Update Xbox controller firmware on Steam Deck and Steam Machine (SteamOS)

This guide shows how to check and update the firmware of an Xbox controller on a Steam Deck, a Steam Machine or any other device running SteamOS, without a Windows PC or the Xbox Accessories app.

Contents

What you need

  • A Steam Deck, Steam Machine or other SteamOS device, connected to the internet.
  • An Xbox controller and a USB cable that carries data (some cables only charge). Updates do not work over Bluetooth or the Xbox Wireless Adapter. See the list of supported controllers.
  • A keyboard is very helpful. On a Steam Deck you can use the touchscreen and the on-screen keyboard (press the Steam button + X).

xboxctl only changes the controller when you run xboxctl update. The commands list, info and update --dry-run only read from it.

1. Switch to desktop mode

If you are reading this on your device, you are probably already in desktop mode. If not:

  1. Press the Steam button and open the Power menu.
  2. Choose Exit to Desktop.

2. Open a terminal

Open the application launcher and search for Konsole. To paste into the terminal, use Ctrl + Shift + V.

3. Install xboxctl

Paste this command and press Enter:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bb441db/xboxctl/main/install.sh | sh

The script downloads the program for your device, checks that the download is intact and puts it in ~/.local/bin.

When it finishes it prints a Note that ~/.local/bin is not in your PATH. The PATH is the list of places where the terminal looks for programs, and SteamOS does not include this folder by default. Copy the command the script printed (it looks like the first one below), run it, then run the second command to load the change into the terminal you have open:

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Verify the program installed correctly:

command -v xboxctl
xboxctl --version

The first command should print a path ending in .local/bin/xboxctl, the second a version number. If either prints nothing or an error, see Troubleshooting.

4. Allow xboxctl to use the controller

Normal users on Linux are not allowed to talk to USB devices directly. You fix that once by adding a rule (a udev rule) that gives the logged-in user access to Xbox controllers. This is the only step that needs administrator rights.

Set a password (first time only)

On a fresh SteamOS install no administrator password is set yet. If you have already set one, skip this. Otherwise set one first:

passwd

Add the rule

Run these two commands and enter your password when asked:

echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", ATTR{bDeviceClass}=="ff", ATTR{bDeviceSubClass}=="47", ATTR{bDeviceProtocol}=="d0", TAG+="uaccess"' \
  | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/70-xboxctl.rules
sudo udevadm control --reload && sudo udevadm trigger

The rule only matches Xbox (GIP) controllers. You only do this once.

5. Connect the controller

Plug the controller into the device with the USB cable. If it is already plugged in, unplug it and plug it back in, just to be sure the new rule applies.

6. Check that it is detected 

xboxctl list

This shows your controller. Then read its details:

xboxctl info

This prints the controller model and the firmware version of each of its components. If both commands work, everything is set up correctly.

If xboxctl list shows nothing, or info says it has no permission, see Troubleshooting.

7. Update the firmware

See what an update would change without changing anything:

xboxctl update --latest --dry-run

Do not unplug the controller during the update. It restarts several times and may disappear and come back on its own; that is expected. Keep the cable connected and keep the device powered (plug in the charger on a Steam Deck) until the command finishes. If an update stops partway, unplug the controller, plug it back in and run the same command again: it continues where it left off.

Then install the newest firmware:

xboxctl update --latest

If the controller already has the newest firmware, xboxctl says so and stops.

Troubleshooting

xboxctl: command not found

~/.local/bin is not in your PATH. Run the echo ... >> ~/.bashrc command from step 3, then run source ~/.bashrc or open a new terminal.

xboxctl list shows no controller

Check that the cable is a data cable and try another one or another USB port. Check that the controller is on and plugged in with a cable, not just paired over Bluetooth. lsusb lists everything on USB; an Xbox controller shows up as Microsoft Corp..

info or update fails with a permission error

The udev rule from step 4 is missing or has not applied yet. Run the two commands again, then unplug and replug the controller.

Still stuck? Ask in the discussions.

Notes

  • See the main page for all commands.
  • Tested on a fresh SteamOS install on unofficial hardware (not a Steam Deck or Steam Machine). Installing, list, info and update --latest all worked, and a controller was upgraded to the latest firmware without problems. The steps should be the same on a Steam Deck or Steam Machine, but they have not been tried there; if you try it, please share the result in the discussions.