Steam Hotkeys: Music Player, Steam Deck, and More!

The in-game overlay provided by Steam is a versatile tool designed to enhance your gaming experience. It offers quick and convenient access to various features while playing a Steam game. The overlay can be accessed by pressing Shift + Tab, allowing you to multitask and access a range of functionalities without needing to exit your game.

Steam In-Game Overlay accessed by pressing Shift + Tab.
Steam In-Game Overlay accessed by pressing Shift + Tab.

The in-game overlay offers several useful features, including:

  • Steam Chat: You can chat with your friends or other players who are also using Steam.
  • Web Browser: You can browse the web without leaving your game.
  • Steam Community: Access various community features, such as viewing profiles, forums, guides, and user-created content.
  • Steam Music Player: Play your favorite music tracks while playing games.
  • Steam Broadcast: Stream your gameplay to your friends or to the wider Steam community.
  • Steam Friends: View your friends list, invite or join friends in games, and manage your online presence.

One of the key benefits of the in-game overlay is its ability to keep you connected with your friends and the Steam community. With the overlay, you can engage in Steam chats, allowing you to communicate with your friends or other players without interrupting your gameplay. This feature is particularly useful for coordinating strategies, setting up multiplayer sessions, or simply staying connected while immersed in your favorite games.

Friends and Chat section in the Steam In-Game Overlay.
Friends and Chat section in the Steam In-Game Overlay.

The Steam in-game overlay has a integrated web browser. This browser functionality enables you to browse the web without the need to exit your game or switch to a separate browser window. This can be especially valuable for streamers who want to share web content with their viewers in real-time, eliminating the need to switch scenes or exit the game. Streamers can seamlessly access and display web information, making it easier to interact with their audience or showcase relevant content while maintaining a smooth streaming experience.

The Steam in-game overlay integrated web browser.
The Steam in-game overlay integrated web browser.

In summary, this overlay offers a comprehensive range of features that enhance your gaming experience. Whether you want to stay connected with friends, seamlessly browse the web, or simplify multitasking, the in-game overlay serves as a valuable tool that saves time and effort while keeping you fully immersed in your gaming adventures.

How to change the Steam in-game overlay hotkey?

To change the hotkey for the Steam overlay, you can follow these steps:

  1. Launch the Steam client on your computer.
  2. Click on “Steam” in the top-left corner of the client and select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
    Click on "Steam" in the top-left corner of the client and select "Settings" from the drop down menu.
    Click on “Steam” in the top-left corner of the client and select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
  3. In the Settings window, select the “In-Game” tab from the left sidebar.
    n the Settings window, select the "In-Game" tab from the left sidebar.
    n the Settings window, select the “In-Game” tab from the left sidebar.
  4. Look for the “Overlay shortcut keys” section.
    Look for the "Overlay shortcut keys" section.
    Look for the “Overlay shortcut keys” section.
  5. Choose your desired hotkey combination by clicking on it. You can select a single key or a combination of keys (e.g., Shift + F1).
  6. Once you’ve selected your preferred hotkey, the changes will be automatically saved.

Steam Music Player Hotkey

The Steam Music Player is a built-in feature of the Steam client that allows you to listen to your favorite music while playing games. It provides a convenient way to enjoy your music library without needing to switch to a separate music player or minimizing your game.

The Steam Music Player.
The Steam Music Player.

It has integration with the Steam overlay, which means you can access music controls and information while in-game. This enables you to seamlessly manage your music without needing to exit or alt-tab out of your game.

With the Steam Music Player, you can import your music collection from various sources, such as your local computer storage or external drives. It supports popular audio formats like MP3, FLAC, and WAV, allowing you to enjoy high-quality music while gaming.

The Steam Music Player offers a simple and intuitive interface where you can browse through your music library, create playlists, and control playback. You can play, pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, and repeat or shuffle songs directly from within the Steam client.

And if you prefer a personalized music experience, you can create custom soundtracks for specific games. By associating certain playlists or albums with individual games, the Steam Music Player can automatically play your chosen music whenever you launch those games, enhancing the atmosphere and immersion.

How to access the Steam Music Player?

To access the Steam Music Player, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the Steam client on your computer and log in to your Steam account.
  2. In the top-left corner of the Steam client, click on “View”.
  3. In the “View” window, you will find a category called “Music.” Click on it to access the Steam Music Player.
    In the "View" window, you will find a category called "Music." Click on it to access the Steam Music Player.
    In the “View” window, you will find a category called “Music.” Click on it to access the Steam Music Player.

Alternatively, you can also access the Steam Music Player directly from within a game:

  1. While playing a game, press Shift + Tab to open the Steam overlay.
  2. At the bottom of the overlay, you will see a row of options. Click on the “Music” button, to open the Steam Music Player.
    At the bottom of the overlay, you will see a row of options. Click on the "Music" button, to open the Steam Music Player.
    At the bottom of the overlay, you will see a row of options. Click on the “Music” button, to open the Steam Music Player.

Steam Deck Hotkeys

The Steam Deck is a portable gaming device made by Valve. It lets you play your PC games on the go. It has a built-in controller layout like traditional gaming consoles, with a touchscreen, buttons, analog sticks, and a D-pad. The device runs on SteamOS. You can access your existing Steam library and play your PC games directly on the device.

The Steam Deck is equipped with various hotkeys that allow you to perform specific actions and navigate its features. Here is a list of the hotkeys available on the Steam Deck:

  • Steam button + B (hold both buttons): Forcefully shuts down the game.
  • Steam button + X: Brings up the on-screen keyboard.
  • Steam button + L1: Toggles the magnifier function.
  • Steam button + R1: Takes a screenshot.
  • Steam button + L2 (half pull): Performs a right mouse click.
  • Steam button + R2 (half pull): Performs a left mouse click.
  • Steam button + right stick: Uses the right stick as a mouse.
  • Steam button + right trackpad: Activates and moves the mouse cursor.
  • Steam button + R3: Performs a left click with the mouse.
  • Steam button + up on the left stick: Increases brightness.
  • Steam button + down on the left stick: Decreases brightness.
  • Steam button + D-pad right: Simulates the Enter key.
  • Steam button + D-pad down: Simulates the Tab key.
  • Steam button + D-pad left: Simulates the Esc key.

These hotkeys provide quick access to various functions and controls on the Steam Deck, allowing you to perform actions such as closing games, inputting text, capturing screenshots, emulating mouse clicks, adjusting brightness, and more.

It’s important to note that while these hotkeys are generally functional, there may be some cases where they do not work as expected. Specifically, when using desktop mode or launching programs outside of Steam, compatibility issues may arise, especially with fullscreen applications or emulators.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Muhammad Zubyan


Muhammad Zubyan is a certified Google IT Support Professional with over 7 years of extensive experience. He has worked on more than 1500 computers, gaining valuable insights that enable him to detect and troubleshoot any complicated root cause of Windows-related issues and errors. In addition to managing Appuals as a Senior Editor, he is currently developing his own Game Optimization program that caters to both gamers and casual users alike.