MSI Claw A8

[00-prog]

SteamOS cannot be installed on the MSI Claw A8 handheld PC based on AMD Z2Extreme. When attempting to boot from USB, the system displays the Claw logo and then gets stuck in an infinite loading state, with no further progress.

[jvitry]

The last build of Steam os 3.8:
https://steamdeck-images.steamos.cloud/steamdeck/20251027.1100/steamdeck-oobe-repair-main-20251027.1100-3.8.0.img.zip
Can be installed on msi claw a8 BZ2EM, but home btn and the right overlay btn not work… If someone know how fix it easly, It would be amazing 😍

Note: the other btn on the gamepad only work partially and only after installing the first game, it's strange, it's not yet usable as it is :/

[Fleishmann83]

This is awesome I'm running Bazzite on it but will swap to SteamOS as soon as it's working.

[thomasman52]

Has any one tried setting to Main and performing the updates to 3.9 and latest builds yet? I installed it on claw A8 Z2E the controls are still not working. In controller it is shown as a steam controller. if Valve can bake in the hid-msi-claw module in the kernel it may work.

[fengguangzhiyan]

Has any one tried setting to Main and performing the updates to 3.9 and latest builds yet? I installed it on claw A8 Z2E the controls are still not working. In controller it is shown as a steam controller. if Valve can bake in the hid-msi-claw module in the kernel it may work.

I tried installing the January 23 build and the January 27 build.
The January 23 version already had quite complete controller support; the only missing parts were the volume buttons and the Steam menu button (neither of them worked). Interestingly, the Steam button could not open its pop-up menu, but the Steam + X shortcut for bringing up the on-screen keyboard did work.
After I installed the January 27 build, everything became much worse. Only the right analog stick and the button for opening the right-side quick menu worked properly. The left analog stick was recognized as a mouse. In addition, after updating to the January 27 build, the system could no longer boot and kept restarting in a loop. I had to boot from a SteamOS installation USB and use the built-in repair tools before I could enter SteamOS normally again.

[thomasman52]

Replying to #2082 (comment)

One of the Dev of inputplumber said that he is receiving a Claw A8 today and he will start working on getting the A8 Claw controls working

ShadowBlip/InputPlumber#509 (comment)

If he can get the A8 controls working then hopefully it will be one step further in getting steam os and cachyos working fully on the A8.

[fengguangzhiyan]

Replying to #2082 (comment)

That’s really great to hear. When I bought the A8, my original intention was to install SteamOS and use it for gaming, but after I got the device and tried installing it, I found that it wasn’t supported.
If the A8 can’t run SteamOS, then it’s simply not as competitive as the C8. Hopefully, the A8 will be able to support SteamOS as soon as possible.

[thomasman52]

I am running Cachyos on it but it uses the bazzite kernel with HHD not ideal but it works. I tried bazzite it works and Windows is pretty good on the A8

[JanekGraff]

I am running Cachyos on it but it uses the bazzite kernel with HHD not ideal but it works. I tried bazzite it works and Windows is pretty good on the A8

I'm running bazzite on mine. Didn't have any issues so far, besides TDP controls not working

[liszero]

Has the issue with Claw A8 been resolved? I want to install the official SteamOS, but I'm worried about various problems that might lead to repeated firmware flashing.

[marticztn]

@liszero I successfully installed the official SteamOS 3.9.0 on my A8, and it works quite well overall (aside from a few buttons not working, which isn’t a dealbreaker for me)

[liszero]

@liszero I have successfully installed the official SteamOS 3.9.0 on my A8 and it actually works pretty well

Are all the buttons on the Claw A8 working properly? Including those in standby and other modes?

[thomasman52]

The last time I installed steam os inputplumber still did not the A8 controller most of the controls work

Version: Steam OS 3.9

Build - 20260205.1000

What Works:

Games will Install and Run

Gamemode and Desktop Mode

Wifi and Ethernet works

What Does Not Work

A8 Controls - Face buttons, Sticks, Dpad, Start and Select, QAM button works. Steam Menu button is mapped to B and only works in Gamemode Home screen. Back Buttons not tested.

No Native TDP - Use SimpledeckyTDP

No Native RGB Controls - Use Huesync from Honjow

[marticztn]

@liszero I have successfully installed the official SteamOS 3.9.0 on my A8 and it actually works pretty well

Are all the buttons on the Claw A8 working properly? Including those in standby and other modes?

Not all of them. The following buttons are not working (SteamOS 3.9):

1. Both back buttons
2. The volume buttons
3. The two small buttons on the left side of the screen
4. The upper button of the two small buttons on the right side of the screen

Interestingly, the upper button of the two small buttons on the left side is recognized by the OS. You can verify this in SteamOS Settings using the button test: when that small button is pressed, the system detects the input on screen. However, it still has no actual function mapped anywhere in the system.

[liszero]

Replying to #2082 (comment)

thankyou