To launch an installed non-Steam game or desktop app from Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode, switch to Desktop Mode, add it through the Steam client’s Add a Game → Add a Non-Steam Game menu, then return to Gaming Mode and open its library shortcut. This adds an entry to Steam; it does not make the game a Steam purchase, provide Steam-managed updates, or guarantee that the app will run correctly.
What adding a non-Steam game does
The process creates a shortcut in your Steam library for an application installed outside Steam. You can then find that entry in the Deck interface’s non-Steam tab and try to launch it from Gaming Mode. The important distinction is that you are adding a way to reach an existing app through Steam’s interface, not installing the app itself.
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Steam Support describes the limitation plainly: “This will only add a shortcut to your game in the Steam client.” The shortcut does not establish Steam account ownership, and Steam does not deliver updates for the game through it. The add operation is therefore not a conversion into a Steam Store game, a replacement for the app’s own update process, or a compatibility fix. If the application needs its own updates, account, launcher, or online service, the shortcut does not remove those requirements.
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Add the installed app from Desktop Mode
- Switch to Desktop Mode. Open the Steam menu, choose Power → Switch to Desktop, and wait for the desktop to load. This is the first step because the documented add-game controls are in the Steam client while using the desktop.
- Open the Steam client. In Desktop Mode, start Steam if it is not already open. The procedure uses the client’s lower-left add-game control, rather than a Gaming Mode menu.
- Open the add-game menu. Click Add a Game in the lower-left corner of the Steam client, then choose Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Select the installed application. Find it in the list and select it, then complete the add flow. Steam’s Desktop FAQ describes this as finding the application you installed in the list. The menu is for adding an existing application; it is not an installer or a way to download a game.
- Return to Gaming Mode. Use the desktop’s Return to Gaming Mode link. This brings you back to the standard Steam Deck interface after making the library shortcut.
- Find and launch the shortcut. In the Deck interface, open the library’s non-Steam tab, select the entry you added, and launch it. Seeing the entry confirms that it was added to the library; it does not confirm that the app is compatible or that every feature will work.
If the app is not available in the selection list, the documented procedure does not establish an alternate method for adding it. Check that the application is installed and that you are using the Steam client’s non-Steam game flow; do not assume the shortcut menu itself installs an app. The official instructions describe choosing an installed application from the list, so they do not support promising that every app can be added through this route.
It can help to keep the two stages in mind: first, use Desktop Mode to create the Steam library entry; then, return to Gaming Mode to try that entry. If you can see the shortcut but it will not launch properly, repeating the add operation is not automatically a solution. The problem may concern the app’s support for the Deck environment rather than the shortcut’s presence.
Navigate Desktop Mode with the Deck controls or peripherals
You do not need to buy a keyboard or mouse just to add a shortcut. Steam documents that the Deck’s trackpad can act as a mouse and that Steam + X opens the on-screen keyboard while Steam is running. Those built-in controls can be enough for the menu steps, although text entry and desktop navigation may be easier with a physical keyboard and mouse in some situations.
The choice is mainly about convenience, not a different way of adding the game. Both options are ways to control the desktop and Steam client; a physical keyboard and mouse are not identified by Steam as a requirement. If you already have peripherals and prefer them for desktop interaction, they are an option. If not, the documented trackpad and on-screen keyboard mean you can try the process without buying accessories.
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| Control option | Practical trade-off |
|---|---|
| Deck trackpad and on-screen keyboard | Built into the Deck, so no extra equipment is needed; trackpad navigation and on-screen text entry may be less comfortable for some tasks. |
| Physical keyboard and mouse | Optional and potentially more comfortable for desktop navigation or text entry; requires having or connecting those peripherals. |
For a short task such as opening the Steam menu, choosing the add-game option, and selecting a listed app, start with the built-in controls if they suit you. Consider peripherals only if moving through the desktop or entering text is inconvenient. There is no need to treat an accessory as part of the setup, and no particular keyboard or mouse model is required by the documented procedure.
Will the app work after you add it?
Not necessarily. Adding an entry makes the app accessible from Steam’s library, but it does not certify that the app, its launcher, or its online services will run on the Deck. Steam Deck Desktop Mode is a Linux desktop, and Steam Support advises checking whether third-party software supports Arch Linux. Compatibility can depend on the particular application and its requirements.
This is a practical check to make before treating the library shortcut as a completed setup. The add flow addresses access through Steam: it does not change the app’s platform support, guarantee its online service is available, or indicate that a third-party launcher will behave correctly. Steam’s official troubleshooting advice is application-specific, so a successful add should not be presented as a universal compatibility test.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSteam’s Deck Verified labels are guidance for games listed on Steam, not a certification system for every non-Steam app or launcher. Steam describes Verified games as working by default and Playable games as potentially requiring manual configuration. Those labels should not be read as a guarantee about a separate application you add yourself. In other words, an assessment attached to a Steam-listed game does not certify a different app merely because you place its shortcut in the same library.
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There is no reliable percentage or general success rate to apply to all non-Steam apps here. The relevant checks are specific to the software you want to use: whether it supports Arch Linux, whether its launcher and services work in that environment, and what its own support team says if it fails. A library entry is a useful access point, not evidence that those checks have passed.
Troubleshoot a non-Steam app that is unstable
If the shortcut launches but the app behaves unreliably, separate the shortcut issue from the app’s compatibility issue. Steam’s troubleshooting guidance for third-party software recommends this sequence:
- Exit or disable other third-party applications that are running. This helps narrow down whether other software running at the same time is involved in the instability.
- Restart the Deck and try the app again. Retest after the restart rather than assuming the shortcut itself was changed or repaired.
- If the problem continues, contact the app’s support team. The app’s publisher or support team is the appropriate place to ask about that software’s own compatibility and behavior.
These steps may help diagnose instability, but they do not guarantee that an unsupported app will work. A library entry is only a shortcut; it does not change what the application supports. If the app opens but a particular launcher, online service, or feature does not behave correctly, the simple act of adding it to Steam is not proof that Steam caused or can resolve the issue.
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Keep expectations narrow while troubleshooting: the first question is whether the shortcut appears and starts the intended app; the next is whether the app is stable and supported in the Deck’s Linux desktop environment. Steam’s advice to exit or disable other third-party software, restart, and contact the app’s support team gives a basic diagnostic path, not a promise of a fix for every third-party program.
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Common questions about the process
Can I run apps I install on the desktop in Gaming Mode?
Steam’s Deck Desktop FAQ supports adding an installed application through the Steam client’s Add a Game → Add a Non-Steam Game flow. The resulting library shortcut can be launched from Gaming Mode, but whether the app itself runs properly depends on that app.
Does Steam update or verify a non-Steam game I add?
No. The operation creates a shortcut only; it does not make Steam deliver the game’s updates or establish ownership in your Steam account. The shortcut should not be confused with a Steam Store entitlement or an update channel.
Do I need a physical keyboard and mouse?
No. The Deck trackpad can act as a mouse, and Steam + X opens the on-screen keyboard while Steam is running. Physical peripherals are an optional convenience for people who prefer them for desktop navigation or text entry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the non-Steam shortcut appear in Gaming Mode?
Steam says the application appears in the Deck interface library’s non-Steam tab. After using the desktop’s Return to Gaming Mode link, open that tab, select the shortcut, and try launching it.
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Does adding a game to Steam install it?
No. Steam’s add flow creates a shortcut to an application you have installed; it does not install the app. If it is missing from the application list, the documented procedure does not specify another way to add it.
Does the shortcut mean the app is Steam Verified?
No. Deck Verified and Playable descriptions concern games listed on Steam. They do not certify every non-Steam app, launcher, or online service that you add as a shortcut.
What should I check if a third-party app does not work?
Check whether the software supports Arch Linux, which is the basis of Steam Deck Desktop Mode. For instability, Steam Support recommends exiting or disabling other third-party applications, restarting the Deck, and contacting the app’s support team if the issue remains.
Do I need to buy an accessory or paid service for this process?
No purchase is required for the documented steps. Steam describes the built-in trackpad and on-screen keyboard controls; a physical keyboard and mouse are optional conveniences, not requirements.
The Bottom Line
Use Power → Switch to Desktop, then add the installed app through the Steam client’s Add a Game → Add a Non-Steam Game flow. Return to Gaming Mode and launch it from the library’s non-Steam tab. The result is a shortcut—not a Steam purchase, Steam-managed update path, or compatibility guarantee. Check Arch Linux support for the app, and treat a physical keyboard or mouse as optional.
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