The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes—Discord can run on a Steam Deck. The simplest supported route is to install Discord through Discover in Desktop Mode, add it to Steam as a non-Steam app, then launch it from the Non-Steam section of your Gaming Mode library. No terminal commands or changes to SteamOS’s system image are needed.
What you need
- A Steam Deck running SteamOS and an internet connection.
- A Discord account to sign in, or the option to create one during setup.
- A headset, keyboard, or mouse if you want them; none is required for the basic setup.
These instructions use the Discover/Flatpak method. Valve documents Discover as the way to install desktop applications on SteamOS and explains how to add those apps to the Gaming Mode library as non-Steam applications in its Steam Deck Desktop FAQ. Menu wording can vary slightly with SteamOS version or language.
Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode
- Press the Steam button.
- Select Power, then Switch to Desktop.
- Wait for the KDE Plasma desktop to load.
The exact path is documented in Valve’s Steam Deck Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide. You should see a desktop with a taskbar and application launcher. A physical keyboard and mouse are convenient but optional: the right trackpad moves the pointer, its click acts as a primary click, and the left trackpad click acts as a secondary click. Press Steam + X to open the on-screen keyboard.
Step 2: Install Discord from Discover
- Open Discover from the taskbar or application launcher.
- Search for Discord.
- Select the Discord listing and choose Install.
- When installation finishes, launch Discord from the application launcher and sign in or create an account.
Discover installs the Flatpak version on the Deck’s writable storage. The package is listed on Flathub as com.discordapp.Discord; see the Discord Flathub listing. This is the recommended beginner route because it avoids manually changing SteamOS’s base system. Discord’s official Linux download page is available, but its installation guide includes Debian-oriented package instructions; those commands should not be copied directly to SteamOS. See Discord’s Desktop Installation Guide and Valve’s Steam Deck FAQ, which cautions that software installed outside Flatpak may be affected by SteamOS updates.
#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
If Discord does not appear in Discover: check the internet connection, search for the exact name “Discord,” then restart Discover or reboot the Deck and try again. The official Discord Linux download page is an alternative source, but do not disable SteamOS’s read-only protections just to install Discord.
Step 3: Add Discord to Steam as a non-Steam app
- While still in Desktop Mode, open the Steam desktop client.
- Click + Add a Game in the lower-left corner.
- Choose Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Select Discord if it appears in the program list, then click Add Selected Programs.
Steam describes this same shortcut workflow in its instructions for adding a non-Steam game. The shortcut lets you launch Discord from Steam; it does not turn Discord into a Steam game or make Steam responsible for updating it. See Steam’s Non-Steam Games FAQ.
If Discord is missing from the list: launch it once from the desktop application menu, close it, and repeat the add-game process. You can also use Browse in the dialog if that option is available. Avoid guessing at executable paths. If manual selection is unavoidable, the Flatpak application ID is com.discordapp.Discord; this is an advanced fallback, not the normal beginner workflow.
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
Step 4: Launch Discord from Gaming Mode
- On the desktop, double-click Return to Gaming Mode.
- Open the Steam Deck Library and go to Non-Steam.
- Select Discord and launch it. Sign in if prompted.
- Join a text or voice chat. To open a game, press the Steam button and select it from Home or Library.
Valve says desktop applications can run alongside Steam games in Gaming Mode and that you can switch between them through the Steam menu. This makes the non-Steam shortcut the key step: installing Discord in Desktop Mode alone does not put it in your Gaming Mode library.
Recommended Free Tools
Set up voice chat and controls
Choose and test your audio devices
- In Discord, open User Settings, then Voice & Video.
- Choose the intended input device and speak while watching the input meter.
- Select the output device separately and confirm that you can hear audio.
- If you change or reconnect a headset, restart Discord if the device does not appear correctly.
You can try the Deck’s built-in microphone or a connected headset microphone. A headset is often more practical: Android Authority notes that the built-in mic can pick up button presses and handling noise, though this is a usability caveat rather than a universal hardware failure. Microphone behavior varies with SteamOS and Discord versions, accessories, and whether the app is running in Desktop or Gaming Mode.
Navigate and type
Discord is designed primarily for mouse and keyboard. Use the right trackpad as a pointer and click it to select; use the left trackpad click for a secondary click. Press Steam + X to bring up the on-screen keyboard. A Bluetooth or USB keyboard and mouse can make sign-in, server navigation, and typing easier, but are not prerequisites. You can also choose or customize a controller layout for Discord after adding it to Steam.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
What works—and what may be limited
- Text and voice chat: These are the core uses for the setup. Test your own audio devices before relying on a call.
- Using Discord while gaming: Steam supports running desktop apps alongside games, but behavior can vary in Gaming Mode.
- Screen sharing, game capture, and game audio: Do not assume these work in every configuration. Linux, Gaming Mode, audio routing, and Flatpak permissions can affect capture features.
- Game Activity and Rich Presence: Flathub warns that the Flatpak sandbox can limit these features, as well as unrestricted file access.
The Flathub listing identifies Discord as a desktop-only application and describes sandbox limitations. Treat streaming and game integration as compatibility-dependent rather than guaranteed. If your main goal is voice or text chat while playing, install and test that basic use before troubleshooting capture features.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
Discord installs but will not open
- Restart the Deck, then try opening Discord from the Desktop Mode application launcher.
- Check Discover for pending updates.
- If it still fails, remove and reinstall Discord through Discover.
There is no single universal fix for launch problems; reports of Discover-version failures may apply only to particular software versions. If the problem began after an update, note the SteamOS and Discord versions before looking for a version-specific workaround.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Discord works on the desktop but not in Gaming Mode
- Remove and re-add the shortcut as a non-Steam app.
- Launch Discord from the Non-Steam library before starting the game.
- Try a simple mouse-oriented controller layout.
- Use Desktop Mode as a fallback if Gaming Mode integration remains unreliable.
Valve documents support for running desktop apps alongside games, but that does not guarantee every desktop feature will behave identically in Gaming Mode.
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.
There is no microphone input
- Check the input-device selection in Discord’s Voice & Video settings.
- Check SteamOS audio settings and test the built-in microphone separately.
- Disconnect and reconnect the headset, then restart Discord.
- Try a wired or Bluetooth headset with a microphone for regular voice chat.
Screen sharing or game audio fails
First confirm that ordinary voice chat works. Capture, streaming, and game audio are separate features and may be affected by Flatpak sandboxing or the Gaming Mode audio and capture setup. The available compatibility information does not establish a universal screen-sharing configuration, so avoid treating a failed stream as an installation failure.
Alternatives and uninstalling
The browser version of Discord can be a fallback for text chat or an occasional voice session, but it does not provide the same dedicated Gaming Mode app shortcut. Discord also provides a Linux download and installation guidance; use care because the guide’s `.deb` instructions are for Debian-based distributions, not a direct Steam Deck procedure. Third-party clients such as Vesktop are separate projects and are better reserved for advanced users seeking particular Linux features, not the default route for basic chat.
To uninstall the Flatpak, return to Desktop Mode, open Discover, find Discord, and choose Remove (the button label may vary). If you also want to remove its Gaming Mode shortcut, open the Steam desktop client, find Discord in the library, and use its manage/remove option to remove the non-Steam entry. Removing the shortcut alone does not uninstall the app.
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.
