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Battle.net has no native SteamOS client, but you can run its Windows launcher on a Steam Deck through Proton. The most direct route is to install it in Desktop Mode, add the installed launcher—not just its setup file—to Steam as a non-Steam game, then open it from Gaming Mode. This is a community workaround, not official Blizzard support, and individual games may behave differently.
Before you start
You’ll need a Steam Deck, internet access, a Battle.net account, and enough free storage for the launcher and the games you plan to install. Game sizes and update requirements vary, so check the current requirements for each title rather than relying on a fixed space estimate. A keyboard and mouse can make setup and sign-in easier, though the touchscreen can also help.
SteamOS is Linux-based. Proton lets Steam run many Windows applications and games, but Battle.net itself is not a native Linux application. This setup does not turn Battle.net purchases into Steam purchases: you still need the relevant Blizzard account, game entitlement, and any required subscription. If you own a game’s Steam edition, that version may be a separate installation and may not require the Battle.net launcher.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor the fewest storage complications, start with the Deck’s internal drive. A microSD card can be useful when internal space is limited, but keep the launcher, its Proton prefix, and game files in a consistent location and leave the card mounted when you use them. Filesystem and mount behavior matter; Lutris’s Battle.net documentation warns against NTFS for this use and recommends Ext4. Do not assume that every card or storage arrangement behaves the same.
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Install Battle.net manually with Steam and Proton
1. Switch to Desktop Mode
Press the Steam button, choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop. Valve documents this route in its Steam Deck troubleshooting guide.
2. Download Blizzard’s Windows installer
Open a browser in Desktop Mode and download the Windows Battle.net setup file from Blizzard’s official download page. Use Blizzard’s download, not a repacked installer from a third-party mirror. The exact filename can change; identify the downloaded setup file with an .exe extension.
3. Add the setup file to Steam
- Open Steam in Desktop Mode.
- Select + ADD A GAME… in the lower-left corner, then choose Add a Non-Steam Game….
- Select Browse and look in
/home/deck/Downloads/(or the folder where your browser saved the file). - Select the Battle.net setup
.exeand add it to your library.
If the file picker does not show the installer, change its file filter to show all files. Steam’s non-Steam game instructions describe this library workflow.
4. Force Proton for the installer
Find the setup entry in your Steam library, right-click it, and open Properties → Compatibility. Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool. Start with Proton Experimental or the newest stable Proton version installed on your Deck. Proton versions and launcher behavior change, so no single release is a universal fix. Valve’s Proton project explains the compatibility layer and recommends its Steam-provided builds for most users.
If the version you want is missing, find Proton in the Steam library or Tools section, install it, and restart Steam if necessary. Proton-GE is an optional community build—not Valve’s Proton—and is best treated as a troubleshooting alternative, not a prerequisite. ProtonUp-Qt is commonly used to install community builds.
5. Run the installer
Launch the setup entry from Steam and follow Blizzard’s prompts. The first run may pause while Proton creates its Windows prefix; give it time before deciding it is frozen. Finish the installation, and close the setup when the launcher opens or installation completes.
6. Add the installed launcher, not the setup file
The setup entry only starts the installer. To use Battle.net afterward, add its installed launcher as a second Steam entry:
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- In Steam, choose + ADD A GAME… → Add a Non-Steam Game… → Browse again.
- Navigate to the Proton prefix made by the setup entry. A common parent folder is
/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/. Hidden folders may need to be shown in the file browser. - Identify the prefix created or recently modified during the installation. Prefix numbers are not fixed, so do not copy a number from another Deck.
- Look inside
pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net/forBattle.net Launcher.exe, then add it to Steam.
The directory and executable names above are common examples, not guarantees; an installation can use a different path. Community instructions show this general prefix layout and distinguish the installed launcher from the setup file: Blizzard forum discussion.
7. Apply the same Proton setting to the launcher
Open the new launcher entry’s Properties → Compatibility, enable the compatibility-tool option, and select the same Proton version used for setup. You can rename the entry Battle.net. Keeping the launcher associated with the prefix created by the installer matters: pointing Steam at a launcher in one prefix while using another can lead to repeated logins or missing game installations.
8. Open it from Gaming Mode
Select Return to Gaming Mode on the desktop. Find the entry in the library’s non-Steam section and launch it. Sign in, allow the launcher to update, then install a game. Valve notes that desktop applications added to Steam can appear in the Deck interface’s non-Steam area; see its Steam Deck UI guidance.
The first launch and initial game setup can take time while the launcher, prefix, and game files are created. If controller navigation is awkward, use the touchscreen or a keyboard and mouse for sign-in and launcher menus.
Install and launch a Blizzard game
Once Battle.net opens, choose a game you own or are entitled to access and use its install option. Keep the game files and launcher prefix on storage that remains available, and allow extra free space for updates. A successful launcher installation does not establish that every game will launch or play well.
For the initial setup, launch the game from Battle.net. After the launcher and game work reliably, you can consider adding a separate game shortcut, but the executable must be associated with the right Proton prefix. A shortcut pointing into a different prefix can produce missing-game or sign-in problems. If the launcher is reinstalled, preserve the game directory and use the launcher’s locate or scan option where available instead of deleting the files first.
Storage: internal drive or microSD?
- Internal drive: A sensible first choice for the launcher and games that are giving you trouble. It reduces path and mount complications.
- microSD: Can provide extra capacity, but the card must be mounted whenever the launcher or game runs. Removing or replacing it can break paths, and downloads or updates may take longer. Keep the prefix and game location consistent.
Do not casually put a Proton prefix on NTFS. Lutris specifically flags NTFS as a problem for Battle.net and recommends Ext4 in its Battle.net documentation. This is a filesystem caution, not a claim that every microSD card or Steam Deck storage workflow is unsafe. You also do not need to disable SteamOS’s read-only system design for this normal Steam shortcut method.
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Troubleshooting
The installer does nothing
- Confirm you added the Windows setup
.exeto Steam; do not try to open it as an ordinary Linux application. - Check that a Proton compatibility tool is forced for the setup entry.
- Try Proton Experimental or another installed official Proton release, changing one setting at a time.
- Restart Steam in Desktop Mode and try again.
- Re-download the installer from Blizzard and check available storage.
- If installing from removable storage, test with the internal drive to narrow down path or filesystem issues.
The login window is blank, slow, or won’t accept input
Give the launcher time to initialize, and try the first sign-in in Desktop Mode using the touchscreen or a physical keyboard if controller input is unreliable. Check the Deck’s date and time and confirm the network works. If you use a VPN, proxy, Pi-hole, or restrictive DNS filter, test without it or allow Blizzard and Battle.net services; Lutris notes that blocked domains can stall installation and mentions allowing *.blizzard.com and *.battle.net. Disabling hardware acceleration is another possible workaround, though launcher menus can change.
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The launcher shows a black screen
Try disabling Battle.net hardware acceleration or launcher streaming features if those options are available. Other possible steps are clearing the Battle.net cache inside the same Proton prefix, trying another Proton build, or rebuilding the prefix if its launcher files are corrupted. Menu labels can change, so use Lutris’s troubleshooting notes as supplementary guidance.
Rebuilding or deleting a prefix removes Windows data and configuration stored there and can make installed games appear missing. Preserve game directories first. The launcher may be able to find existing files with an install/locate option or Scan for Games, depending on its current interface.
“No GPU found” or an outdated-GPU warning
This message has prompted version-specific community advice in the past, including recommendations for older Proton releases. Do not treat an old version as a guaranteed current fix. Try Proton Experimental or the latest stable version first, then test another build and record which one works with your SteamOS and game version. One historical community report documents the issue, not a universal solution.
“Battle.net Agent went to sleep”
Fully exit Battle.net, wait for its processes to stop, and restart the Deck. If the error persists, try a different Proton version. If the installation is disposable, a fresh prefix and Battle.net reinstall may help; preserve game files separately first. Users running Battle.net through Lutris should change the runner inside Lutris, not the compatibility setting on an unrelated Steam shortcut. Blizzard forum posts report runner changes helping some people, but these are anecdotal and version-dependent: community report.
Battle.net cannot find an installed game
First distinguish the game files from the launcher’s record of their location. Check that the launcher is running in the prefix where the game was installed. In Battle.net, use the affected game’s install or locate option, or Scan for Games if that option appears, and point it to the existing directory. Do not delete game files until you have tried to reconnect them to the launcher.
The install button is greyed out
Confirm you are signed into the account with the relevant entitlement, that the Deck is online, and that the destination has enough free space. Check that the intended storage is mounted and writable. If the launcher’s install path points to a removed card or unavailable directory, choose a current location.
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The game launches but controller input does not work
Not every launcher-launched game uses Deck controls automatically. Try a different Steam Input layout for the Battle.net shortcut, and use touchscreen, trackpads, or an external keyboard and mouse where the game expects mouse or keyboard input. This is a control-layout issue distinct from whether the game itself is compatible.
It works in Desktop Mode but not Gaming Mode
Check that you are launching the installed Battle.net entry, not the setup file, and that its Compatibility setting uses the same Proton version as the installation. Confirm the prefix and any microSD path are available. If you created multiple shortcuts, test the primary launcher entry first.
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Battle.net, games, Proton, and SteamOS can all update independently, so a working setup can later fail. Change one variable at a time: record the Proton version that worked, try another available build, and avoid changing Proton and deleting a prefix simultaneously. Keep game directories if you rebuild the launcher prefix. A separate setup-file shortcut can be retained for reinstalling Battle.net. If you use Lutris or NonSteamLaunchers, manage runner changes there rather than mixing configuration paths.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Alternative: install with Lutris
Lutris is a third-party Linux game manager available through Discover, with Steam Deck guidance and support for creating Steam shortcuts. It can manage Wine/Proton prefixes and provide Battle.net installation scripts and runner controls, which may suit people who prefer a graphical manager or handle several launchers.
The trade-off is another layer to troubleshoot: a failure could involve Steam, Lutris, its script, the runner, or Battle.net. Menu names and scripts may change, and a Lutris-created game shortcut may not behave exactly like a manually configured one. Lutris is not a Valve or Blizzard-supported Steam Deck installation method.
Alternative: NonSteamLaunchers
NonSteamLaunchers is a community project that automates setup for third-party launchers and can create Steam shortcuts. It can reduce manual prefix browsing, but it is neither an official Valve nor Blizzard tool. Using it means trusting and maintaining third-party code; changes to the project may alter setup behavior. It is optional, not required for the manual method.
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No blanket compatibility promise is justified. Proton support can differ by game and change over time because of anti-cheat or anti-tamper systems, Windows services, graphics requirements, video playback, multiplayer protections, launcher authentication, and control assumptions. Valve’s Deck Verified program evaluates games and middleware, but a Battle.net installation outside Steam does not necessarily have an equivalent Valve compatibility assessment.
| Game | Battle.net path | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| World of Warcraft | Battle.net launcher | Updates or launcher changes may require runner troubleshooting. |
| Diablo IV | Battle.net launcher | Test the current Proton setup; do not assume login or graphics behavior. |
| Diablo II: Resurrected | Battle.net launcher | Keep the game and launcher associated with the intended prefix. |
| Hearthstone | Usually through Battle.net | Touchscreen and controller usability may vary. |
| Overwatch 2 | Battle.net launcher | Check current game-specific compatibility; this guide does not establish it. |
| Call of Duty titles | Varies by title and edition | Multiplayer protections and anti-cheat make current title-specific verification especially important. |
The table describes likely launcher routes, not tested compatibility ratings. Installing Battle.net successfully only confirms the launcher setup; check current, game-specific reports before relying on a title for multiplayer or other critical use.
Uninstall Battle.net without deleting the wrong files
- Remove the Battle.net shortcut from Steam if you no longer want it in the library.
- If you want to remove the launcher and its Windows configuration, identify and delete only the relevant Proton prefix. Deleting a prefix removes data stored inside it, not just the launcher.
- Game files may be stored elsewhere, especially if you chose a separate library location. Delete those separately only if you want to remove the games too.
- If you intend to reinstall Battle.net, preserve the game directories so the launcher can try to locate or scan them afterward.
Do not modify SteamOS’s system image for this process. The normal non-Steam shortcut workflow does not require disabling read-only protections; Valve cautions that system-image modifications are for users who understand their consequences.
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