Steam Deck Cleaner is not an official Valve app. The name usually means either Deck Cleaner, an older community shell script that clears shader cache, or Storage Cleaner, a Decky Loader plugin that lets you inspect and selectively remove shader cache and compatibility data. Start with Steam > Settings > Storage to uninstall or move games; use a cleaner only when you understand which files it will remove.
What Steam Deck Cleaner actually cleans
“Steam Deck Cleaner” is an ambiguous name, not a single Valve utility. The original Deck Cleaner is a shell script by MiaPepsi. Its release page lists version 1.2, published in September 2022, as the latest release there. It can delete shader-cache contents or move the cache to a microSD card using a symbolic link. Treat it as an older third-party script, not as a current, Valve-supported application.
Storage Cleaner is a separate community plugin for Decky Loader. It can show and selectively clear shader cache and Proton compatibility data for Steam and non-Steam games. Decky Loader must already be installed. Neither tool cleans every file SteamOS labels “Other.”
What the files are
- Shader cache: Files used to avoid compiling shaders from scratch. Steam or a game may rebuild them during gameplay or Steam updates, so clearing them can free space temporarily rather than permanently.
- Compatibility data: Proton prefixes that provide game-specific Windows-style environments. They can hold settings, mods and local files, and potentially saves. Treat them as game data, not automatically disposable junk.
- Other storage: This can include compatibility data and shader cache, but also downloads, Flatpak application data, browser files, mods, emulator files and documents saved in Desktop Mode.
Storage Cleaner scans Steam’s shader-cache and compatibility-data locations, including /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/shadercache and /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata. Their folders use Steam app IDs or game IDs, so a folder name may not be obvious. The plugin can help identify entries, but check what a game needs before deleting its compatibility data.
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Before you remove anything
- Close running games and save your work.
- Back up local saves that are not synced to Steam Cloud, along with any mods, emulator files or Desktop Mode documents you care about. CryoUtilities also warns users to back up saves that are not cloud-saved before cleanup: its project documentation.
- Check whether the game linked to a folder is still installed. Do not delete an unknown
compatdatafolder or clear all compatibility data blindly. - If the internal drive is nearly full, first uninstall one large game through Steam. A critically full drive can leave too little room for tools or updates to work properly.
- If you choose to remove shader cache, be prepared for later regeneration. It is a storage trade-off, not a guaranteed performance improvement.
Use the original Deck Cleaner 1.2 script
Use this route only if you specifically want the older script and are comfortable running a third-party shell file. Download it from the original GitHub releases page, not an unverified mirror. The release page dates version 1.2 to September 2022; its instructions and behavior may not match every later SteamOS or KDE version.
- In Game Mode, open Steam > Power > Switch to Desktop. Valve’s Steam Deck support guidance documents this route to Desktop Mode.
- On the releases page, download the Deck Cleaner 1.2 release asset or source archive. Avoid any file clearly marked outdated. Extract the archive before trying to run the script.
- Find
deckcleaner1.2.sh. In the file manager, right-click it, choose Properties, open Permissions, and enable the option equivalent to Is executable. - Double-click the script. If KDE offers Execute and Open, choose Execute. If the permission checkbox is unavailable or the script does not launch, open Konsole in the script’s folder and run
chmod 755 ./deckcleaner1.2.sh, then try again. This is the permission command listed on the release page. - Read the script’s prompt before confirming. Choose shader-cache deletion only if you accept that files may need to be rebuilt. Choose the microSD move option only when a properly formatted card is installed and you are comfortable with the cache occupying that card’s space.
- Let the script finish before closing Desktop Mode. If you want to launch it from Game Mode later, the original release instructions say to right-click the executable and choose Add to Steam; it should then appear in the library’s Non-Steam section. Menu wording can vary. If that option is missing, run it from Desktop Mode instead.
Use Storage Cleaner through Decky Loader
Storage Cleaner is a better fit if you want a graphical view and per-game selection rather than a broad cache operation. It is community-maintained, not made or endorsed by Valve. Its feature set should be checked in the installed build; do not assume it supports scheduled cleanup, depot-cache removal, trash cleanup or microSD handling.
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- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch 1 (NOT compatible with Nintendo-Switch 2), smartphones, and tablets
- Boost your gaming experience with up to 160MB/s read for fast load times
- A2-rated app performance lets you quickly access and enjoy games and apps without lag for an enhanced gaming experience and a competitive edge
- Store more of your favorite games and other content with capacities up to 2TB
- Built to endure with temperature resistance, waterproofing, x-ray protection, and more
- Install Decky Loader if it is not already installed. The plugin depends on it.
- Open the Steam Deck’s Quick Access menu, then open the Decky plug-in section and Decky settings.
- Find Storage Cleaner and choose Install.
- Open the plugin and let it calculate storage usage. Review the listed games and data categories before selecting anything.
- Select only shader-cache entries you are willing to let regenerate, or compatibility data tied to games you have uninstalled or whose local files you have backed up.
- Use the plugin’s delete action, wait for it to finish, then check Steam > Settings > Storage again.
The plugin can also offer an option to clear all listed shader-cache or compatibility-data entries. A one-click option does not make every entry safe to remove: avoid clearing compatibility data for installed games without checking their local files first.
Try SteamOS storage tools first
Uninstall or move games
Open Steam > Settings > Storage to manage internal and connected storage. Uninstall games you no longer play, or move compatible installations to a microSD card through Steam’s storage controls. Valve says the Deck supports UHS-I microSD cards rated class 3 or better; UHS-II and UHS-III cards may work, but their higher speeds are not supported by the Deck. See Valve’s storage and Desktop Mode support page.
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- Steam Deck users: For optimal gaming performance, including the ability to store and load video games, we suggest using a Gen4x4 2230 SSD.
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Clear download cache only for download problems
Use Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache when troubleshooting downloads, not as a general shader-cache cleaner. Valve says clearing it does not affect installed games but requires signing in to Steam again: Clear Download Cache.
Inspect files Steam does not manage
Use Desktop Mode to review personal downloads, the trash, browser files, Flatpak data, mods and emulator folders when Steam’s storage view does not account for the space. Remove only files you recognize and no longer need. The label “Other” is not a diagnosis that all of its contents are safe to delete.
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Which cleanup option fits?
| Action | Potential benefit | Trade-off or risk |
|---|---|---|
| Delete shader cache | Frees space used by existing cached shaders. | Steam or games may rebuild files during play or updates; compilation or downloads may be needed again. |
| Delete old compatibility data | Can reclaim space used by an unneeded Proton prefix. | May remove local settings, mods or saves. Delete only for an uninstalled game or after confirming backups. |
| Move shader cache to microSD | Keeps the cache off internal storage. | Still uses card capacity and changes where the files reside; requires a suitable installed card. |
| Uninstall a game | Releases space used by that installation. | You must reinstall or move it before playing from internal storage again. |
| Add storage capacity | Provides room when repeated cleanup is not enough. | A microSD card is an optional purchase; replacing an internal SSD is more involved and can require reinstalling or repairing SteamOS. |
If you repeatedly run out of space after removing games and unneeded files, adding capacity may be more practical than repeatedly clearing regenerating caches. Valve’s Steam Deck page and iFixit Steam Deck repair guides are starting points for understanding the device and the more involved SSD-replacement route. No particular card model or price is established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot cleanup problems
The script opens in a text editor or does nothing
Confirm the archive was extracted, the file is deckcleaner1.2.sh, and it is marked executable. In KDE, choose Execute, not Open. If necessary, run chmod 755 ./deckcleaner1.2.sh from the script’s directory and launch it again. If the menu labels or behavior differ, use Desktop Mode and avoid running a copy obtained from an untrusted mirror.
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The storage figure barely changes
Give Steam’s storage view time to refresh, then check what was actually removed. Shader cache may be only a small part of “Other”; compatibility data, downloads, Flatpak files and personal data can remain. The relevant library may also be on another drive, and a game can recreate shader files after launch.
A game stutters or behaves differently afterward
- Reboot the Deck.
- Launch the affected game and allow shaders or compatibility files to regenerate.
- If the problem continues, verify the game files through Steam.
- Consider recreating or reinstalling the game’s Proton prefix only as a later troubleshooting step, after protecting local saves and other needed files.
- Restore backed-up files if a deleted prefix contained configuration or save data.
Missing cached data may coincide with extra compilation or downloads, but shader-cache deletion is not established as the cause of every stutter or game problem.
Keep the cleanup proportionate
For a routine space shortage, remove or move games in Steam first. Use selective shader-cache cleanup when temporary relief is worth possible regeneration, and treat compatdata as potentially valuable game data. CryoUtilities includes storage cleanup, but also offers swap, memory and VRAM-related controls; it is a broader system utility rather than a simple cache cleaner. A Factory Reset is not routine cleanup: Valve says it clears local data and can reinstall SteamOS. See Valve’s recovery instructions.
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