How to Install Decky Loader on Your Steam Deck

What Decky Loader is and why you might want it

Decky Loader is a plugin manager that runs on your Steam Deck and lets you add small programs called plugins to your system. These plugins can change how your Steam Deck looks, add new features to the main menu, or let you do things the standard Steam Deck software doesn't offer — like adjusting fan speed, checking battery health, or launching games from other stores alongside your Steam library.

Installing Decky Loader itself is free and does not require you to jailbreak or permanently modify your Steam Deck. It runs in the background and you can remove it completely if you change your mind. The trade-off is that you are running third-party code on your device, which means you depend on the plugin creators to keep their work safe and up to date.

Decky Loader only works on Steam Deck, not on Windows or other systems. You will need a USB drive, a computer, and about 15 minutes of setup time.

Key Takeaways

Decky Loader is a free plugin manager that installs through a special recovery mode on your Steam Deck, not through the regular app store.
You need a USB drive formatted to FAT32, a computer to read files onto it, and your Steam Deck connected to power during the entire installation.
The installation process puts your Steam Deck into recovery mode, copies files to the USB drive, and then boots from that drive to run the installer.
After installation, Decky Loader runs quietly in the background and you access plugins through a small menu button on your Steam Deck's home screen.
You can uninstall Decky Loader at any time by booting into recovery mode again and running the uninstaller, which leaves your Steam Deck in its original state.

What you need before you start

Gather these items before you begin: a USB drive with at least 2 GB of free space, a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) with internet access, and your Steam Deck plugged into power. The USB drive will be erased during setup, so move any files off it first.

Your Steam Deck should be fully charged or plugged in for the entire process. Do not unplug it or let the battery drain while Decky Loader is installing — if power cuts out mid-installation, you may need to recover your Steam Deck through other means.

You will also need to know your Steam Deck's current software version. On your Steam Deck, go to Settings > System > System Information and note the version number shown. Decky Loader works on most recent versions, but checking first prevents surprises.

read the installer files to your computer

On your computer, open a web browser and go to the official Decky Loader GitHub page at github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-loader. Look for the "Releases" section on the right side of the page. Click on the latest release (the one at the top with the highest version number).

Scroll down in that release until you see a file named decky_installer.tar.gz. Click on it to read it to your computer. This file contains everything needed to install Decky Loader on your Steam Deck.

Once the read finishes, you do not need to unzip or extract the file yet — you will do that on the USB drive itself.

Format your USB drive and copy the installer

Plug your USB drive into your computer. On Windows, right-click the USB drive in File Explorer, choose "Format", set the file system to FAT32, and click Start. On Mac, open Disk Utility, select the USB drive, click Erase, choose MS-DOS (FAT) format, and confirm. On Linux, use a tool like GParted or your file manager's format option and select FAT32. This process erases everything on the drive, so confirm you have moved any files you want to keep.

Once the drive is formatted, copy the decky_installer.tar.gz file you downloaded directly onto the root of the USB drive (the main folder, not inside any subfolder). Safely eject the USB drive from your computer.

Boot your Steam Deck into recovery mode

Plug the USB drive into one of the USB-C ports on your Steam Deck. Power off your Steam Deck completely — do not put it to sleep, fully shut it down. Once it is off, hold down the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until you see a boot menu appear on the screen (this usually takes 5 to 10 seconds).

You should see options including "SteamOS" and "EFI". Use the Volume Down button to highlight "EFI" and press the Power button to select it. Your Steam Deck will boot from the USB drive and show a command-line interface (a black screen with white text). This is the recovery environment — it is normal and expected.

Wait for the screen to finish loading and show a prompt. This can take 30 seconds to a minute. Do not unplug anything or turn off your Steam Deck during this time.

Run the installer and wait for completion

At the prompt, type the following command exactly as shown and press Enter:

sudo bash /mnt/usb/decky_installer.tar.gz

The installer will begin extracting files and running. You will see text scrolling on the screen as it works. This process usually takes 3 to 5 minutes. Do not interrupt it, do not unplug the USB drive, and do not turn off your Steam Deck. The screen may appear to pause or freeze for short periods — this is normal.

When the installer finishes, you will see a message saying the installation is complete. The screen will prompt you to press a key to reboot. Press any key, and your Steam Deck will restart normally.

Verify the installation and access plugins

After your Steam Deck restarts, remove the USB drive and let it boot into normal SteamOS. You should see your regular Steam Deck home screen. Look for a small button in the top-right corner of the screen that looks like a puzzle piece or a menu icon — this is the Decky Loader button.

Click that button to open the Decky Loader menu. You should see a list of available plugins you can read and install. If you see this menu, the installation worked. If you do not see the button, restart your Steam Deck and check again — sometimes it takes a moment to appear.

You can now browse plugins, read ones that interest you, and enable or disable them from this menu. Each plugin has its own settings and features, which you can explore at your own pace.

How to uninstall Decky Loader if you change your mind

If you decide you no longer want Decky Loader, you can remove it completely without affecting your Steam Deck's normal operation. The process is similar to installation: boot into recovery mode using the same Volume Down + Power button combination, plug in the USB drive with the installer, and run the uninstaller command.

At the recovery prompt, type:

sudo bash /mnt/usb/decky_installer.tar.gz uninstall

The uninstaller will remove Decky Loader and all its plugins, leaving your Steam Deck exactly as it was before. Once it finishes, reboot normally and the puzzle piece button will be gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my Steam Deck loses power during installation?

If power cuts out mid-installation, your Steam Deck may not boot normally. You can recover it by booting into recovery mode again and running the installer a second time — it will complete the installation or repair what was interrupted. Keep your Steam Deck plugged in throughout the entire process to avoid this.

Can I use Decky Loader on a Steam Deck that is already updated to the latest version?

Yes. Decky Loader works on current and recent versions of SteamOS. If you are more than a few major versions behind, check the GitHub page to see if your version is supported, but most users will have no issues.

Do plugins slow down my Steam Deck or drain the battery faster?

Most plugins have minimal impact on performance or battery life because they run in the background and only do work when you interact with them. Some plugins, like ones that monitor system temperature, use very little power. Heavy plugins that run constantly may have a small effect, but you control which plugins are active and can disable any that cause problems.

Is it safe to install Decky Loader?

Decky Loader itself is maintained by the Steam Deck homebrew community and is widely used. The safety of your system also depends on which plugins you install — read plugins only from trusted sources and check community reviews before installing unknown ones. You can always uninstall Decky Loader and any plugins if something goes wrong.

Can I use Decky Loader to play games I don't own on Steam?

Decky Loader itself is just a plugin manager and does not bypass game ownership or licensing. Some plugins may let you launch games from other stores (like GOG or Epic Games) alongside your Steam library, but you still need to own those games through their respective platforms.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.