Steam Deck Desktop – FAQ
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Steam Deck Desktop Mode is designed for a complete Steam gaming experience: gamers can browse, download Steam games, text or voice chat with friends with Steam Chat, and receive game and system updates You can adjust Steam Deck settings and more. All within the default deck user experience. Also, Steam Deck is a PC and you can easily access the desktop and do much more. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we get about using the desktop on the Steam deck.
How do I get to the desktop?
In the Steam menu, choose Power, then Switch to Desktop
How do I get back to the Deck UI from the Desktop?
On the desktop, there is a link to ‘Back to Game Mode’. Select it to return to the standard Steam Deck UI. You can also go back to Log Out to go back through the system menu.
Can I use the desktop without a keyboard and mouse?
You can use the trackpad as a mouse. Clicking on the right touchpad is a primary click, and clicking on the left touchpad is a secondary click. When Steam is running, if you press Steam + X, you can open the on-screen keyboard. We’re still working on improving it, and you may run into situations where you’ll need to connect a physical keyboard and mouse.
Does Steam Deck Control Work in Desktop Mode?
Yes, if you’re running Steam, apps and games in SteamOS desktop mode have access to entries in your Steam deck.
How do I install apps?
Currently, this is a standard KDE Plasma experience in terms of software installation. You can use the Discover Software Center (on the taskbar) to install applications. Discover Software Center installs applications on the writable portion of your drive using Flatpak technology (more on this below). If you know the Linux command line, you can directly use flatpak command to install the application. Common browsers, music players, and other types of applications are already available through these methods, and we expect many more to be updated, fixed, and available after launch.
What is the flat pack?
Flatpak is a package management and software deployment utility for Linux. We like it because it provides a way to install and run apps on the Steam Deck on the writable portion of the disc, along with the rest of your games and content, ensuring that future updates to the Steam Deck system won’t break it. will not go. ,
What if I want to do more than what is available in Flatpak?
Totally fine, although it comes with a number of caveats. Make sure you know what you are doing and be careful running random commands/scripts you find on the Internet; This could cause your Steam deck to be corrupted or your data to be compromised. Also, anything you install outside of Flatpak (via Pacman, for example) may be wiped out with the next SteamOS update.
With that out of the way, if you move out of Flatpak and need to edit a read-only image, you can enable it with the following command:
sudo Steamos-Readonly disable
See below for instructions on using Sudo with the Steam deck. One more caveat to complete the sandwich warning: don’t do the above unless you know what you’re doing.
How do I run Sudo command?
The default platform is sent to the user without a password. This is a secure setting that prevents access via ssh and cannot be used to run commands via Sudo, If you want to set a password to run the Sudo command, open a terminal window and set a strong password using the passed workspace. At that point you Sudo. You can use it anywhere height is required.
I messed up my steam deck and now it’s acting weird. How can I get back in a good condition? You can find recovery instructions for Steam Deck in this article.
Can I run applications installed on the desktop in deck mode?
if you. On the desktop, go to the Steam client and click the “Add a game” button in the lower left corner, click “Add a non-Steam game,” then find the app you’ve installed in the list. This app will now appear in the Deck UI Library under the “Non-Steam” tab.
Can I Play Steam Games as well as Desktop Apps in Deck Mode?
Yes! While running a game or app, press the Steam button and go to your Home/Library to launch another app. It’ll appear in the menu on the left, which you can use to switch back and forth. It’s great for listening to music, chatting with friends, or playing games.
