OVERSteamOS 3.9.4 Beta fixes 720p screenshots and loading-screen bugs, but switches off hibernation on Steam Deck for now
Valve shipped SteamOS 3.9.4 to the Beta and Preview channels on October 21. It's a cleanup release for the 3.9 branch, which is still in testing and moves SteamOS to a Linux 7.2 kernel, KDE Plasma 6.7 in Desktop Mode, and fixes for the Legion Go 2 and some ASUS handhelds. This build fixes regressions that earlier 3.9 betas introduced and adds a security update. It also pauses one of the branch's headline experiments on the Steam Deck.
What's fixed
- Screenshots at full resolution again: earlier 3.9 betas saved screenshots at 720p even when the screen and game ran higher, which mainly hit docked Decks and other handhelds.
- Apps behind the loading screen: some games, A Plague Tale: Innocence among them, ran hidden behind Steam's loading screen. That regression is fixed.
- Desktop Mode after a time-zone change: changing your time zone could block the switch to Desktop Mode until you rebooted.
- Audio clicks on the 3.5mm jack with sensitive earphones and speakers should happen less often.
- Steam Machine: firmware updates that sometimes failed to apply now go through.
Security update
3.9.4 revokes certificates from certificate authorities whose private keys turned out to be insecure. It's part of the same clean-up that Valve's October 21 Steam client updates (stable and beta) applied to their certificate revocation lists. On the stable client, the same day's update also fixed Vulkan games hanging after an alt-tab in Desktop Mode.
Hibernation is paused on Steam Deck
The 3.9 betas have been laying the groundwork for hibernation, which saves the whole system to storage so a sleeping handheld uses no battery. 3.9.4 improves that support in general but turns it off on Steam Deck because of driver bugs that haven't been fixed yet. Valve hasn't said when it will come back. Ordinary sleep isn't affected. The feature was never exposed in the Game Mode interface, so most Deck owners won't notice.
Should you install it?
If you're already on the Beta or Preview channel, yes: it fixes bugs the earlier betas introduced and includes the security update. If you're on Stable, there's no rush. GamingOnLinux hopes Valve brings the security fixes to the stable channel soon. To switch channels, go to Settings → System → System Update Channel. SteamOS also runs on the Legion Go S and Go 2 and on other PC handhelds, so check our compatibility reports before you change your setup.