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For a game you own on Steam, open it in Gaming Mode and choose Install. For a game from another store, an existing install, or a Windows installer, switch to Desktop Mode and add the relevant launcher or executable to Steam as a non-Steam game. That creates a library shortcut; it does not install or license the game by itself.
Choose the right way to add the game
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You bought the game on Steam | Install it from your Library in Gaming Mode. |
| The game is already installed on the Deck | Add its executable to the desktop Steam client as a non-Steam game. |
You have a Windows installer such as setup.exe |
Add and run the installer through Steam in Desktop Mode, then change that shortcut to the installed game’s executable. |
| You own it through Epic, GOG, Amazon, Ubisoft, or another store | Install it using that store’s launcher or a compatible game manager, then add the launcher or game to Steam if you want a Gaming Mode shortcut. |
| The game is on another PC | Use Steam Remote Play or another streaming method. A shortcut does not copy the game to the Deck. |
| You mean a ROM or emulated game | That requires a separate emulator and legally obtained game files; it is different from installing a Steam game. |
Install a Steam game in Gaming Mode
- Open the Store or Library.
- Select the game and choose Install.
- If Steam asks where to install it, choose the internal drive or a formatted microSD card.
- Check the download queue and wait for installation to finish, then select Play.
Steam Deck’s standard interface is designed to browse, download, install, update, and launch Steam games. See Valve’s Steam Deck FAQ. Windows games may run through Proton, but compatibility varies by title, launcher, anti-cheat, peripherals, and software version; installation alone does not guarantee that a game will run.
If a game is already installed and you want to move it, use Steam’s storage-management controls rather than copying its folder manually. Menu wording and placement can change with Steam client updates.
Add an already-installed game as a non-Steam game
- Press the Steam button, choose Power, then Switch to Desktop.
- Open the desktop Steam client.
- Select Add a Game in the lower-left corner, then choose Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Select the game or application. If it is not listed, choose Browse and locate its executable.
- Choose Add Selected Programs.
- Return to Gaming Mode and find it in the Library’s Non-Steam section.
This creates a shortcut in your Steam library; it does not turn the game into a Steam purchase, validate Steam ownership, or provide Steam-managed downloads and updates. Valve explains this distinction in its Add a Non-Steam Game support page. A shortcut can provide access to controller configuration, per-game settings, overlay features, screenshots, and Gaming Mode, but support varies by game and launcher. You can edit its properties and artwork if its initial name or icon is generic.
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Install a Windows game from an .exe
If the game is not installed yet, adding its installer is only the first part of the process. A practical community-documented approach is to run the installer through Steam and keep the installed game associated with that same shortcut and Proton prefix. It is not a universal Valve-supported recipe, and installer paths can be awkward to find.
- Switch to Desktop Mode and open Steam.
- Choose Add a Game → Add a Non-Steam Game → Browse, select the installer such as
setup.exeorinstall.exe, and add it. - Open the new shortcut’s Properties → Compatibility. If needed, enable the option to force a Steam Play compatibility tool and select a Proton version.
- Run the shortcut to install the game. If the installer prompts for a destination, note where it installs the game.
- After installation, edit the same Steam shortcut and change its target from the installer to the game’s actual
.exe. Keep the compatibility setting, then launch it again.
The installer and the game are different executables: if the shortcut still targets the installer, pressing Play may reopen setup instead of starting the game. The game may be inside a hidden Proton prefix. In the file manager, enable display of hidden files if you cannot see the relevant folders. Community guidance on the installer-first workflow and finding the installed executable describes these path and prefix issues.
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- 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
Choose internal storage or a microSD card
- For a new card, use the Deck’s built-in storage controls to format it as a Steam library before installing games. Formatting erases the card, so back up anything important first.
- Choose the card when Steam offers a storage location, rather than assuming a manually copied Windows library will work unchanged.
- A microSD card’s write speed can affect installation time, according to Steam’s download troubleshooting guidance.
- Keep in mind that a removable card adds another point of failure: it must be inserted, mounted, and readable when you launch a game.
Community reports describe filesystem and Proton-prefix complications when sharing Windows-oriented installations from NTFS cards, but these reports are not a universal Valve specification. See the community discussion of shared NTFS libraries. For a Steam Deck library, prefer the Deck’s own formatting and installation controls over assuming a PC library can simply be moved.
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Use another store or launcher
For Epic, GOG, Amazon, Ubisoft, and other stores, the store still manages its own account, downloads, and updates. In Desktop Mode, install or run the appropriate launcher, install the game through it, then add either the launcher or the game’s executable to Steam as a non-Steam shortcut. Add the launcher when the game depends on it for login, updates, or DRM; a direct game executable may work for titles that launch independently.
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Optional tools such as Heroic Games Launcher and Lutris can simplify installations from stores without a native Steam Deck workflow. They are not required for Steam purchases, and no one launcher is best for every game. Cloud saves, controller support, DRM, launcher behavior, and updates can differ by store and title. Copying a game folder from a Windows PC may also leave behind required registry data, dependencies, launcher state, or a compatible prefix.
Try Proton when a Windows game will not launch
Proton is Steam’s compatibility layer for running many Windows games on Linux-based SteamOS. Steam may select a compatibility tool automatically for Steam games; a non-Steam Windows executable may need a manual choice under Shortcut → Properties → Compatibility.
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- Start with the default compatibility behavior or a current stable Proton release.
- If the game fails, try Proton Experimental or another suitable Proton build.
- For advanced troubleshooting, a community build may help, but it is optional; ProtonUp-Qt is one tool for managing such builds.
There is no universally best Proton version. A change may help one game and break another, and Proton does not guarantee compatibility. Community reports document version changes and other workarounds for some non-Steam games; treat them as title-specific guidance, not a promise. Check current reports for the particular game before investing in deeper fixes.
Fix common problems
The game does not appear in Gaming Mode
- Confirm that you added it in the desktop Steam client, rather than only adding a desktop icon.
- Fully close and reopen Steam in Desktop Mode, then return to Gaming Mode and check the Library’s Non-Steam section or filters.
- Restart the Deck. If the entry is still missing or appears corrupted, remove and re-add the shortcut.
- Check that both interfaces are using the same Steam account, that removable storage is mounted, and that no library-customization tool or plugin is interfering.
A missing entry is not proof that the game was deleted. Valve has previously fixed a SteamOS issue involving non-Steam games loading from an invalid user profile; the community report of that fix is one reason restarting and re-adding can be useful recovery steps.
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The shortcut appears but the game fails to launch
- Launch it once in Desktop Mode and confirm that the shortcut points to the game executable, not the installer.
- Check whether the launcher needs a separate login, background process, or its own installed shortcut.
- Try the default Proton setting, then Proton Experimental if the default fails.
- Check current compatibility reports for DRM, anti-cheat, missing runtimes, or a required keyboard or mouse interaction.
- If the prefix may be damaged, preserve the original shortcut and identify the installed executable before reinstalling through that same shortcut.
A wrong executable, missing prerequisite, unavailable external drive, or a game moved without its Proton prefix can all prevent launch. Some titles depend on Windows paths or registry entries created during installation. A game that works in Desktop Mode but not Gaming Mode may need a launcher interaction or input device that is less convenient in the handheld interface.
The SD card or game library is unavailable
- Check that the card is inserted and recognized in Steam’s storage controls.
- If Steam cannot read the library, do not assume that a Windows-formatted card or manually copied folder will behave like a Deck-formatted Steam library.
- Before reformatting, back up the card; formatting erases its contents.
Activate a Steam key instead of adding a shortcut
If a retailer gave you a key intended for Steam, use Steam’s product-activation flow. A key that is not redeemable on Steam cannot be converted into a Steam license by adding a non-Steam shortcut, and a key already redeemed to another account normally cannot be registered again. See Steam’s Retail CD Keys FAQ.
Quick Recap
Before you press Play
- Use the installation method that matches where you own the game.
- Confirm that the game is installed to the intended drive and that removable storage is available.
- For an installer-based setup, change the shortcut target to the installed game’s executable.
- If a Windows game needs troubleshooting, test Proton options one at a time.
- Check the shortcut in Gaming Mode and test any launcher, login, or controller interaction it requires.
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