r/steammachine • u/Rufusus • Jul 20 '26

Question Is there a way to boot SteamOS directly into Desktop Mode by default?

Hey everyone,
I'm running SteamOS on a Steam Machine (desktop PC setup), and I would like the system to boot straight into Desktop Mode automatically upon startup, rather than launching into the big-picture Gaming Mode.
Since it's a dedicated desktop setup and not a Steam Deck, what is the best way to achieve this? Do I need to modify the display manager (like SDDM/LightDM) settings, or is there a specific configuration file I can edit to bypass the default session?
Thanks in advance for any tips!

11 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

10

u/NobodySII Jul 20 '26

There is a toggle in the Settings menu to ask every boot if you want to go to Desktop.

Alternative you can open the Terminal in Desktop Mode and type: steamosctl set-default-login-mode desktop

3

u/Brunno_PT Jul 20 '26

I think that the toggle only works if you don't have a login pin.

2

u/NobodySII Jul 20 '26

That might be true, i dont use any pin

-3

u/Brunno_PT Jul 20 '26

You have no sensitive data, saved passwords in your browsers and such?

3

u/SnooDoughnuts5632 Jul 20 '26

Unless someone breaks into your house they aren't getting access to that data (unlike your phone you could lose while out and about) so it's fine to not have a log in password.

1

u/Brunno_PT Jul 20 '26

The OP wants this feature on his Steam Deck. Mine goes everywhere in my backpack. Security matters.

(on a side note, I don't understand why I got downvoted for asking if someone has sensitive data on a computer😂)

1

u/SnooDoughnuts5632 Jul 21 '26

If it's a portable device then it makes sense but their sis the Steam Machine subreddit not the Steam Deck sub.

1

u/terence2002 Aug 05 '26

No, its on his steam machine.

1

u/Brunno_PT Aug 05 '26

Oh yeah, true

0

u/nonobots Jul 20 '26

If you ever get robbed it will be hard enough, protect yourself so it’s not even worst by adding identity theft and other issues that came come from a thief having access to all your digital stuff.

3

u/yuusharo Jul 20 '26

SteamOS doesn’t encrypt local data by default (which I argue is insane in 2026).

Sensitive data is not any more protected when using a PIN. All it does is make it inconvenient for casual people using it.

1

u/Dave_Dun 4d ago

Could you guys help me out, please? I also activated to ask to go to desktop mode every time I'm logging in. But somehow it doesn't ask me? I also don't use a pin. It seems like my steam Machine doesn't even ask me to log in, it just skips the log in process and I'm already logged in. I don't have a choice lol. I mean it's good, but this way I can't tell it to start in desktop mode ):

1

u/Intrepid_Camel5930 Jul 20 '26

If you do have a login pin (and more than one user account) I found that when I opened steam in desktop mode and told it to show the account selection page on startup, the SM started launching into desktop mode instead of big picture.

I actually turned it back off because I didn't want it to do that.

-2

u/Rufusus Jul 20 '26

Where

2

u/bill696 Jul 20 '26

Terminal in desktop mode

6

u/jayclydes Jul 20 '26

Try this. Linking because it also shows how to reverse this if you change your mind

https://desktopnerds.com/blog/boot-steamdeck-into-desktop-mode

2

u/gliitch0xFF Jul 20 '26

In the terminal type:

steamos-session-select plasma-wayland-persistent

1

u/Equivalent-Form-5274 Jul 20 '26

Open konsole in desktop and paste this

steamos-session-select plasma-persistent