To bring up the keyboard on the Steam Machine, hold the Steam button and press X while Steam is running. Valve’s Steam Deck and Steam Machine Desktop FAQ gives the shortcut in those words, “if you press STEAM + X, you can bring up an on-screen keyboard”, and on an Xbox or PlayStation controller the Xbox or PS button takes the Steam button’s place.
The same shortcut works in Gaming Mode and on the desktop, but the keyboard has a few quirks Valve is still fixing. Below are the buttons for every controller, the settings that change how it types, how to type outside Steam in Windows 11, and what to do when it refuses to open.
The Keyboard Shortcut on Every Controller
| Controller | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Steam Controller | Hold Steam, press X |
| Xbox controller | Hold the Xbox button, press X (Steam’s default shortcut) |
| PlayStation controller | Hold the PS button, press Square (the same default, on the PlayStation layout) |
| Physical keyboard | Not needed: just type |
The Steam Machine runs the same SteamOS as Steam Deck, and Valve’s Desktop FAQ says that “if you are using a Steam Controller with your Steam Machine, this will work the same as on Deck.” Its Steam Deck FAQ adds: “Hold down the Steam button to see a list of all available shortcuts.”
On Xbox and PlayStation pads, Valve’s Steam Machine Feature and Troubleshooting guide says to “perform a long press of the Steam/PS/Xbox button and select Show Controller Shortcuts.” That list is the final word for your controller. If holding the Xbox or PS button does nothing at all, open Settings > Controller and turn on Enable Guide Button Chords for controllers.
How to Open the Keyboard in Gaming Mode
- Select the text box you want to type in. Steam’s own text boxes (store search, your library search, messages) usually open the keyboard by themselves when you select them with a controller.
- If the keyboard does not appear, or you are in a game’s own text box, hold Steam (or Xbox or PS) and press X.
- Type with the face buttons or, on a controller with trackpads, with the trackpads (see Trackpad Typing below).
- Press the same shortcut again to close it.
One change from October 2026 catches people out: Valve’s October 13 Steam client update made it so that “using a physical mouse to click a text input no longer opens the On-Screen Keyboard.” If you click with a mouse, Steam now assumes you have a real keyboard too. Use the controller shortcut instead.
How to Bring Up the Keyboard in Desktop Mode
The shortcut is the same on the KDE desktop, as long as Steam is running in the background. The October 13 update also fixed “the onscreen keyboard not working the first time on desktop” and added “support for the user-invoked On-Screen Keyboard in the desktop overlay.”
Valve is upfront that the desktop is still rough here. Its FAQ says: “We are still working on improving this, and you may find yourself in situations where you’ll need to plug in a physical keyboard and mouse.” Our Desktop Mode guide covers getting to the desktop, using the controller as a mouse, and getting back to Gaming Mode.
Typing in Windows 11
If you have installed Windows 11 on your Steam Machine, Steam’s keyboard shortcut only works while Steam is running. Outside Steam, use Windows’ own on-screen keyboard: press Windows + Ctrl + O, or turn it on under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard.
Keyboard Settings Worth Changing
Open Settings > Keyboard in Gaming Mode. The options there are:
- Current Keyboard Theme: the keyboard’s look.
- Haptics: rumble feedback as you type.
- Trackpad Typing: type with a controller’s trackpads instead of the face buttons, with its own Trackpad Sensitivity and Enable Trigger Click options.
- Active Keyboards: add more languages with Select Available Keyboards.
- Current Layout: the key layout for your language.
- Initial Location: where the keyboard opens, with Desktop and Overlay options.
When the Keyboard Will Not Come Up
- Update first. Open Settings > System > Software Updates. Valve’s October 13, 2026 client update fixed the “on-screen keyboard not popping up in non-Steam games after toggling wifi or suspending,” along with trackpad typing problems.
- Check the chord setting. On Xbox and PlayStation pads, Enable Guide Button Chords for controllers under Settings > Controller has to be on.
- Use the controller, not the mouse. A mouse click on a text box no longer opens the keyboard (see above).
- Plug in a real keyboard. The Machine has two USB-A 3.2 ports on the front and two USB-A 2.0 ports on the back, and Bluetooth keyboards pair from Steam Menu > Settings > Bluetooth, the same menu our Xbox controller guide uses.
The same Quick Access shortcut list also opens the frame rate overlay, which our guide on how to show FPS on the Steam Machine covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut on the Steam Machine? Hold the Steam button and press X. On an Xbox controller it is the Xbox button plus X, and on a PlayStation controller the PS button plus Square.
Does the on-screen keyboard work in non-Steam games? Yes, while Steam is running. Valve’s October 13, 2026 update fixed a bug where it would not pop up in non-Steam games after a Wi-Fi toggle or a suspend.
Why does clicking a text box with my mouse no longer open the keyboard? Valve changed it on purpose in the October 13 client update: a physical mouse click no longer opens the on-screen keyboard. Use the controller shortcut.
How do I add another language to the keyboard? Go to Settings > Keyboard > Active Keyboards and choose Select Available Keyboards.
Can I use a real keyboard and mouse with the Steam Machine? Yes. Plug them into any USB port or pair Bluetooth ones from Steam Menu > Settings > Bluetooth.