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Valve have changed the USB/Bluetooth communication the Steam Controller uses, so on Linux you will need to update your udev rules.

Note: This is for the Beta client, but works on the stable client too. Even if you're on the stable client, it's likely a good idea to do it now ready for the next stable release on the Steam client.

See their announcement here, which links to this guide of issues.

Funnily enough, Valve didn't even list the actual file you need to update, so here it is:
/lib/udev/rules.d/99-steam-controller-perms.rules

You can open it easily doing this in terminal (on Ubuntu for example):
sudo gedit /lib/udev/rules.d/99-steam-controller-perms.rules

Edit it to look like this (make sure you edit the group name like it says!):
Quote# This rule is needed for basic functionality of the controller in Steam and keyboard/mouse emulation
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="28de", MODE="0666"

# This rule is necessary for gamepad emulation; make sure you replace 'pgriffais' with a group that the user that runs Steam belongs to
KERNEL=="uinput", MODE="0660", GROUP="pgriffais", OPTIONS+="static_node=uinput"

# DualShock 4 wired
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="05c4", MODE="0666"
# DualShock 4 wireless adapter
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0ba0", MODE="0666"
# DualShock 4 slim wired
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="09cc", MODE="0666"

# Valve HID devices over USB hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="28de", MODE="0666"

# Valve HID devices over bluetooth hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*28DE:*", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 over bluetooth hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*054C:05C4*", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 Slim over bluetooth hidraw
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*054C:09CC*", MODE="0666"


I tried reloading udev rules after, but it didn't seem to work. A reboot with the new rules in place and it works once again.

Valve still haven't fixed the issue of the Steam Controller not working in wireless unless Steam is open though, bug reported here on September 1st. Not everyone seems to have that issue though.

Thanks to Furball in our Telegram group chat for pointing it out. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Hardware, HOWTO, Steam
6 Likes
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Redface 23 Nov 2016
Thanks for the info. Could you maybe add that this is for Steam beta only for now?
Yakumozo 23 Nov 2016
Thanks for info! I've got steam controller just recently and sometimes couldn't make it working. Switching back to non-beta version worked for me though, but maybe I will be able to go back to beta now :)
Funnily enough, Valve didn't even list the actual file you need to update

Why is Valve so "funny" about their business all the more now? Why is it, that they basically could change the whole gaming field in favor for Linux (which they seemingly endorse) with few swift strokes. Windows would be on it's way out.

Even MS themselves realize "something"; they joined the Linux Foundation as a platinum member. Linux will be de facto platform for gaming in future. Why not just speed the inevitable up?

Thanks to Liam, this is not much of a thing at all again :)


Last edited by Perkeleen_Vittupää on 23 Nov 2016 at 8:49 pm UTC
Liam Dawe 23 Nov 2016
Thanks for the info. Could you maybe add that this is for Steam beta only for now?
Done.
Naib 23 Nov 2016
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Well adding it in non-beta won't do any harm as it add's more HID for udev to manage.

interestingly I popped over to the gentoo wiki page I created to update the entry and someone had added a HTC vive HID entry.

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Steam_Controller

# HTC Vive HID Sensor naming and permissioning
KERNEL=="hidraw*", SUBSYSTEM=="hidraw", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0bb4", ATTRS{idProduct}=="2c87", MODE="0666"
chrisq 23 Nov 2016
Reloading udev rules have always worked for me using one of the following:

udevadm control --reload

udevadm trigger

You might need to disconnect/reconnect the dongle afterwards though.
tmtvl 23 Nov 2016
Wait a minute... "sudo gedit"? That shouldn't work. Unless you've got sudo aliased to xdg-su, kdesu, gksu, or something like that.
Liam Dawe 23 Nov 2016
Wait a minute... "sudo gedit"? That shouldn't work. Unless you've got sudo aliased to xdg-su, kdesu, gksu, or something like that.
It has always worked for as long as I can remember.
Nyamiou 23 Nov 2016
This rule is necessary for gamepad emulation; make sure you replace 'pgriffais' with a group that the user that runs Steam belongs to

Just put "users" then, it's way simpler.
Guy Fawkes 23 Nov 2016
Funnily enough, Valve didn't even list the actual file you need to update

Why is Valve so "funny" about their business all the more now? Why is it, that they basically could change the whole gaming field in favor for Linux (which they seemingly endorse) with few swift strokes. Windows would be on it's way out.

Even MS themselves realize "something"; they joined the Linux Foundation as a platinum member. Linux will be de facto platform for gaming in future. Why not just speed the inevitable up?


Some of the key persons inside Valve have been intimidated by Microsoft in my knowledge. For example MS and their cronies have practiced this for decades in countless instances. They are not going to give an inch away without a fight, my friend. Gaben is also not untouchable. I'm sure this is considered tinfoil speech here. This is the truth though. Regular people can be very gullible in their inherent faith in righteousness. We must reach for equality in every area of this rotten system.
Xpander 23 Nov 2016
This rule is necessary for gamepad emulation; make sure you replace 'pgriffais' with a group that the user that runs Steam belongs to

Just put "users" then, it's way simpler.

amen



works fine for me after reloading udev rules
ProfessorKaos64 24 Nov 2016
No I won't, I use SteamOS :)
Creak 24 Nov 2016
Wait a minute... "sudo gedit"? That shouldn't work. Unless you've got sudo aliased to xdg-su, kdesu, gksu, or something like that.
"sudo gedit" will simply launch gedit as root. there's no rule AFAIK against that (except maybe the security risk of using an app on top of X), but it works nonetheless.
fcastillo 24 Nov 2016
What if I'm using Steam Link? I've notice a lot of disconnection problems on the Link, and recently there was an announcement for an update to SteamOS that fixes this. I'm not using SteamOS just the client on Ubuntu, but I'm seeing this problems because of the Link. Any suggestions?
Eike 24 Nov 2016
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I don't know where to tell that optimally, I guess Liam is flooded with mails:
Steam Link is off 60%, so it's about 20 bucks now (plus shipping)!
Guppy 24 Nov 2016
Any word on how they expect the udev rules to be updated for non beta?

While I'm comfy editing files and digging up group names it's the kind of "voodoo sorcery" that makes people shy away from Linux.



Wait a minute... "sudo gedit"? That shouldn't work. Unless you've got sudo aliased to xdg-su, kdesu, gksu, or something like that.

It will work fine - it's run from a terminal not alt-f2 so you can see the prompt.
Eike 24 Nov 2016
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Any word on how they expect the udev rules to be updated for non beta?

While I'm comfy editing files and digging up group names it's the kind of "voodoo sorcery" that makes people shy away from Linux.

Quoted from the guide:
"We are working with distributions to make sure the necessary access is provided out of the box, but this might not currently be the case depending on your distribution of choice. "
Corben 24 Nov 2016
Will the new rules be updated sooner or later distro-wise? Or will all Linux users have to do these changes manually?

Edit: ah, Eike's post already answers this ;)


Last edited by Corben on 24 Nov 2016 at 8:19 am UTC
melkemind 24 Nov 2016
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Thanks for alerting us to this. I would've been wondering what went wrong if you hadn't.
Grifter 24 Nov 2016
I see a lot of bluetooth being mentioned, but I was under the impression that the steam controller used plain wifi instead of bluetooth, am I mistaken? Or is this new change changing over to bluetooth? Please enlighten my ignorance.
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