Upcoming Steam Deck update enables background downloads via a new low-power mode

Valve has slyly added what could arguably be one of the best quality-of-life improvements for the Steam Deck. Users can now download content when the console is in power-saving mode. Previously, one had to keep the console awake for the duration of downloads, some of which could take days on slower internet connections. By default, off-screen downloads are enabled whenever the Steam Deck is connected to a power source. However, they can be manually enabled for battery mode via the settings

Pressing the power button when a download is active will now show an extra option to keep the download running in the background. Alternatively, the Steam Deck will default to this mode if left idle with active downloads. If the battery drops below 20%, the console will automatically go to sleep. For now, the feature is only available on the beta branch of SteamOS, but it shouldn't be long before it rolls out for everyone.

Essentially, the Steam Deck is the only console that can keep your games updated in the background. Interestingly, Steam was one of the first clients to add the functionality on desktop, so it's only fitting that it does so on an entirely new form factor. The update will greatly help Steam Deck OLED users by reducing the risk of burn-in.