These are my settings:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/17wp39j/trackpad_setup_guide_try_these_settings_before/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

As mentioned by others, don’t use Right Trigger for Primary Fire. I would argue it’s actually the worst binding for trackpad-based control because it’s the farthest button from the pad, requiring to stretch your hand uncomfortably and throwing of your aim. I switch it over to Left Trigger, but back paddles should work as well.

Ha, unintended consequences…

Ha, unintended consequences…

The controller configurator is incredibly powerful and worth the learning curve.

Here is a great reference guide by Chronos: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2804823261

The trackpads in particular are highly customizable. For example, here are my preferred settings: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/MQu73gIe73

In that post I linked a YouTube video that goes more in-depth. There are lots of other guides you can find on YouTube.

I find using a Mode Shift like this to be easier and more reliable. I’m not sure how well it would work for ABXY, but it works fine for weapon selection.

Yes, in I fact do this, but bound to keyboard numbers for weapon selection (I don’t like weapon wheels).

I figured it out on my own, but I think I do it similarly to how RambleCan does in the video u/zelmon64 shared. Here is how I do it:

- Go to the Trackpad mode selection dropdown, scroll down to the bottom and choose “Create a Mode Shift”.

- This should create a new set of mode options. For the new mode, choose Directional Pad.

- Open the gear icon menu next to this mode.

- For mode activation, choose Right Trackpad Click.

- Uncheck “Requires Click” because you already had to click to get into this mode :)

- Choose 4-Way Overlap.

- Set Outer Ring Command radius. I like to increase it to 29000.

- Set Deadzone to match your radius.

- Invert Outer Ring Command (which makes it an “Inner Circle” command).

- Go back to the main settings for the D-Pad mode, and choose your desired command for the inverted Outer Ring command (now an Inner Circle).

- Map the four directions to ABXY or whatever commands you want.

- Enjoy! :)

IMO the single best change you can make is to move Primary Click to the Left Trigger or other button on the opposite hand. This frees your thumb to focus on precision, or take full advantage of trackball mode and flick the cursor across the screen.

The people who insist the default is Right Trigger = Left Click because it’s “like using a mouse” are, frankly, just wrong. With a mouse, you are using your arm/wrist, which doesn’t “compete” with your clicking finger like using your thumb does when using the thumbpad.

The only reason “Right Trigger = Left Click” is default is because that’s what people are used to with conventional dual-stick controllers, but it’s absolutely sub-optimal for trackpad control, especially with their lower positioning on the Deck.

Lots of cool customizations you can do with Steam Input, especially the trackpads. Here is a guide on how I configure them. In the post, I link a video where I go more in depth:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/h3kDicfVNX

There are lots of other YouTube guides you can find if you search “steam deck input”, “steam deck trackpads”, “steam deck gyro” etc.

Here are my recommended trackpad settings:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/F8nh5VyiaV

There are some decent guides on YouTube as well, just search “steam deck trackpad”. They are the most versatile and underrated inputs on the Deck!

I use this Trackpad + Gyro configuration, so I prefer On Right Pad Touch. With a regular controller, I use Always On. Some people like to invert it, so stick touch or deflection turns OFF Gyro.

I’m guessing you prefer Trackpad without Gyro? Because if you use Gyro for fine aim, you can just get away with cranking up the horizontal sensitivity (low vertical scale), like I describe here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/s/0BV1jqVXXZ

Maybe you could also try mode shift to D-pad mode on trackpad click, where Left and Right are mapped to “move X by amount”.

I find my Trackpad + Gyro configuration to be far more effective and intuitive than any Stick + Gyro scheme, including Flick Stick.

Still a better mod than this

You are talking about integer scaling, correct? Where, if possible, it simply multiplies the pixels, rather than attempting interpolation? I think it’s an option in the Quick Settings menu when you press “…”. I think you go to the plug icon Performance tab and scroll to the bottom, there’s a slider with different options like Integer, FSR, etc.

If not, googling “deck integer scaling” should help.

Like all the controls, you can configure many options for how the trackpad works, both per game and in Desktop Mode. Try setting it As Mouse, with Haptic Intensity to Low. I also recommend increasing the Trackpad Click press threshold to 9000 or higher, so it’s harder to accidentally click.

You may find my recommended Trackpad settings guide helpful. There is also a linked video that goes into more detail.

I’m like you in that I mostly played FPS with keyboard/mouse before, and struggled at first on the Deck, until I found the right scheme. I do not think the default layouts are good at all.

Artifact: Alyx confirmed?!

No, just the 25th anniversary of the first game. And I guess a free “launch title” for Deck OLED.

Thank you! Happy to help my fellow Deckers :)

Just like the Deck’s trackpads, it requires significant configuration from the default settings, but once you get it down, it’s so worth it. Compared to stick aiming, you can get much greater precision and speed (with or without gyro).

I made this detailed video guide for configuring the right trackpad on the Deck, along with other general tips. Pretty much all of it applies to the Steam Controller as well.