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For a game you bought on Steam, open it in Gaming Mode and select Install. For a game from another store—or a Windows installer you already have—switch to Desktop Mode and add its launcher, installer, or game executable to Steam as a non-Steam game. That creates a library shortcut; it does not install or license the game by itself.
Choose the right method
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You bought the game on Steam | Install it from your Library in Gaming Mode. |
| The game is already installed on the Deck | Add its executable to Steam as a non-Steam game in Desktop Mode. |
You have a Windows installer such as setup.exe |
Add and run the installer through Steam with a compatibility tool, then change the shortcut to the installed game’s executable. |
| You own it through Epic, GOG, Amazon, Ubisoft, or another store | Install and run it through a compatible launcher or game manager, then add the launcher or game to Steam if needed. |
| The game is on another computer | Use Steam Remote Play or another streaming method. A shortcut alone will not copy the game to the Deck. |
| You mean ROMs or emulated games | You will need an emulator and legally obtained game files; that is a separate setup from installing Steam games. |
Install a Steam game in Gaming Mode
- Open the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode and go to Store or Library.
- Select the game. In the Store, purchase it first if necessary; in the Library, choose Install.
- If Steam asks where to install it, choose the internal drive or a prepared microSD card.
- Check the download queue and let the download and installation finish, then select Play.
Steam’s standard Deck interface handles Steam-game downloads, installation, updates, and launching. See Valve’s Steam Deck FAQ. Windows games may run through Proton, Steam’s compatibility layer for Linux-based SteamOS, but compatibility depends on the particular game and can change. Do not assume every Windows game will work; launchers, anti-cheat, DRM, peripherals, and updates can all affect whether it runs.
If a game is already installed and you want to move it, use Steam’s storage-management controls rather than manually dragging its folder and assuming the library will keep working. Button names or positions can change with Steam client and SteamOS updates.
Add an already-installed game as a non-Steam game
Use this route when the game or application is installed on the Deck and you need a shortcut in your Steam Library:
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- Press the Steam button, choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop.
- Open the desktop Steam client. In the lower-left corner, select Add a Game, then Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Select the game or application if it appears. Otherwise choose Browse and locate its executable.
- Choose Add Selected Programs.
- Return to Gaming Mode and look in the Library’s Non-Steam section or collection.
Valve describes this as adding a shortcut to the Steam Library—not turning the game into a Steam purchase. The shortcut does not provide Steam ownership validation, downloads, or game updates. A shortcut can offer Steam library access and, depending on the title, controller configuration, per-game settings, overlay features, and screenshots, but those features are not guaranteed to work for every game. The entry may start with a generic name or icon; artwork is cosmetic and can be edited in its properties later. See Steam Support’s non-Steam game instructions.
Install a Windows game from an .exe installer
Adding setup.exe as a non-Steam game only gives Steam a way to run the installer. After installation, you need to point that same shortcut to the actual game executable.
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- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch 1 (NOT compatible with Nintendo-Switch 2), smartphones, and tablets
- Boost your gaming experience with up to 160MB/s read for fast load times
- A2-rated app performance lets you quickly access and enjoy games and apps without lag for an enhanced gaming experience and a competitive edge
- Store more of your favorite games and other content with capacities up to 2TB
- Built to endure with temperature resistance, waterproofing, x-ray protection, and more
- Switch to Desktop Mode and open Steam.
- Choose Add a Game → Add a Non-Steam Game, browse to
setup.exe(or the installer’s equivalent), and add it. - In the Steam Library, open the installer shortcut’s Properties → Compatibility. If the installer needs it, enable the option to force a Steam Play compatibility tool and choose a Proton version. Begin with the default or a current stable option; if it fails, try Proton Experimental.
- Run the installer from Steam and complete the installation.
- When it is done, edit the same Steam shortcut and change its target from the installer to the installed game’s actual
.exe. Keep the compatibility setting and test the game.
This installer-first workflow is a practical community-described method, not a universal Valve-supported recipe. The game may be inside a Proton prefix—a Windows-like environment tied to that Steam shortcut—so finding the installed executable can be harder than browsing an ordinary folder. In the file manager, enable display of hidden files if needed. Keeping the installer and game associated with the same shortcut helps preserve their prefix; deleting the shortcut and creating a new one can mean starting with a different prefix. For examples of the procedure and prefix considerations, see this Steam Community discussion.
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Choose internal storage or a microSD card
When Steam offers an installation location, choose the internal drive for simplicity or a microSD card if you need more space. Format a new card using the Deck’s built-in storage controls before setting it up as a Steam library. Formatting erases data, so back up anything important first. Steam notes that microSD write speed can affect installation time; see its download and network troubleshooting guidance.
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- Steam Deck users: For optimal gaming performance, including the ability to store and load video games, we suggest using a Gen4x4 2230 SSD.
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Prefer Steam’s own storage and library controls over manually copying a Windows game library onto a card. Copying files may not include a required launcher, registry data, dependencies, or the game’s Proton prefix. Community reports also describe filesystem and prefix complications with Windows-oriented NTFS card setups, but those reports are not a universal Valve specification. If you use removable storage, check that the card is inserted, mounted, and readable whenever you launch the game.
Games from Epic, GOG, and other stores
Steam does not automatically install games bought from another store. Usually, you install and sign in to that store’s launcher in Desktop Mode, install the game through it, then add either the launcher or the game executable to Steam as a non-Steam game. Add the launcher when the title relies on it for login, updates, DRM, or starting the game; a direct game shortcut may be simpler when the game runs independently.
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Optional game managers such as Heroic Games Launcher or Lutris can help with stores that do not offer a native Steam Deck workflow. They are not required for Steam purchases, and none is best for every library. Store integration, cloud saves, controller support, DRM, and game-specific behavior vary. Adding a shortcut to Steam does not guarantee another store’s cloud saves or Steam achievements.
Use Proton when a non-Steam game will not launch
Steam can select a compatibility tool automatically for many Steam games. For a Windows non-Steam executable, you may need to set one manually under Shortcut → Properties → Compatibility. Start with the default or a current stable Proton release; if the game fails, try Proton Experimental or another suitable build. There is no Proton version that is best for every title: a change may fix one game and break another, and Proton cannot overcome every anti-cheat, DRM, or launcher restriction.
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Community reports describe non-Steam games that needed a different compatibility tool or a first launch from Desktop Mode. Treat those as troubleshooting possibilities rather than guarantees. See this Steam Community report. Community builds are an additional, more advanced option; ProtonUp-Qt can help manage them, but it is not a prerequisite for ordinary game installation.
Troubleshoot a missing game or a failed launch
The shortcut does not appear in Gaming Mode
- Confirm you added it in the desktop Steam client—not merely as a desktop icon or file shortcut.
- Close and reopen Steam in Desktop Mode, then return to Gaming Mode and check the Non-Steam section or Library filters.
- Restart the Deck. If the entry still does not appear or seems corrupted, remove and re-add the shortcut.
- Confirm the desktop client and Gaming Mode use the same Steam account. If the game is on removable storage, check that the card is mounted and readable.
- If you use a third-party plugin or library-customization tool, temporarily check whether it is affecting the library display.
A missing entry does not necessarily mean the game was deleted. Steam has previously fixed an issue involving non-Steam games loading from an invalid user profile; see the Steam Community report of that fix.
The game appears but returns to the Library, shows a black screen, or opens the installer again
- Launch it once from Desktop Mode and confirm you selected the installed game executable, not the installer.
- Check the shortcut’s target and make sure the game files are still at that location.
- Try the default Proton option, then Proton Experimental. Change one setting at a time.
- If a launcher opens, complete its login or update steps and check whether the title depends on that launcher for authentication or DRM.
- Check current reports for the specific game, especially if it uses online anti-cheat or unusual prerequisites; installation does not guarantee playability.
- If an installer-based prefix appears damaged, consider rerunning the installer through its original shortcut. Avoid deleting that shortcut until you have confirmed the final game path and understand that recreating it may create a new prefix.
If the game works in Desktop Mode but not Gaming Mode, the shortcut may still point to the wrong executable, depend on a launcher interaction, or need keyboard and mouse input. Confirm the target and test the launcher flow before making deeper system changes. Ordinary game addition does not require terminal commands or disabling SteamOS protections; avoid changing the read-only system image for this task.
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If a retailer gave you a key intended for Steam, redeem it through Steam’s product-activation flow. If a key is not redeemable on Steam, adding a non-Steam shortcut will not turn it into a Steam license; a key already redeemed to another account normally cannot be registered again. See Steam Support’s retail CD key FAQ.
Quick Recap
Before you leave Desktop Mode
- Check that you used the right method for the game’s store or installer.
- Confirm it installed to the storage location you intended.
- For an installer-based game, point the shortcut to the installed game executable.
- Test the compatibility setting if needed, and confirm the title appears in Gaming Mode.
- Test its controller and launcher behavior. Keep the installer shortcut until the final game shortcut works.
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