Steam Deck does not download games while in sleep mode by default

When you put a Steam Deck into sleep mode, it stops downloading. The system enters a low-power state that pauses active tasks, including any downloads in progress. If you start a download and then put the device to sleep, the download will resume when you wake it again — but it will not continue while sleeping.

This is different from how some phones or computers work. On a Steam Deck, sleep mode is designed to preserve battery life by cutting power to most functions. Downloads require sustained power and network activity, so Valve built the system to pause them automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Downloads pause when the Steam Deck enters sleep mode and resume when you wake the device.
  • You can change this behavior in Settings by enabling "Allow downloads during sleep" under Power settings.
  • Leaving the device plugged in and awake is the most reliable way to download large games overnight.
  • Downloads resume from where they stopped — the Steam Deck does not restart the process from the beginning.

How to enable downloads during sleep mode

If you want downloads to continue while the Steam Deck sleeps, you can turn this on in the settings menu. Open Settings, go to Power, and look for the option labeled "Allow downloads during sleep" or similar wording depending on your software version. Toggle it on, and downloads will now continue even when the device is asleep.

Keep in mind that enabling this feature will drain your battery faster than normal sleep mode, since the system stays partially awake to maintain the network connection. If you are using a battery, you may want to leave this off and only enable it when the device is plugged in.

Why you might want downloads to continue during sleep

Large games can take hours to download, especially on slower internet connections. If you want to download a 50 GB game overnight without leaving the screen on, enabling downloads during sleep lets you do that while the device uses less power than it would if fully awake.

The trade-off is battery drain. If your Steam Deck is unplugged, the battery will deplete noticeably faster with this setting on. For overnight downloads, plugging in the device solves this problem entirely — the download will continue whether sleep mode is active or not, and you will not lose battery.

The difference between sleep mode and standby

Steam Deck sleep mode is not the same as leaving the device fully powered on with the screen off. When asleep, the system uses minimal power and stops most background tasks. When fully awake but idle, the Steam Deck draws more power but can maintain active downloads and network connections without any special settings.

If you want may provide continuous downloading without changing any settings, leave the device awake and plugged in. The screen will turn off after a period of inactivity, but the download will keep running. This is the simplest approach for large downloads.

What happens to a download if you restart the Steam Deck

If you fully shut down or restart the Steam Deck while a download is in progress, the download will pause. When you turn the device back on and return to the game library, Steam will resume the download from where it stopped. You will not lose progress or have to start over.

This resume feature works the same way whether you put the device to sleep, shut it down completely, or restart it. Steam keeps track of how much of the file has been downloaded and picks up from that point.

Best practices for downloading large games

For games larger than 30 GB, the most reliable approach is to plug in the Steam Deck and leave it awake. Open the download, set the screen to stay on in Settings (or just let it dim), and let it run. This avoids any questions about sleep mode settings and ensures the download completes without interruption.

If you prefer to use sleep mode, make sure the "Allow downloads during sleep" setting is enabled and the device is plugged in. Check back after a few hours to confirm the download is still progressing — occasionally network issues can pause a download even with this setting on, and you may need to resume it manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my download continue if I close the Steam Deck lid?

Closing the lid puts the Steam Deck into sleep mode, which pauses downloads by default. If you have enabled "Allow downloads during sleep" in Power settings, the download will continue. Otherwise, it will resume when you open the lid again.

Can I use my Steam Deck for other things while a download is happening?

Yes. You can browse the Steam menu, play other games, or use other apps while a download runs in the background. The download will continue at the same speed regardless of what else you are doing, as long as the device stays awake or has the sleep download setting enabled.

Does enabling downloads during sleep mode affect my internet speed?

No. The download speed depends on your internet connection and the Steam servers, not on whether the Steam Deck is in sleep mode. Enabling this setting does not make downloads faster or slower — it just allows them to continue while the device is asleep.

What if my internet cuts out during a download?

The download will pause automatically. When your connection returns, Steam will resume the download from where it stopped. You do not need to do anything — just wait for the connection to come back and the download will pick up again.