What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
You can organize games and improve artwork with Steam’s built-in tools, but SteamOS does not have a full Home-screen theme editor. For bigger visual changes—such as new colors, backgrounds, fonts, or layout—you’ll need the community tools Decky Loader and CSS Loader. Start with native options if you only want easier access to games; use themes only if you’re comfortable with third-party software that may need attention after Steam updates.
First, decide what you mean by “Home screen”
Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode has several distinct areas. The Home tab is the landing screen and its featured-game carousel; the Library contains your game list, favorites, and collections; and a game detail page appears when you select an individual title. The Quick Access Menu opens with the … button and is where Decky plugins appear. Themes can target these areas separately, so a Library theme may do nothing to Home. Some themes also affect the keyboard, lock screen, downloads, Settings, or the interface system-wide.
There are three practical levels of customization:
- Organization: Favorites, collections, and Library shelves—built into Steam.
- Artwork: Custom images and sort titles for individual game entries, where supported.
- Visual reskin: Decky Loader plus CSS Loader and a compatible theme.
Customize the Library without installing anything
If your goal is to find games faster, begin with Steam’s own Library features. You can create manual collections, build dynamic collections using filters and tags, mark games as Favorites, and organize the Library with custom shelves. These tools make selected games easier to reach, but they do not turn an arbitrary collection into a guaranteed replacement for the Home tab’s default carousel.
In Gaming Mode, open Library and use its collection and filtering controls to create or select a collection. Add games to Favorites from their Library entries. Steam’s Library update describes its shelves, collections, favorites, and sorting options in more detail: Steam Library customization.
#1 Best Overall
- Both for Steam Deck LCD & OLED: JSAUX Full-screen coverage 7-inch tempered glass screen protector compatible with Steam Deck LCD & Steam Deck OLED. Edge to edge
- Easy to Install: Comes with a guiding frame that allows you to easily install the screen protector to your Steam Deck / Steam Deck OLED without having to repeatedly align the edges
- Ultra HD Clarity: With 99.99% Transparency, you can enjoy the original clarity without any additional blemish
- 5X Sturdier: Extra-reinforced at 500℃ for several hours, 5X Sturdier than other regular screen protectors that have been reinforced only once
- Anti-fingerprint: With the oleophobic coating, the JSAUX Steam Deck screen protector will keep your screen clean and tidy at all times
For non-Steam games, shortcuts, or titles with poor artwork, open the game’s properties and look for the Customization tab. Valve’s client update notes describe options there for custom artwork and a custom sort title. Available controls and labels can change with client updates. Artwork is not one universal image: Steam may use separate images for vertical capsules, horizontal banners, hero images, headers, and grid tiles, so changing one image may not update every presentation of a game. See Valve’s update notes on game customization.
For a visual redesign: Decky Loader and CSS Loader
Decky Loader is a third-party, open-source plugin loader for Steam Deck. It adds a plugin interface to Quick Access; it is not itself a theme. To change Gaming Mode’s appearance, install CSS Loader through Decky, then enable themes or theme components made for the parts of the interface you want to alter.
Decky describes support for LCD and OLED Steam Decks using the official SteamOS image. It is still community software, and neither Decky nor every independently maintained plugin is guaranteed to work through every SteamOS or Steam client update. Check the Decky project instructions if menus or installation steps have changed.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
- Both for Steam Deck LCD & OLED: JSAUX Full-screen coverage 7-inch tempered glass screen protector compatible with Steam Deck LCD& Steam Deck OLED. Edge to edge
- Anti-Glare: The premium anti-glare matte texture finish removes annoying harsh reflections, Allowing you to see the screen clearly even under light
- Easy to Install: Comes with a guiding frame that allows you to easily install the screen protector without having to repeatedly align the edges
- Anti-fingerprint: With matte coating, the JSAUX anti glare screen protector will keep your screen clean and tidy at all times
- High Sensitivity: The screen protector is only 0.33mm Ultra-Thin to ensure highly responsive, truly enhancing gaming experience
Install Decky Loader from Desktop Mode
- Press the Steam button, open Power, then choose Switch to Desktop.
- In a desktop browser, go to the official Decky Loader repository and download the installer linked there. Avoid installers from unofficial mirrors.
- If Firefox saves the file as
decky_installer.desktop.download, rename it todecky_installer.desktop. - Move the installer to the desktop and double-click it. Enter your administrator password if requested; the installer may offer to set one temporarily if you have not configured it.
- Choose Latest Release for a normal stable SteamOS installation. Use a prerelease only if you specifically need preview support and accept the extra instability.
- When installation finishes, return to Gaming Mode using the desktop shortcut.
A keyboard and mouse make Desktop Mode easier, but are not essential: the right trackpad can act as a mouse and the on-screen keyboard can enter text. Advanced users can use the command documented by Decky instead, but the graphical installer is less error-prone:
curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/install_release.sh | shInstall CSS Loader and enable a theme
- In Gaming Mode, press the … Quick Access button and open the Decky tab, shown with a plugin or power-plug icon.
- Select the store icon, search for CSS Loader, and choose Install.
- Open CSS Loader from Decky’s plugin list and select Download Themes.
- Choose a theme, install it, return to the theme list, and enable it. Use CSS Loader’s refresh option or restart Steam if the change is not immediately visible.
For screenshots and current UI details, consult the CSS Loader installation guide. A theme may be marked for Home, Library, Background, System-Wide, or another target such as Keyboard, Lock Screen, Downloads, Friends and Chat, Settings, or Store. Check the target before installing: a Home-only theme is not a full interface reskin, while a System-Wide theme can affect areas well beyond Home.
Rank #3
- Specifically designed for Steam Deck 2021 & 2022/Steam Deck OLED 2023 2024
- Ultra-clear High Definition with 99.9% transparency to allow an natural viewing experience
- Ultra thin-0.3mm thickness is reliable and resilient, and promises full compatibility with touchscreen sensitivity
- Highly durable, and scratch resistant - surface hardness 9H and topped with oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprints.
- 3 x amFilm Screen Protector,Microfiber Cloth Cleaning WIpes,Dry Wipes,Easy Installation Manual
Choose themes carefully
CSS Loader supports combinations of themes and patches, and some themes offer configurable colors or other options. To keep changes manageable:
- Enable one theme at a time and confirm it works before adding another.
- Prefer themes offered through CSS Loader’s built-in store, and read the author’s target and compatibility notes.
- Avoid stacking multiple themes that alter the same screen elements. Conflicting styles can hide text, misalign controls, or leave awkward spacing.
- Keep a note or screenshot of your working configuration. If a combination causes trouble, you’ll know what to undo.
- Check the result in handheld and docked or TV use; spacing, contrast, and readability may not suit both displays equally.
CSS Loader themes are presentation changes, not a reliable way to replace the underlying Home content. If you want a favorite group of games close at hand, use Favorites or a Library collection. If you want to change the visual treatment of Home, choose a theme explicitly targeting Home and understand that its result depends on the current Steam client structure.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #4
- 9H Hardness – Rated at the highest level on the pencil hardness scale, this glass resists scratches from everyday hazards such as keys, coins, and sharp objects, without leaving a mark on your Steam Deck OLED/Steam Deck screen.
- Crystal Clear with 100% Optical Clarity – Engineered to deliver the same vivid colors and sharpness as your bare screen — independently lab-tested at 100% clarity for true visibility.
- Oleophobic Coating for Easy Cleaning – Anti-fingerprint coating reduces smudges and oil marks, making daily wipes effortless and keeping the screen looking fresh.
- Original Touch Experience Preserved: Specially crafted adhesive for seamless, responsive touch — no lag, no resistance, no difference
- Perfect Fit for Your Device – Precision-cut for [Model], delivering accurate alignment and a clean, flush finish
Optional: make a theme yourself
Manual theme creation is for people comfortable writing CSS. Keep theme files in the user-controlled homebrew directory rather than editing Steam’s client files or attempting to change SteamOS system files. A typical theme folder looks like this:
/home/deck/homebrew/themes/My Epic Theme/
├── theme.json
└── shared.cssThe theme.json file identifies which Steam interface targets receive the styling; CSS files define the visual changes. The DeckThemes theming documentation explains targets and structure. For most owners, installing a maintained theme is simpler than writing one.
Best Value
- 【Premium Material】 Built with 9H high hardness tempered glass, highly protect the screen against accidental scratches, abrasions, shocks and bumps.Package contains 2-pack screen protectors. Please double check the model of your device before purchasing
- 【Compatibility】 Specifically engineered to fit Steam Deck OLED (2023) / Steam Deck OLED Screen Protector.
- 【Anti-Fingerprint】Oleophobic coating resists oil and reduces annoying fingerprints. Always provide a clean screen environment.
- 【Ultra-Clear】 Featured with 99% light transmittance, offer you a natural and comfortable viewing experience.
- 【High Sensitivity】 Ultra-thin glass keeps the screen highly responsive to every touch and tap, allowing you to enjoy an optimal gaming experience.
Fix or undo a theme that breaks
Steam client and SteamOS updates can change interface elements that a theme relies on. If Decky or CSS Loader disappears, or the interface becomes hard to use, try these steps in order:
- Restart the Deck, then check whether Decky and its plugins have returned.
- Open Decky and check for a plugin update. If Decky itself is missing, rerun the installer from the official repository and select the latest stable release.
- In CSS Loader, disable recently added themes. If controls or text are missing, disable all themes, refresh or restart Steam, then enable themes one by one to find the conflict.
- Update CSS Loader and reinstall or update themes that their authors have marked compatible. A theme may stop working when Steam changes its interface.
- If you cannot recover through CSS Loader, remove or rename the affected theme folder under
/home/deck/homebrew/themes, then restart Steam. This removes user-installed theme files; do not delete or modify Steam client or system directories.
Decky’s issue tracker records update-related compatibility problems. If Decky’s menu is present but does not function, its documentation also flags port conflicts involving 8080 or 1337; software such as Syncthing can use one of these ports depending on its configuration. Users on preview SteamOS or Steam client builds may need Decky’s prerelease branch, but it is less stable than the release branch.
If you decide you no longer want Decky, its repository documents an uninstall script. Use the current instructions there rather than an old copy of the command: Decky Loader installation and removal guidance.
Which option should you use?
| What you want | Best starting point | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Reach a short list of games faster | Favorites or a collection | Library organization, not a full Home redesign |
| Make game tiles look consistent | Game properties’ Customization tab, where available | Artwork or sort title for an individual entry; image types may differ |
| Change Home colors, backgrounds, or layout | Decky Loader plus CSS Loader | Visual presentation of supported Home elements |
| Restyle menus across Gaming Mode | A compatible System-Wide theme | More of the interface; greater chance of unwanted effects or overlap |
For most owners, the sensible order is native collections and artwork first, then Decky and one compatible Home theme if Steam’s built-in options are not enough. Keep the changes reversible and expect to revisit them after client updates.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
