The Tool Desk
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Use two different routes: install the Epic Games Store launcher through Heroic Games Launcher in Desktop Mode, then add each installed game to Steam; for Xbox Game Pass, use Microsoft’s documented Xbox Cloud Gaming in Edge setup. Epic titles can run locally when a particular game is compatible with SteamOS and its Linux/Proton configuration. The Game Pass route streams from Microsoft’s servers and is not a way to install the Xbox PC Game Pass catalog locally on SteamOS.
The Steam Deck OLED uses the same SteamOS desktop and Gaming Mode workflow as other Deck models. The exact first-run prompts, controls and compatibility still vary by game, so treat each non-Steam title as its own setup rather than assuming that one successful launch represents an entire storefront.
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Which route should you use?
Choose the route based on where the game actually runs. Heroic downloads Epic games to the Deck and launches them locally. Edge opens Xbox Cloud Gaming, where the game runs remotely and video is streamed to the Deck.
| Route | Where the game runs | What you install | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epic through Heroic | Locally on the Steam Deck | Heroic Games Launcher and the selected game | Compatibility, launchers, account pop-ups and Proton behavior differ by title |
| Xbox Game Pass through Edge | Microsoft’s cloud servers | Microsoft Edge shortcut configured in Steam | Microsoft says Edge on SteamOS is not officially supported; service, account and regional eligibility can change |
| Xbox PC Game Pass installed locally | Not established by the documented SteamOS procedure | No reliable native installation route is provided by the cited material | Do not confuse the cloud-streaming walkthrough with a local Xbox app installation |
A USB-C hub, keyboard and mouse can make desktop configuration more comfortable, but none is required for the handheld instructions. Valve’s docking guidance covers common connections such as wired networking and an external display.
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What do you need before adding either library?
- A Steam Deck OLED with SteamOS updated to the latest available release.
- An Epic account for Epic Games Store titles, or a Microsoft account and an eligible Xbox cloud-gaming subscription or access entitlement for the cloud catalog you intend to use.
- Enough internal or microSD storage for any Epic games you install locally. Cloud-streamed games do not consume game-install storage, although Edge and its data still use a small amount of space.
- A stable internet connection for downloads, account sign-in and cloud streaming. The supplied documentation does not establish a universal minimum speed or a guaranteed streaming performance level.
Desktop Mode is the starting point because SteamOS treats the Deck as a Linux PC as well as a console-like Steam device. Valve’s basic-use guide explains the switch between Gaming Mode and Desktop Mode, while its desktop FAQ describes Discover and desktop applications.
How do I add Epic Games to Steam Deck OLED?
Install Heroic’s Flatpak in Desktop Mode, sign in to Epic, install the game in Heroic, and use Heroic’s Steam integration to create a library entry. The resulting entry is a non-Steam shortcut: Steam can launch it, but Steam does not become the Epic storefront or manage the game’s Epic updates.
1. Switch to Desktop Mode
- Press the Steam button.
- Open Power.
- Choose Switch to Desktop and wait for the KDE desktop to load.
If you are using the Deck handheld, the on-screen keyboard and trackpads are sufficient. A dock, USB-C hub or external keyboard and mouse are optional conveniences rather than prerequisites.
2. Install Heroic from Discover
- Open Discover from the desktop taskbar or application menu.
- Search for Heroic Games Launcher.
- Install the Flatpak package supplied through Discover.
Heroic’s own Steam Deck guide recommends the Flatpak workflow. Flatpak applications are installed on the writable portion of the drive; Valve’s desktop FAQ also warns that software installed outside Flatpak can be affected by SteamOS updates. That is why a casual copy-and-paste terminal recipe is not a better default here.
3. Sign in and install an Epic title
- Launch Heroic from the desktop application menu.
- Choose the Epic Games Store sign-in option and complete the account authentication flow in the browser window or prompt that appears.
- Open your library in Heroic, select the game, choose Install, and select the storage location.
- Allow the download and any launcher or runtime setup to finish before trying to add the title to Steam.
Installation location matters when the Deck has both internal and removable storage. Keep the game and its associated files in a location that remains mounted under the same path; moving storage later can require reconfiguring the entry in Heroic.
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4. Add the game to Steam
- In Heroic, use the game’s menu or library action to Add to Steam (the wording can change with Heroic releases).
- Close or minimize Heroic and return to Gaming Mode using the desktop’s Return to Gaming Mode option, or the equivalent Steam menu command.
- Open the Steam library and look in the Non-Steam section for the new entry.
- Launch the game from that shortcut. If the first run asks for an account link, a browser confirmation or another setup interaction, return to Desktop Mode and complete it there.
Heroic’s Linux quick-start documentation and Steam Deck notes describe first-run interactions that may need a desktop session. Do not delete and reinstall a game merely because its first launch pauses for a login or configuration window.
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Epic compatibility is title-specific. A game can require a desktop first launch, a particular Proton or Wine configuration, an embedded launcher login, or an interaction that is difficult to complete in Gaming Mode.
- Return to Desktop Mode for the initial run. Complete browser pop-ups, account linking, redistributable prompts or controller setup where you can see the full window.
- Check the title’s Deck status. Valve defines Verified as working well by default, Playable as requiring manual configuration, Unsupported as not considered playable, and Unknown as not tested by Valve. These labels describe Deck compatibility and are not a guarantee for every Epic storefront build.
- Update SteamOS and restart. Valve lists installing available SteamOS updates and restarting among the first troubleshooting steps.
- Remove conflicts. Valve’s software troubleshooting guidance recommends exiting or disabling other third-party Desktop Mode applications when non-Steam software is unstable.
- Use the launcher’s support information. If the problem is specific to Heroic or one game’s configuration, consult Heroic’s current documentation or the game’s support channel instead of assuming that all Epic games share the same fix.
Do not interpret a successful installation as proof that every game in the Epic catalog will work. Anti-cheat, launchers, video codecs, online services and controller interfaces can all change the result from one title to another.
How do I play Xbox Game Pass games on Steam Deck OLED?
Microsoft’s documented Deck procedure is Xbox Cloud Gaming in Microsoft Edge. It creates a Steam shortcut for the browser, then opens the cloud service from Gaming Mode; it does not install Xbox PC Game Pass games on SteamOS.
1. Understand the Game Pass distinction
“Game Pass on Deck” can mean two different things. Cloud gaming sends the game from Microsoft’s servers to Edge. Local PC installation would require a supported Xbox application and a compatible Windows-style game environment on SteamOS. The supplied Microsoft walkthrough documents only the first option, so do not present its Edge steps as a local-install method.
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2. Install Microsoft Edge in Desktop Mode
- Press Steam, open Power, and choose Switch to Desktop.
- Open Discover.
- Search for Microsoft Edge and install it.
Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming in Microsoft Edge with Steam Deck walkthrough then has you configure Edge’s launch options and add it to Steam. Follow the current wording in that guide rather than relying on an old screenshot, because Steam and Edge package labels can change.
3. Configure the Steam shortcut
- Use Microsoft’s walkthrough to set the Edge launch options required for the Xbox cloud-gaming page and controller-friendly browser operation.
- Add the configured Edge application to Steam as a non-Steam game.
- Return to Gaming Mode and find the Edge shortcut in the non-Steam library.
- Launch it, sign in, open Xbox Cloud Gaming and choose a supported game from the catalog available to your account.
Keyboard and mouse input can simplify the initial browser setup, but the accessory is optional. If a shortcut opens a normal Edge window instead of the cloud service, return to Desktop Mode and compare the target and launch options with Microsoft’s current instructions.
4. Account, region and service caveats
Access depends on Microsoft’s current service availability, your account, subscription or entitlement, and the catalog offered in your region. The retrieved walkthrough does not settle every eligibility question, so verify those details when you set up the Deck.
Microsoft also says Edge on SteamOS is not officially supported by Microsoft and that Microsoft does not actively maintain the Edge Flatpak. The procedure is documented, but it is not equivalent to having a native, fully supported Xbox application for SteamOS.
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Can I install Xbox PC Game Pass games locally on SteamOS?
The documented material does not establish a reliable SteamOS-native process for installing the Xbox PC Game Pass catalog locally. The supported, documented choice in this setup is cloud streaming through Edge, so avoid promising that an Xbox PC Game Pass download will work merely because the Edge shortcut works.
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Local installation also has a different storage, launcher and compatibility profile from cloud gaming. If local access is essential for a particular title, verify that title’s current SteamOS support and the publisher’s account requirements separately; do not infer support from its presence in a cloud catalog.
How do I add a non-Steam app to the Deck library?
Steam’s Add a Non-Steam Game flow creates a shortcut that appears in the Deck interface. Valve explains the process in its non-Steam library support article.
- In Desktop Mode, open the Steam client.
- Choose Games and then Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.
- Select the installed application, or browse to its executable when it is not listed.
- Confirm the selection and return to Gaming Mode.
For Heroic games, using Heroic’s own Add to Steam action is generally preferable because it can preserve the launcher’s configuration. For Edge, use Microsoft’s launch options before adding the browser shortcut.
A shortcut does not transfer ownership to Steam, add the title to your Steam entitlement, or provide Steam-managed updates. Updates, cloud-save behavior, account authentication and repair tools remain the responsibility of Heroic, Epic, Edge, Microsoft and the individual game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should I do when the shortcut is missing or broken?
Most missing-entry problems come from adding the app in the wrong desktop session, changing its install path, or returning to Gaming Mode before the launcher has finished creating the shortcut.
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- Return to Desktop Mode and open Heroic or Steam directly.
- Confirm that the game or browser still launches from the original application.
- Use Heroic’s Steam integration again, or repeat Steam’s Add a Non-Steam Game flow.
- Check that removable storage is mounted and that the installed path has not changed.
- Restart the Deck after applying SteamOS updates.
If another desktop utility is running, exit it temporarily while diagnosing the non-Steam app. Valve advises contacting the application’s support team when the issue persists after updates, restarts and removal of possible third-party conflicts.
How should I troubleshoot controls, pop-ups and cloud streaming?
- Controls work in Desktop Mode but not Gaming Mode: complete the first launch in Desktop Mode, then relaunch from the Steam shortcut; the game may need its controller profile adjusted in Steam.
- A browser login never finishes: use a keyboard or mouse if available, complete the account prompt in Desktop Mode, and then retry the shortcut.
- The Epic game shows a black screen or closes: check the game’s current Deck rating and Heroic guidance; avoid treating a fix for one title as a catalog-wide solution.
- Cloud play stutters or disconnects: streaming quality depends on the network path and Microsoft’s service conditions. The cited sources provide no universal speed guarantee, so test the connection where you plan to play and avoid presenting a specific minimum as official.
- Edge opens the wrong page: compare its shortcut target and launch options with Microsoft’s current Steam Deck walkthrough, then recreate the shortcut if necessary.
What changes between Steam Deck OLED and other Deck models?
The OLED model does not require a separate Epic or Game Pass installation method in the supplied documentation. The relevant distinction is SteamOS Desktop Mode versus Gaming Mode, not the panel type. Storage capacity, Wi-Fi conditions, accessories and the exact SteamOS build can affect convenience, download time and streaming quality, but they do not turn the Edge cloud procedure into a local Xbox installation.
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The routes above follow the documented workflows from Valve, Heroic and Microsoft. The selection criteria were: whether the method has an explicit Steam Deck procedure, whether it identifies where the game runs, whether it explains how to expose the app in Gaming Mode, and whether its support and compatibility limits are stated clearly. No compatibility percentage, speed figure or performance score is implied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Steam Deck OLED need a dock to install Epic or Xbox apps?
No. Desktop Mode can be controlled with the Deck’s screen, trackpads and on-screen keyboard. A USB-C hub, external keyboard or mouse is simply a convenience for longer account and launch-option setup sessions.
Will Epic cloud saves and achievements appear when I launch through Heroic?
That depends on the particular game and the services it uses; adding a shortcut to Steam does not itself migrate saves or achievements. Check the game’s Epic and publisher account requirements before assuming that progress will synchronize.
Can I use a microSD card for Heroic games?
Heroic can install a title to a selected storage location, but the card must remain mounted at a consistent path for the launcher shortcut to keep working. If the path changes, revisit Heroic and recreate or repair the Steam entry.
Is Microsoft Edge on Steam Deck an officially supported Xbox app?
No. Microsoft documents the Edge cloud-gaming setup but states that Edge on SteamOS is not officially supported and that Microsoft does not actively maintain the Edge Flatpak. Treat it as a documented workaround for browser streaming, not a native Xbox SteamOS client.
Why does a game show as Unknown in Steam’s compatibility information?
Unknown means Valve has not tested or classified that title in its compatibility system. It is not a promise that the game fails, nor proof that the Epic storefront build will behave identically to a Steam release.
