Install Decky Loader from Desktop Mode using the official graphical installer, then choose Latest Release unless you have a specific reason to test a prerelease. Decky is a community-made plugin loader—not a Valve feature—and individual plugins can differ in safety, maintenance, and compatibility.
What Decky Loader does—and what to know before installing
Decky Loader adds a plugin menu to Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode interface. Community plugins can customize menus and sounds, adjust screen saturation, expose additional settings, and provide other interface features. It is not a game launcher, emulator, or replacement operating system. The project and its installation instructions are maintained by the SteamDeckHomebrew community, not Valve.
The loader and its plugins are separate software. The project warns against installing plugins from untrusted sources; a plugin’s quality, compatibility, update schedule, and privacy practices depend on its maintainer. Prefer plugins listed in Decky’s built-in browser, and check a plugin’s own project information before using a third-party ZIP or URL.
Before you begin
- Connect the Deck to the internet and make sure it has enough battery or is plugged into a charger.
- You will install Decky from Desktop Mode, not Gaming Mode.
- A keyboard and mouse can make desktop navigation easier, but they are optional. You can use the Deck’s right trackpad and on-screen keyboard; the project also lists USB or Bluetooth peripherals, KDE Connect, and Steam Link as alternatives.
- The installer may prompt for administrator authentication. The project says you can install without having set an administrator password beforehand; follow the installer’s current instructions if it offers a temporary-password option.
Install Decky with the graphical installer
This is the recommended route for most first-time users: it presents the release-channel choice and does not require typing a shell command.
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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 errors#1 Best Overall
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
- Switch to Desktop Mode. Press the Steam button, choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop. Wait for the KDE Plasma desktop to load.
- Open the official project page. In a browser, go to github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-loader and follow the project’s current instructions to download its installer. Avoid third-party download sites and mirrors.
- Check the downloaded filename. If Firefox saved it as
decky_installer.desktop.download, rename it todecky_installer.desktop. If needed, move or drag the file to the desktop so it is easy to find. - Run the installer. Double-click the
.desktopfile and approve any SteamOS prompt asking whether it may run. Enter an administrator password if requested, or follow the installer’s temporary-password instructions if shown. - Choose a release channel. Select Latest Release for a normal stable SteamOS setup. Choose Latest Pre-Release only if you are testing, developing plugins, using SteamOS beta or preview software, or following a specific compatibility fix.
- Finish installation. Wait for the installer to complete, then open the desktop’s Return to Gaming Mode shortcut.
Button wording can change between installer versions. For current installer details, see the official installer repository.
Install from Konsole instead
Experienced users can run the official stable installer command in Desktop Mode’s Konsole:
curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/install_release.sh | shThis command downloads and immediately executes the current stable installer script. That is convenient, but it gives you less opportunity to inspect the script before running it. If you prefer to review what you are launching, use the official graphical installer instead. Do not substitute a rehosted script, shortened link, or unofficial “one-click” installer.
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Confirm Decky is installed
- In Gaming Mode, press the Quick Access button, marked with three dots (
…). - Look for the Decky entry or plug-shaped icon and open it. Its exact position may change with Steam client updates.
- Open the plugin browser. To test the setup, install a reputable plugin that is compatible with your current SteamOS and Steam client, then return to Decky and open it.
Install and manage plugins
- Open Decky from the Quick Access menu.
- Select the plugin-browser icon and find the plugin you want.
- Choose Install and wait for the installation to finish.
- Return to the Decky menu and open the plugin.
Plugin maintenance is independent of Decky Loader: SteamOS or Steam client changes may break an individual plugin even when Decky itself opens normally. If one plugin fails, disable or uninstall that plugin first, restart Gaming Mode if needed, and check the plugin maintainer’s compatibility notes. Removing a plugin may not delete files it previously created elsewhere.
The browser may offer advanced installation from a URL, but use it only when you trust the source and have checked what it provides. The project does not generally recommend choosing an older plugin version.
Stable or prerelease: which should you choose?
| Channel | Best suited to | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Latest Release | First-time installs, ordinary stable SteamOS use, and users who prefer fewer surprises. | May not include a compatibility fix that has not reached a stable release. |
| Latest Pre-Release | Plugin developers, testers, users on SteamOS beta or preview channels, or users trying a relevant newer fix. | May be less stable; it is not the default choice for a low-maintenance setup. |
The installer can retrieve the current release dynamically. Rather than relying on an old version number in a guide, check the Decky Loader releases page for the current release and notes.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Update Decky or recover it after a SteamOS update
Decky is designed to persist, but the project acknowledges that a SteamOS update can sometimes make it disappear or stop working. The usual first fix is to run the official installer again and choose the stable release.
- Switch to Desktop Mode using Steam → Power → Switch to Desktop.
- Run the Decky installer again from the official project page. The installer can also be run when Decky is already installed.
- Choose the latest stable release and let the installer finish.
- Return to Gaming Mode and check Decky in Quick Access.
- If stable still fails, consider the prerelease only if you are troubleshooting a relevant compatibility issue or using beta/preview SteamOS. If the problem continues, review current project issues before removing configuration or wiping the install.
Troubleshoot common installation and plugin problems
The installer file will not open
- Check that Firefox did not leave the filename as
decky_installer.desktop.download; the project’s expected filename isdecky_installer.desktop. - Move the file to the desktop and check its right-click options if SteamOS blocks execution.
- Confirm that Desktop Mode has an internet connection and try opening GitHub in the browser. If GitHub cannot be reached, resolve the connection issue before retrying; do not turn to an unofficial mirror.
- If you are comfortable with the shell, use the official Konsole command above instead.
There is no Decky icon in Quick Access
First rerun the official installer and select the stable release. If the problem began immediately after a SteamOS update and stable does not resolve it, a relevant prerelease may be worth testing. The project’s GitHub discussion about a “Could not resolve host github.com” error illustrates a possible connectivity or DNS issue, but it is not a definitive diagnosis for every installation failure.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
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Check that the Deck is online in Desktop Mode and retry later if GitHub or its API is temporarily unavailable. If Decky itself works but only one plugin fails, troubleshoot that plugin rather than wiping Decky.
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
A plugin crashes or stops working
Disable or uninstall the suspected plugin, then restart Gaming Mode if necessary. Check the plugin maintainer’s project page for compatibility information. Avoid wiping Decky unless the loader itself is the problem.
Another service may be using a required port
The Decky project identifies port conflicts as a possible failure mode. Syncthing using port 8080 can conflict; the project recommends changing Syncthing to 8384. Other software using 1337 or 8080 may also interfere. Check for a conflict only when you use such software or encounter a relevant failure; do not change unrelated services preemptively.
Uninstall Decky without wiping its configuration
For an ordinary removal, switch to Desktop Mode, run the Decky installer again, and select its uninstall option. The installer distinguishes uninstalling from wiping: uninstall keeps configuration, while wipe does not. Choose wipe only when you deliberately want a clean reset.
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curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/uninstall.sh | shAs with the install command, this executes a remotely downloaded script. Use the official project source and avoid unofficial copies.
Quick Recap
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