them. Then, plug in the controller first before the keyboard. Fire Steam back up and see if things start playing nice.

Here’s a little-known secret: Steam Big Picture Mode. Jump into it by clicking the icon up top. Hit “Settings” and check out “Controller Settings.” Your controller should be showing some love there. Bounce back out of Big Picture and test things in your game.

Last but not least, make sure your Steam client isn’t living in the past. Click “Steam,” then “Check for Steam Client Updates.” If there’s anything waiting, update and kick-start Steam like it’s brand new.

These oughta get your controller back in action while the keyboard’s connected on Steam. If you’re still kinda stuck, joining forces with the Steam Community or hitting up Steam Support might just do the magic.

Hope this helps you swing your way back into some epic gaming sessions!