ValveSoftware
Got the Overlay work after 3.7.8 but now found a new bug which triggers it to disappear
Your system information
- Steam client version: 1748914100
- SteamOS version: 3.7.8
- Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No
- Opted into SteamOS beta?: [Yes/No] No
- Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: [Yes/No] Yes
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen.
When I update to 3.7.8 I noticed my Overlay had stopped working. Looking at another Steam Deck (my brother OLED) his was working. I noticed that he has this and the file was empty: /home/deck/.config/MangoHud/presets.conf
So I did the same with mine (LCD) and it worked after reboot, the overlay was back.
But now I noticed a new bug, every time I open the Nested Desktop, the overlay never comes back. I have to reboot the Steam Deck for it to start working again.
Steps for reproducing this issue:
- Open Nested Desktop
- Close Nested Desktop
- Open any game
- Overlay is gone
- Reboot Deck
- Open any game
- Overlay is back
the overlay gets forcibly unloaded as a part of steamos-nested-desktop, something about causing issues:
# Remove the performance overlay, it meddles with some tasks
unset LD_PRELOAD
the overlay gets forcibly unloaded as a part of steamos-nested-desktop, something about causing issues:
# Remove the performance overlay, it meddles with some tasks unset LD_PRELOAD
I understand, but do you know if there is a way to force it to work again?
I noticed it doesn't happen on my Brother Steam Deck. He has the same version as me: Steam client version: 1748914100 SteamOS version: 3.7.8
Today I did noticed opening Nested Desktop, it blinks a 0 fps, maybe 2 times and then it disappears. No more overlay till I reboot. It's like it's try to display but some error is occurring.
Anything I've noticed, restart Steam does not bring the Overlay back when opening Nested Desktop, but restart the Steam Deck does. Perhaps something to do with the SteamUI or services.
I found another problem with the overlay, when triggering FSR, you see a kind of blink of green but FSR is always back to red. I've seen many people complaining that FSR is not turning on because it doesn't stick to green On. I suspect many of us have Overlay problems.
I found another problem with the overlay, when triggering FSR, you see a kind of blink of green but FSR is always back to red. I've seen many people complaining that FSR is not turning on because it doesn't stick to green On. I suspect many of us have Overlay problems.
The FSR indicator not working correctly is being tracked here: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/gamescope/issues/1780
@ruifcastro may I ask what do you mean with "nested desktop"? Do you mean switching to Desktop Mode or running KDE desktop within Gaming Mode session?
I'm on SteamOS 3.7.13 and I may have hit the same issue. Performance overlay wasn't working for any game. I tried switching between different overlay configurations (1-5) but it didn't help. After finding this issue I rebooted my Steam Deck and now the performance overlay is back.
I'm not 100% sure it's the same problem because I tried to repro the issue following your steps above, switching to Desktop Mode and back to Game Mode but the performance overlay still works, yet rebooting the Steam Deck resolved the issue.
Nested Deskop is a app in Desktop mode. You can add it to Steam (right click). Now when you are in game mode you can go to desktop mode without exiting game mode (app in nonsteam apps tab). It runs like an game. (steam button to exit). It used to be the fastest way to use Desktop mode. But now with the recent KDE update, it has been faster using the normal desktop approuch.
But it can still be useful in special cases. You can see the all the processes running in game mode. But you can also add the app system monitor to steam and do the same.
I just referenced it because the Overlay stops working with it when before it worked very well. But it doesn't happen to everyone. There seems to be something different from the latest Overlay, in my case anyways. From the errors I see on reddit, mose cases seem to be about the .config folder. The update 3.7.8 didn't do good job here. At best should of used the defaults in my opinion.
Got it. So my scenario is slightly different since I don't use nested desktop. I just switch to Desktop mode and back when needed. Yet the performance overlay starts to fail at some point, not appearing anymore and rebooting the Deck seems to resolve it. I will try to dig a bit deeper once the issue comes back (eventually it will since it happened to me before) and search for any issues with the .config directory (I guess you refer to MangoHud configuration there).
Thanks
Have the same issue. I can also confirm that it is temporarily solves via restart. But as soon as I get to desktop mode, it breaks again.
I do have a fix, go to Nested Desktop, properties, add this launch command: mangohud %command%
What I think is happening is for some reason any app from the desktop removes mangohud. I add this mangohud %command% to my desktop app I use in gamescope and it works
For me it's not only Nested Desktop, it's also normal Desktop mode where the overlay breaks. And going back to Game mode keeps it broken. Only restart helps then. Can this command also be added to normal desktop and if so, how?
I agree the issue seems to be affecting other apps as well and not just breaking after switching to Desktop mode or launching nested desktop from game mode.
Yesterday while in game mode, I launched Heroic, the overlay appeared as expected, then flickered a few times and then it was gone for good. Only a reboot of the Deck fixed it.
Not sure how to troubleshoot this but I’m starting to believe that the issue may be related to gamescope and/or mangohud. Where can I find the logs for these two components?
Honestly I have no clue, sorry. But I can confirm your experience. Restart - fine. Nested Desktop with your starting parameters - fine. Launching a random steam game - overlay breaks.