Method 1: Exit through the Quick Access Menu
This is the normal, non-destructive way to close a game and works most of the time. Press the STEAM button to open the main menu, then select Exit Game. This closes the game cleanly and saves your progress where the game supports it.
Method 2: Force quit an unresponsive game
If a game is frozen and the Steam menu won't respond, hold the STEAM button for about 3 seconds. This brings up the Power menu, which includes an option to force-close the current application even when it's not responding normally. This is the go-to fix for a hung or crashed game that won't let you back out.
Method 3: Hard reset as a last resort
If the whole system is frozen and neither of the above responds, hold the power button for about 10 seconds to force a full shutdown. This is a last resort — unsaved progress will be lost — but it reliably gets you back to a working state. Power the Deck back on normally afterward.
If this keeps happening
A game that regularly needs force-closing is usually a sign of a specific compatibility or driver issue rather than something wrong with your Deck. Checking the game's ProtonDB page for known Steam Deck issues, or making sure the game and SteamOS are both fully updated, are the first things worth trying.