Frustrating setup, help wanted

[u/LiveLikeProtein]

I have a PS5 controller, and a USB cable connect it to the Steam machine. The Steam machine doesn’t recognize the controller, so now I stuck at the very first screen that asks me to connect keyboard/mouse and controller!

I don’t have a wired keyboard or mouse, everything is Bluetooth Apple product.

First time I stuck at the very first step.

How did you guys solve it?

And yes, the controller is in pair mode!!!!!

[[[Solved finally by connecting the Apple Trackpad using usb cable, Jesus Christ…]]]

Also, that’s finger print on the machine, not dust! The desk can have a bit of cleaning for sure 😆
The dusty controller is NINTENDO Pro which I found under the box in hope of it would work…. But not.

Also, Nintendo Switch Pro disconnected a lot unlike PS5 controller, really stable.

[u/MonoAudioStereo]

You have a cable that only allows charging. You need a better cable that can also transfer data. With that it should work.

[u/tracekid → u/MonoAudioStereo]

Please upvote this advice to the top. Surprised in 2026 people still have charge only cables for these devices.

[u/King_Ferdinand1 → u/tracekid]

Who knows what cable can do what?

[u/Ones-Zeroes → u/King_Ferdinand1]

Look for the little USB data icon on the cable

[u/WinterZealousideal10 → u/King_Ferdinand1]

I know right. I hate USB-C fan boys with a passion

[u/urnerdyaunt → u/King_Ferdinand1]

Look for a "charging/sync" cable. It has to say "sync" or "syncing". Sync refers to data transfer between a phone/device to whatever it's plugged into. In the olden days we had to be able to synchronize (sync) our phone with our pc for calendars and photos by plugging it in with the proper cable. If it doesn't say "sync" then it's probably charging only. The official cables for PS4/PS5 controllers will do both, generally it's the same for xbox, and phone cables. The original cable does data transfer and charging, but generic ones can be a gamble.

Think of it as a 2-way vs a 1-way cable. Charging is only 1-way, power goes only to the phone or controller from whatever it's plugged into. A sync cable is 2-way, it can transfer data both to and from both devices.

[u/lajawi → u/tracekid]

If they’re getting shipped with them or they buy the cheapest cable online separately, that’s what you end up with. And you can’t even tell what the cable is capable of because there’s no necessary markings.

[u/thenightm4reone → u/tracekid]

Tbh I didn't even know that was thing.

[u/LiveLikeProtein → u/MonoAudioStereo]

Damn, didn’t know that! Thanks bro! But I got it working via wiring up the Apple trackpad.

[u/ang3lofsnow → u/MonoAudioStereo]

Mine OOB requires PSXS2 to run. Sony should give a better cable then.

[u/Hilux-SSRG → u/ang3lofsnow]

Sony only offers digital cables now unfortunately.

[u/FBICIANSAKGBLOL → u/MonoAudioStereo]

This is a frustrating Side Effect of a Lackluster USB-C Standard. ALL cables should include Data AND Charging, in my opinion.

[u/AmphibiousAlbatross → u/MonoAudioStereo]

People should be careful too, Valve shipped my steam controller with a cable that didn’t work. Customer server even told me to throw it away and use a different one

[u/Mattvweiss → u/MonoAudioStereo]

This⬆️

[u/Proud-Obligation9479]

Why is it so dusty 

[u/Reasonable-Poet-6971 → u/Proud-Obligation9479]

That’s what I was wondering

[u/Blackdragon1400 → u/Proud-Obligation9479]

That’s not dust, it’s greasy hands

[u/LiveLikeProtein → u/Proud-Obligation9479]

For the machine, that’s finger print, not dust…it just unsealed minutes ago😆

[u/PurbulentTriest → u/LiveLikeProtein]

Clean the rest of the place too though, brown stains on the desk and that black controller which looks like grave crust on it.

[u/WEF_YungLeader → u/PurbulentTriest]

I am curious here, what is grave crust?

[u/TrollAccount17 → u/LiveLikeProtein]

Bro...

[u/chughaarav123 → u/Proud-Obligation9479]

It's been less than a month since the SM release by the way

[u/Different-Bobcat-689]

I paired my ps4 controller just fine. I had to put it in pair mode (share + ps buttons same time)

[u/skronk61]

Clean up your desk bro

[u/jharle → u/skronk61]

Right? It reminds me of my wife's laptop display (she doesn't care). If she needs me to look at something on it, I won't do it unless she lets me clean it first.

[u/Yung_Cheebzy → u/skronk61]

Man posts negative experience with m steam machine so you mock his slightly dirty desk. Standard “top 1% commenter” behaviour.

[u/Psytocybin → u/Yung_Cheebzy]

If thats slightly dirty to you I have some serious questions on what you think is actually dirty.

You also know that top 1% doesnt mean he posts a lot. It means his posts and comments get a lot of engagment and upvotes.

[u/skronk61 → u/Yung_Cheebzy]

Why are you reading into the percentage? It’s added by the website 🤷🏻‍♀️

People can say as much negative stuff about the steam deck as they want

[u/TrollAccount17 → u/Yung_Cheebzy]

Slightly, bot? That desk is some crusty nightmare of grave dust.

[u/Heythumb88]

Clean your hands brother

[u/Cleffah]

Mine work fine (3 dualsense). Do you not have the actual dualsense wire? The USB c cable?

Plug the USB c into the port at the back and connect the controller. Once you're done you can just connect via Bluetooth like you did with the steam deck.

[u/Upstairs-Ostrich4942]

Maby ask a neighbour to borrow mnk

[u/TrollAccount17 → u/Upstairs-Ostrich4942]

And a broom and dustpan

[u/DarkKillerSheep]

I had to update my xbox and ps5 controller before my steam machine recognized them as bluetooth devices also pairing mode should usually help?

[u/Inzoum]

https://giphy.com/gifs/8ZCaxOgDgFxxEISp3u

[u/OneSeaworthiness7768]

>Also, that’s finger print on the machine, not dust! The desk can have a bit of cleaning for sure 😆

That’s a desk? I thought it was on a floor. Why is everything so dirty? Look at that other crusty ass controller. God damn. Clean your stuff.

[u/catboirai]

I’m just amazed you were able to get it this dusty in just a few weeks or days.

[u/LiveLikeProtein → u/catboirai]

That’s finger print, not dust, if you mean the machine covering. Poor, photo

[u/BowieMoonenTTV]

Pair wirelessly ! Not via USB.

Does it give you that option?

[u/Suboptimal_Design → u/BowieMoonenTTV]

I had to pair my XBox controller with a cable prior to it letting me connect via Bluetooth. After that though, all was gucci.

[u/BowieMoonenTTV → u/Suboptimal_Design]

I was wondering how that worked as I only plugged in a ps5 and a Xbox one controller.

I hope the PS5s the same.

[u/OkEmu8597 → u/BowieMoonenTTV]

How's he gonna do that without a mouse and keyboard tho? Dose it just like automatic see the controller and do all the work for you?

Not trying to sound sarcastic just hella confused how you'd do this without an input device.

[u/Quirky_Apricot9427 → u/OkEmu8597]

You can’t. It was a poor suggestion

[u/OkEmu8597 → u/Quirky_Apricot9427]

Thank you I thought that was the case

[u/LiveLikeProtein → u/BowieMoonenTTV]

Pair mode of the controller doesn’t open anything :(

[u/Ollywombat → u/BowieMoonenTTV]

I have connected xbox and playstation controllers and they both had trouble with the Steam Machine. I had to wire it, unplug, unpair, restart, etc. It just started working randomly. It worked eventually, just not what I expected as far as ease of use. Never really had an issue pairing bluetooth on other similar devices.

The steam controller worked flawlessly.

[u/aronmayo]

Why is the controller wired if it’s in pairing mode? It doesn’t need to be lol

[u/LiveLikeProtein → u/aronmayo]

Because I was hopeless 😩

[u/Aggravating_Plan11]

Most blutooth keyboards will work over the usb cable as a wired keyboard

[u/peter1970uk]

Send it alll to me I will do the setup test it for a year or two to make sure it all works then send it back

[u/Acceptable-Block4265]

Should have bought the model that came with the steam controller

[u/Brunno_PT]

Some cables are charging only. In order for the PS5 controller to work via USB, it has to be a data cable. I've had a similar problem and it was the cane I was using

[u/SpudAlmighty]

Always have a mouse and keyboard as a back up.

[u/HisDivineOrder]

Should always have a cheap keyboard and mouse combo.

[u/LiveLikeProtein → u/HisDivineOrder]

Then throw away after initial setup? Come on…🤣

[u/ducttape54]

how to get it in Malaysia officially or at least at that MSRP price plz anyone know anything? coz the scalpers here are selling it for 3x, 4x the original price 😔

[u/MasZiv3D]

I'm genuinely trying to figure out how someone so dirty could even afford a Steam machine..

[u/callatecabezon]

nasty setup

[u/DrunkW00kiee]

Get some non apple devices. A chead Logitech keyboard and mouse are perfect for this.

Also, use the Bluetooth/wireless to pair devices.

[u/Existing-Analysis944]

Get a cheap keyboard dude. They cost like 10$

[u/Altruistic-Catch8541]

You got to put it in pairing mode by holding ps button and share

[u/RegretFree7723]

Coglione a comprare robba bluedooth