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Steam Deck has no shader-cache relocation control documented in Valve’s storage guidance. Start at Steam > Settings > Storage to see what is using space; if game installations are filling the internal drive, move those games to a formatted microSD library. That can ease internal-storage pressure, but Valve’s instructions do not say it moves shader-cache folders.
Check what is using storage
Open Steam > Settings > Storage. Valve identifies this screen as the place to manage system storage and connected storage, so use it to check which device is full and review installed games before deleting hidden files. Valve’s Steam Deck Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide documents this path.
“Other” is a storage category, not a diagnosis that identifies a particular folder. The cited official guidance gives no typical shader-cache size or expected amount of space a cleanup will recover, so treat the Storage screen—not forum estimates—as the guide to your own device.
Free space with Steam’s supported controls
Move or remove games
If installed games are taking up the internal drive, use Steam’s Storage controls to move game installations to another library or uninstall games you no longer need. This manages game installations; it should not be described as relocating shader-cache or compatibility-data directories.
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Add a microSD library
- Insert a microSD card.
- Open Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card and format it for the Deck. Formatting erases the card’s existing contents, so copy off anything you want to keep first.
- Return to Steam > Settings > Storage and use the card as a library location for game installations.
Valve documents support for UHS-I cards rated class 3 or better. UHS-II and UHS-III cards are expected to work, but the Deck does not support their higher transfer speeds. A card provides additional game-library storage; buying or formatting one does not by itself move shader caches or guarantee that every “Other” storage issue will be resolved. Valve’s storage guidance covers card support and the formatting path.
What shader-cache relocation advice online actually involves
Community instructions commonly describe moving shadercache and sometimes compatdata folders to a microSD card, then creating links at the original locations. This is an unofficial filesystem workaround, not a documented Steam client setting. The cited community discussion is anecdotal, began March 15, 2023, and includes reports of launch problems and warnings about instructions that can make a game depend on the removable card. Steam Community discussion
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Deleting cache data is also not a guaranteed, permanent space-saving measure: games may need to rebuild or download data again. The available sources do not establish a universally safe deletion procedure or a predictable amount of space recovered. Avoid copying commands you cannot explain or reverse. Valve cautions in its Steam Deck and Steam Machine Desktop FAQ: “Make sure you know what you’re doing and be careful about running random commands / scripts you find on the internet – you may get your device into a bad state or compromise your data.” Valve also notes that software installed outside Flatpak may be wiped by a SteamOS update.
Protect local data before changing folders
Do not assume Steam Cloud protects every local file. Valve says developers can customize which data a game uploads, including saves, settings, and other user data. Check the individual game’s Steam Cloud support and protect important local data before storage changes; Cloud availability is not a guarantee that every save, configuration, or compatibility file is synchronized. Steamworks Steam Cloud documentation
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If storage changes are followed by instability
For general troubleshooting, Valve recommends installing available system updates and restarting the Deck. It also recommends temporarily exiting or disabling third-party desktop applications while diagnosing an issue. If a game stops launching after a manual folder move, treat the altered paths and card availability as possible causes rather than assuming the game cache alone is responsible. Valve’s troubleshooting guide
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