Hey folks, I’ve been experiencing some frustrating stuttering issues with my Steam Deck OLED when it’s connected to WiFi. The Steam gamemode UI noticeably stutters, causing input delays or duplicates. This really affects gameplay in titles like Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 and MGS3 from the Master Collection, where the screen freezes briefly while the audio keeps playing. Oddly enough, Oblivion Remastered runs without this issue.
The problem only happens when WiFi is enabled, even if I’m not downloading anything. Once I turn WiFi off, everything works fine. I’ve tested two different routers, and while the first one had consistent issues, the second one seemed better, though I still faced stuttering. I also tried using an iPhone hotspot, but the stuttering persisted.
I had to disable WiFi power management to successfully connect to those routers, especially the 5GHz band, but I still faced problems on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. I’ve also experimented with developer mode settings and even reinstalled SteamOS, but none of that helped. I’ve reached out to Steam Support, but I’m wondering if anyone here has found a solution or if I should continue pursuing support. Thanks a lot!
2 Answers
It sounds like your Steam Deck might be having some hardware issues, honestly. Stuttering like that when connected to WiFi isn’t normal. You might want to keep an eye on it and see if it continues after some updates. But if you’re already in touch with Steam Support, that’s the way to go!
Hey! Turning off WiFi power management can definitely help with these issues—some routers are known to cause problems. It’s also good to stick to the 5GHz network if you can; I found that 2.4GHz tends to have its own issues. Make sure you separate those networks on your router to avoid conflicts. Oh, and steer clear of WPA3; it can be a pain with some devices.
Also, watch out for interference! Nearby devices like PS4 controllers, microwaves, or old tech can mess with the signal. Finally, try turning on IPv6 if you haven’t already, and clean up your saved networks by removing unused ones. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the tips! I tried reimaging the Deck and even disabled IPv6, but noticed it still showed an IPv6 address for my WiFi adapter. After disabling IPv6 on my router and reconnecting, the stuttering vanished. Still not sure if my Deck might be defective or if this is an update issue.