The Steam directory is a folder on your Steam Deck that holds your games and related files — EmuDeck creates a specific path to it so emulators can find your games

When you set up EmuDeck on a Steam Deck, it needs to know where your Steam games live. That location is called the Steam directory. EmuDeck asks for this path during setup so it can organize emulated games alongside your regular Steam library. The default location is almost always /home/deck/.local/share/Steam, but knowing how to find it yourself matters if your setup is different or if something goes wrong.

The Steam directory contains your game files, controller settings, and other Steam data. When EmuDeck points to this folder, it can add emulated games to your Steam library so they appear in your normal game list instead of scattered across your system. This is why EmuDeck asks for the path — it needs permission to write files there.

Key Takeaways

  • The default Steam directory on Steam Deck is /home/deck/.local/share/Steam, and EmuDeck uses this path to add emulated games to your library.
  • You can find your Steam directory by opening the file manager, pressing Ctrl+H to show hidden files, and navigating to the .local folder in your home directory.
  • If you installed Steam to a different location (like an SD card), your Steam directory will be in that location instead of the default path.
  • EmuDeck stores its own files separately from the Steam directory, so knowing both paths helps you troubleshoot if games don't appear.

How to locate the Steam directory using the file manager

Open the file manager on your Steam Deck — it looks like a folder icon in the taskbar. By default, it opens to your home directory, which shows your Desktop and Documents folders. You won't see the Steam directory yet because it's a hidden folder (folders starting with a dot are hidden by default on Linux).

Press Ctrl+H to show hidden files and folders. Now you'll see a folder called .local. Double-click it to open it, then navigate to share, then Steam. This path — /home/deck/.local/share/Steam — is your Steam directory. Inside, you'll see folders like steamapps (where games are stored), userdata (where your settings live), and others.

What to do if your Steam directory is on an SD card

If you moved your Steam library to an SD card to save space, your Steam directory won't be in the default location. Instead, it will be on the SD card itself, usually at a path like /run/media/mmcblk0p1/SteamLibrary or similar, depending on how your card is mounted.

To find it, open the file manager and look for your SD card in the left sidebar — it usually appears as a removable drive. Click it, then look for a folder called SteamLibrary or Steam. That's your Steam directory on the card. When EmuDeck asks for the Steam directory path during setup, you'll need to point it here instead of the default location.

Copying the Steam directory path for EmuDeck

Once you've found your Steam directory in the file manager, you can copy its full path. Right-click on the Steam folder and look for an option like "Copy Path" or "Copy Location" — the exact wording depends on your file manager version. If that option doesn't appear, click the address bar at the top of the file manager (it shows the path) and select all the text with Ctrl+A, then copy it with Ctrl+C.

Paste this path into EmuDeck when it asks for your Steam directory during the setup wizard. This tells EmuDeck exactly where to find your games and where to add emulated titles to your library.

Why EmuDeck needs your Steam directory path

EmuDeck works by creating shortcuts to emulated games and adding them to your Steam library. To do that, it needs write access to your Steam directory — specifically, to the steamapps folder where game data lives. Without the correct path, EmuDeck can't add games to your library, and they won't show up in your Steam Deck's game list.

The path also tells EmuDeck where to look for your existing Steam games if you want to use emulators to play older versions or modified versions of those games. Some users set up EmuDeck to point to the same Steam directory so everything appears in one place.

What happens if you enter the wrong path

If you give EmuDeck an incorrect Steam directory path, it won't crash or delete anything — it straightforward won't be able to add games to your library. You'll see an error message during setup, or games you add through EmuDeck won't appear in your Steam Deck's game list. The fix is straightforward: run EmuDeck's setup again and enter the correct path.

If you're not sure whether you entered the right path, check your Steam directory using the file manager method above, then compare it to what you told EmuDeck. You can also look in EmuDeck's settings or configuration files to see what path it's currently using, though the file manager approach is faster for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my Steam directory after setting up EmuDeck?

Yes, but you'll need to tell EmuDeck the new path afterward. If you move your Steam library to a different drive or SD card, run EmuDeck's setup again and update the Steam directory path. Your existing emulated games should still work as long as EmuDeck can find the new location.

Is the Steam directory the same as the EmuDeck directory?

No. The Steam directory is where Steam stores your games and settings. EmuDeck creates its own separate folder (usually in your home directory) where it stores emulator files, ROMs, and configuration. EmuDeck points to the Steam directory so it can add games to your library, but the two folders are different.

What if I don't see a Steam folder in .local/share?

This usually means Steam hasn't been launched yet on your Steam Deck, or it was installed to a different location. Launch Steam from the desktop, let it fully load, then close it. The Steam folder should appear in .local/share after that. If it still doesn't appear, check whether you moved your Steam library to an SD card.

Do I need to give EmuDeck permission to access my Steam directory?

EmuDeck asks for the path, but it doesn't require special permissions beyond what your user account already has. Since you own the Steam directory (it's in your home folder), EmuDeck can read and write to it once you provide the correct path.