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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →SteamOS 0.4.4 Beta adds a high sensitivity option for Steam Frame’s presence sensor. Find it under VR Settings > Startup / Shutdown > Presence Sensor. Valve says the option is intended to keep the displays on under a wider range of conditions, including when using glasses spacers, but it does not publish test results or guarantee that the setting will prevent every unexpected blackout.
What changed in SteamOS 0.4.4 Beta?
Valve’s SteamOS 0.4.4 Beta release notes list two new items: the presence sensor sensitivity option and improved tooltip sort ordering. The update is for Steam Frame’s Beta channel, which includes features still being tested.
The same announcement also shows notes accumulated from earlier 0.4 releases. Those earlier changes are not new in 0.4.4.
How to change Steam Frame’s presence sensor sensitivity
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If you are not already on the Steam Frame Beta channel, open Settings > System > System Update Channel and select it.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSpecial offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
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Open VR Settings > Startup / Shutdown > Presence Sensor.
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Select the new high sensitivity option, then check whether the displays stay on in your usual fit and wearing conditions.
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The channel selection path and presence sensor menu path are given in Valve’s release note.
Will high sensitivity stop the Steam Frame display from going black?
Valve describes the option as keeping displays on under a wider range of conditions, specifically mentioning the use of glasses spacers. That is the stated purpose of the setting, not a quantified promise: Valve publishes no detection threshold, test protocol, success rate, or measured reduction in black screens.
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GamingOnLinux reported user complaints about displays going black during some movements in its October 6, 2026 coverage. Those reports provide context for the change, but do not establish that the sensor is the cause in every case or that high sensitivity resolves every complaint.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to expect from the setting
The release note identifies a high-sensitivity option but does not describe a numeric scale, thresholds, or a controlled comparison with the existing behavior. The practical comparison is whether the displays remain on more reliably in your own fit and wearing conditions. Valve’s note offers glasses spacers as an example; it does not establish compatibility for any particular spacer.
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If the displays still turn off unexpectedly after changing the setting, the release note does not provide a further diagnosis or troubleshooting procedure. It also does not establish that the setting addresses every possible cause of a display turning off.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- PC VR Gaming Headset: Immerse yourself in low-latency VIVEPORT and SteamVR gameplay. DisplayPort mode delivers lossless, high-fidelity visuals straight from your PC.(1) Connect your PC directly to your Wi-Fi router using an Ethernet cable for PC VR streaming.
- Make Interactions Real: Connect in VRChat like never before. With built-in eye tracking and low-light hand tracking; plus face and body tracker support, movement in VR is intuitive and lifelike.(2)(3)
- Immersive 5k Headset Display: The immersive display puts you right at the heart of the action with a 5K resolution of 2448 x 2448 pixels per eye, up to 120° field of view, and 90 Hz refresh rate.
- Personalize Your Fit: Auto-IPD adjustment aligns the XR headset's lenses with the centers of your pupils, giving your eyes the clearest, most comfortable viewing experience.(4)
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