Steam Deck Finally Gets Low-Power Download Feature

Steam Deck, the portable gaming device from Valve, despite being on the market for over three years, is only now implementing an important function related to download management. This new feature, called Display-Off Downloads, allows pending downloads to automatically complete before the system goes into standby: during the process, the Deck's screen will remain off and less power will be consumed.

How Display-Off Downloads Works

This function activates automatically when the Deck is plugged into power. The function can also be activated when the Deck is unplugged, via the settings (in Settings > Power); however, in this second case, the device will automatically go into standby if the battery charge drops below 20%. There are two ways to start the low-power download: the first is to press the Power button while a download is in progress and then confirm.

The second way is automatic: it starts by itself after the device has been inactive for a certain period. When Display-Off Downloads is in progress, if a button is pressed or the Deck is moved, the screen will turn back on and the download percentage reached will be shown. This new feature is currently in beta. For more information, consult the official website.