A new stable version of SteamOS was released overnight, but it has proved anything but stable. SteamOS 3.6.24 appears to have broken the quick access menu, and in particular the TDP slider. The TDP limit is also broken, leading to overheating and the Steam Deck being put into a boot loop.
While it may still be the best handheld gaming PC, no one said the Steam Deck is perfect, and this latest SteamOS update has somehow made it to the stable channel despite these issues being present.
Updating to SteamOS 3.6.24 will break the quick access menu on the Steam Deck, and it has compromised the TDP limit, meaning the handheld will overheat. Upon doing this, you can get caught in a boot loop as your handheld tries to restart and fix the issue over and over.
Problems like this are typically caught when an update is in beta and being tested by users who opt into the beta channel, but somehow SteamOS update 3.6.24 has gone live into the stable channel with multiple issues, including quick battery drain, reduced gaming performance, overheating, and the already mentioned broken quick access menu.
A pinned post on the Steam Deck Reddit incorrectly states that the update can lead to a bricked handheld, but it’s in this thread and a post to GitHub where many of the various issues can be tracked. As such, it’s still a good source to check to for further information on the update.
If you have already updated your Steam Deck and are stuck in a boot loop, you will need to manually turn off the Deck with the power button, then boot it up while holding the quick access menu button. This will allow you to roll back your handheld to the previous operating system without compromising your data.
If you’re able to avoid using your Steam Deck until a fix is found, you can save yourself a substantial headache. While there is certainly irony to this update going live on April 1, it’s far from an April Fools joke, at least not a funny one. The community is mad, primarily at Valve, for allowing this update to reach the stable channel. Many are asking how such a broken update passes QA testing.
If you’re able to stay clear of SteamOS 3.6.24, then you can check out our list of the best Steam Deck games you can play without fear of your handheld crashing.
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