General Usage
Installing And Updating Software
- Go into
Desktop Mode and use Discover
Adding Non-Steam Games / Apps
- Right click on the desired program in
Desktop Mode and use Add to Steam
- Alternatively, use the bottom left
+ Add a Game > Add Non-Steam Game menu found in Steam
Power And Charging
Steam Deck LCD models arrive in battery-saving shipping mode, and you’ll need to plug it in for a short time using the provided power supply in order to power it on. Steam Deck OLED models can be powered on (hold power for 7 seconds) out of the box without first plugging in. If you’ve used your Steam Deck before but it’s currently not powering on, plug it in and check the LED next to the charging port.
- If the LED is lit, the unit is receiving charge. The LED will remain lit when the unit reaches full charge.
- The power LED will dim after after 3 to 5 (15 for OLED) seconds of time as normal behavior.
- If the LED flashes after pressing the power button, the battery is currently depleted. Plug the provided PSU directly to the Steam Deck, confirm the LED is on, and leave it to charge for at least 15 minutes before powering it on.
- If your Steam Deck appears to be charging normally but the power button is unresponsive, you can try holding the Volume + button while powering it on, then selecting Continue to boot from the BIOS options.
If your device has been left on the charger for long periods of time, it may report less than 100% charge. This is normal. We allow the battery to slowly discharge after long periods of time under charge to optimize long-term battery health.
Steam Deck uses USB Power Delivery and does not support Fast Charging or Quick Charge specifications.
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Cleaning
Storage
We recommend using the provided case for both short-term and long-term storage to avoid dust ingress, drop damage, and other issues.
Cleaning
- Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean the display.
- Use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol with a dry cloth to clean external plastic surfaces.
- When cleaning the display, do not apply the alcohol directly to the display glass - instead, apply it to the cloth only, then use the cloth to clean the display. Applying any liquid directly to the display may result in damage not covered by your warranty.
- Do not use isopropyl alcohol or other liquids when cleaning around heatsink and fan vents, input wells (around buttons, trackpads, and thumbsticks), speakers, or ports. Use a dry cloth only.
- Avoid using compressed air devices to clean the heatsink and fan vents, as this may interfere with internal components.
Environmental
The Steam Deck’s safe storage temperature range is between -20° - +60° C (-4° - +140° F).
The Steam Deck’s safe operational ranges are:
- Ambient temperature - 0° - +35° C (+32° - +95° F)
- Humidity - up to 85% non-condensing relative humidity
- Altitude - up to 3500m
Long term storage
If you won’t be using your Steam Deck for a while and would like to place it back into storage mode to increase long term battery health, you can use the following steps to do so:
- Power the Steam Deck down normally (choose Shut Down from the Power menu)
- Hold down the Volume+ button and press the power button. The Steam Deck should boot into the BIOS menu.
- Using the D-Pad and A to select, navigate to “Setup Utility”
- Navigate to the Power Menu
- Choose Battery storage mode, confirm, and the Steam Deck will power off.
LCD Steam Decks: The power LED will blink three times to confirm battery storage mode has been activated.
OLED Steam Decks: After ~8 seconds, you should see the power LED blink blue, twice, indicating the device has entered battery storage mode.
To wake your Steam Deck from storage mode, plug in the provided power supply and power it on normally.
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