After the Nintendo Switch brought triple-A gaming to a handheld console, the possibilities seemed endless for what the future could hold. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait that long before the Steam Deck came about and showed us that anything really is possible. This is a high-end handheld gaming console that can run most of the top titles, but it can also work as a portable PC.
In a way that only Valve can manage, you can quite easily install just about whatever you want on a Steam Deck, including Windows 11. Whether any of it is a good idea is up to you, but there’s nothing stopping you.
If you’ve got other consoles this holiday season then check out our guides for how to set up your PS5, how to set up your Xbox Series X/S, or how to set up your Nintendo Switch.
Aperture Desk Job
Much like Astro’s Playground serves as a showcase of the PS5’s capabilities, so too does Aperture Desk Job show off what the Steam Deck can do. It’s a completely free game and should be the first thing you load up once your Deck is running. It’s a great showcase of how things like the rear buttons or the touch pads can enhance games and will open your mind to how you set up your control schemes going forward.
SD Cards
Games are pretty big these days, and unfortunately, the largest SSD size for the Steam Deck isn’t quite up to the task. Chances are you’ll need more storage than you’re given, so getting yourself a large SD card is a good idea. You just have to insert it into the bottom of the console to install it.
Steam button shortcuts
There are a bunch of shortcuts that you can access by pressing buttons simultaneously with the Steam button, but remembering them all is a pain. The two shortcuts you’ll likely use the most are the Steam + X combo which opens an on-screen keyboard, and the Steam + R1 combo which will take a screenshot.
Desktop Mode
If you hold down the Steam button and get to the power options, you’ll find something called Desktop Mode. This will launch your Deck into a Linux PC mode where you can browse the web, tweak internal files and so much more. This is where the true customization aspect of the Steam Deck comes into its own.
Using a dock
If you’re using Desktop Mode, then you’re going to want a mouse and keyboard to navigate it. You can connect devices via Bluetooth if you want, and there is a USB-C port on the console that lets you plug stuff in. However, some extra peripherals can help with this such as a dock. Not only will it let you connect your Steam Deck to a TV, but it gives you more ports to hook up other devices.
Proton compatibility layers
Now it’s time to start dipping our toes into the more technical side. Not every game will work on Steam Deck by default because of the compatibility layer. If you go into Desktop Mode and go on the Discover app then you’ll be able to download something called ProtonUp-Qt. This tool will let you download a bunch of different proton compatibility layers. If a game is running poorly or not booting, then switching the layer it uses might help solve the problem.
Epic Games Store and GOG games
Another tool you can find in Discover is the Heroic Games Launcher. This will let you launch games you have on your Epic Games and GOG accounts. Since not everything is available on Steam, this will greatly expand your library.
Itch.io games
Itch.io is another launcher you can install, but you’ll have to get this one from the itch.io desktop client in Desktop Mode. Note that it will only be able to run games compatible with Linux.
Emudeck
If you want to get your retro games on your Steam Deck and they’re not available on GOG, then you’ll need to find yourself a good emulator. Thankfully Emudeck has just about all of them you could want, from the Neo-Geo to the PS3. The controller configurations can be a bit wonky, especially for something like the Wii, but it’s your best option for emulation.
Windows
Let’s face it, unless you’re a true-blue techy you probably don’t know much about how to work Linux. While it’s not perfect, Windows is far easier for average users and some games like Call of Duty: Warzone 2 and Fortnite require it. It can slow down your deck quite a bit, but it can be worth going out of your way to install it for certain games.
Written by Dave Aubrey and Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.
