Steam fixes disappearing shortcuts in beta and Vulkan freezes in stable
Valve has fixed non-Steam apps disappearing after a network reconnect in the Steam beta client. A separate stable-client update fixes Vulkan games hanging after players switch away with alt-tab.
Steam Deck can run a desktop environment as well as its gaming interface. Image: Valve
The fixes arrived in two Steam client releases dated October 21. They address different problems and are not both described as stable-channel changes, so the update channel is important when checking whether a particular fix is available.
The beta fix targets missing shortcuts after a network reconnect
Non-Steam shortcuts let users launch software added manually to their Steam library. Valve's beta correction specifically addresses those apps disappearing after the network reconnects.
Steam’s library on Steam Deck. Image: Valve
MIXED previously reported that owners were seeing shortcuts vanish after an earlier launch fix. Valve's new changelog now names a reconnect-related cause and says it has been corrected.
The beta also updates the algorithm used for store search suggestions and text searches. Valve does not provide a detailed explanation of the ranking changes, so there is no basis for promising that every search will return better results.
Another beta correction fixes a regression affecting virtual-menu positions in the Steam Input overlay. These changes are listed for the Preview/Beta channel.
Steam Deck hardware. Client updates are separate from SteamOS updates. Image: Valve
The stable client addresses games hanging when you switch windows
The public stable update includes the Vulkan alt-tab fix under Desktop Mode. Its scope is a hang when switching windows, rather than a general claim about higher frame rates or broader Vulkan compatibility.
The same release corrects date display for users in British Columbia and updates certificate revocation lists. The beta also receives updated revocation information.
Owners troubleshooting either issue should compare the problem they see with the channel they are running. A stable-client user receives the window-switching correction without needing to opt into the beta, while the disappearing-shortcut correction is currently documented in the beta release.
