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To add a non-Steam game or application to your Steam Deck library, switch to Desktop Mode, open Steam’s Add a Game control, choose Add a Non-Steam Game, select the installed program, and add it. The new entry is a shortcut and appears in the Deck interface’s Non-Steam section. You can then apply custom artwork either with Steam’s desktop library controls or, optionally, with the SteamGridDB Decky plugin from Gaming Mode.
The important distinction is that library customization does not turn an outside program into a Steam purchase or a Steam-managed installation. Steam does not provide updates for the non-Steam program through this shortcut, and the shortcut is not proof of ownership for your Steam account.
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What a non-Steam entry actually is
Steam’s non-Steam feature creates a library shortcut that launches a program already installed on your Deck or computer. It does not upload the program to Steam, convert it into a Steam license, or add it to your Steam purchase history. Steam’s support guidance describes the result as “only” a shortcut: it cannot download that program’s updates through Steam and cannot be used as proof that you own it.
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Prepare your Deck before adding the shortcut
Have the application installed first and know which executable or launcher should start it. If the program depends on a separate launcher, script, emulator, or compatibility layer, test that it opens in Desktop Mode before creating the shortcut. Steam can only add a program it can locate in the file picker or installed-program list.
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- Keep the Deck connected to power if you expect to spend time in Desktop Mode.
- Close the application before adding it so Steam can identify the correct executable cleanly.
- Have a keyboard and mouse available if your particular desktop task is awkward with the Deck’s controls. Steam says Deck controls work in Desktop Mode, but some situations may still be easier with physical input.
- Decide whether you want the standard Steam desktop workflow or an optional Gaming Mode artwork tool. You can use the first method without installing additional software.
Method 1: Add a non-Steam game in Desktop Mode
Steam’s official Deck workflow uses Desktop Mode for this task. The labels below follow Steam’s documented route; menu wording can change with client updates.
- From the normal Deck interface, open the Steam menu.
- Choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop.
- In the desktop environment, open the Steam client.
- Use Steam’s Add a Game control. In the desktop client this control is in the lower-left area of the library window.
- Choose Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Select the installed application from the list. If it is not listed, use the option to browse for the program and locate its executable or launcher.
- Choose Add Selected Programs.
The shortcut is now part of your Steam library. Steam’s Deck documentation says that an application added this way appears under the Non-Steam tab when you return to the Deck interface.
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Use the browse option and navigate to the file that actually starts the program. A shortcut to an installer, an update utility, or a launcher that is not required at runtime may produce an entry that appears to add correctly but does not launch the game. When a title uses a separate launcher, add the launcher that your normal installation uses, then test the shortcut before spending time on artwork.
If the program still does not start, remove the shortcut and add the correct executable again. Artwork does not affect launching, so solve the path or launcher problem first.
Return to Gaming Mode and verify the entry
- In the desktop environment, use the desktop link labeled Return to Gaming Mode.
- Wait for the regular Deck interface to load.
- Open the library’s Non-Steam section.
- Select the new entry and press Play to confirm that the shortcut launches the intended application.
Do this verification before applying several images. If the shortcut opens the wrong program, correct the executable in Desktop Mode rather than trying to fix the artwork around a broken entry.
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Apply custom artwork with Steam’s desktop controls
Steam supports changing library artwork from the desktop client. The exact control label and the artwork fields shown can vary as the client changes, but the workflow is to open the library entry in Desktop Mode, use its artwork-changing control, and select image files from your storage.
- Switch to Desktop Mode and open Steam.
- Open the library and select the non-Steam shortcut you just created.
- Open the entry’s library controls and choose the option for changing or setting its artwork.
- Browse to the image file you want to use and confirm the selection.
- Repeat for any other artwork fields Steam exposes for that entry, then return to Gaming Mode to check the result in the library grid and the game’s detail page.
Use images that clearly identify the same game or application. A consistent set normally uses the same visual treatment, title placement, and color palette across your custom entries. Keep the original image files in a folder you back up; if you remove or move a file, you may need to select it again later.
Why an image may appear in one view but not another
Steam uses different artwork placements in different parts of the client. A picture that looks correct on a detail page may be cropped differently in a grid tile or a banner area. Check the entry in each view you care about instead of judging it from the file preview alone. If text is cut off, choose a version with more margin around the title rather than stretching the same image repeatedly.
Manual artwork files: what the SteamGridDB FAQ establishes
The SteamGridDB FAQ documents a manual method based on the shortcut’s AppID. In that workflow, artwork files are placed in Steam’s grid-artwork directory and named for the relevant AppID and artwork role. Matching the identifier is essential: an image assigned to the wrong AppID can appear on another library entry.
The FAQ includes an explicit Windows path example. That path should not be copied into a Steam Deck walkthrough as though it were the Deck’s filesystem location. The cited instructions do not establish a corresponding Deck path, and the location can differ with the Deck’s Linux environment, Steam client changes, or installation layout.
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If you choose a manual method on a Deck, verify the current Deck-specific directory and filename convention first. Do not guess a path from a Windows guide. For most Deck owners, Steam’s artwork controls or the optional Gaming Mode plugin described below avoids that uncertainty.
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Method 2: Set artwork from Gaming Mode with the SteamGridDB Decky plugin
The SteamGridDB Decky plugin is optional software, not a built-in Steam requirement. Its purpose is to search for and apply custom artwork without leaving Gaming Mode. The project documents support for Steam games and non-Steam shortcuts, including icons.
What this route is best for
- You want to search for artwork while sitting in Gaming Mode.
- You are customizing several entries and prefer not to switch repeatedly to the desktop.
- You want artwork support for both Steam games and non-Steam shortcuts.
- You would rather avoid manually identifying AppIDs and placing files in a filesystem directory.
Using the documented artwork action
- Install Decky Loader and the SteamGridDB plugin using the current instructions for your Deck and SteamOS version. Installation details and compatibility can change, so check the project’s current status before proceeding.
- Return to Gaming Mode and highlight the game or non-Steam shortcut.
- Open the game’s context menu.
- Select Change Artwork….
- Choose the artwork you want for the entry and apply it.
- Open the library grid and the entry’s detail page to confirm that the image is applied where you expect.
The plugin changes how you select artwork; it does not change the ownership status of a non-Steam shortcut or make Steam deliver updates for the underlying program. If the plugin is unavailable after a SteamOS or Decky update, use Steam’s desktop controls instead.
Choosing between the two artwork methods
| Method | Best for | What you need | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam desktop controls and manual files | People who want to stay within the Steam client and select their own image files | Desktop Mode, the installed shortcut, and image files; manual AppID work if you use the file-based route | Requires Desktop Mode. The documented manual path is Windows-specific, so a Deck path must be verified rather than inferred. |
| SteamGridDB Decky plugin | People who want to search and apply artwork in Gaming Mode | Optional Decky Loader and the plugin, with compatibility checked for the current system | Adds another software component whose installation steps and compatibility can change. |
Use Steam’s desktop route when you want the fewest moving parts or already have image files. Use the plugin when Gaming Mode convenience matters more than avoiding optional software. Neither method replaces the original installer, store, launcher, or update mechanism for the game.
Artwork planning for a coherent custom library
Before downloading or creating images, decide what your library should communicate at a glance. A consistent interface is easier to scan when entries share a visual language rather than using unrelated screenshots and logos.
Choose a naming and visual system
- Use the same title spelling in Steam’s shortcut name and on the artwork.
- Keep important text away from edges that may be cropped in grid or banner views.
- Use a recognizable subject or logo so an application is identifiable even when the tile is small.
- Reserve one accent color or treatment for a category if you are organizing emulators, tools, and games separately.
- Keep a local backup of original artwork files so you can restore a preferred version after changing a shortcut.
Match artwork to the correct shortcut
Non-Steam entries are identified as shortcuts, and manual workflows use the entry’s AppID. If you have several versions of the same title, verify the selected library item before applying an image. This is especially important for duplicate shortcuts, separate launchers, or an emulator entry that can start more than one game.
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Troubleshooting common failures
The shortcut appears, but Play does nothing
- Return to Desktop Mode and confirm that the shortcut points to the executable or launcher that actually starts the application.
- Run the program directly from the desktop environment to distinguish an installation problem from a Steam shortcut problem.
- If a launcher is required, add the launcher rather than a file that only contains game data.
- Recreate the shortcut after correcting the path, then test it in Gaming Mode.
The entry is not in the Non-Steam section
Confirm that you completed Add Selected Programs in the desktop client and used Return to Gaming Mode afterward. A shortcut added on another computer or another Steam installation will not automatically appear on the Deck. Add the installed Deck copy through the Deck’s own desktop Steam client.
The artwork is attached to the wrong game
For manual files, check the AppID and the filename convention before moving anything. For the desktop controls or plugin, reopen the intended entry and apply the image from that entry’s artwork menu. Remove duplicate shortcuts if two entries point to the same program and are causing confusion.
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The image looks distorted or is cropped
Check the image in every library view where you plan to use it. Select an image composed for the relevant banner, grid, or icon placement, and leave additional margin around text. Do not assume that one source image will display identically in every Steam view.
The plugin no longer works after an update
Check the current Decky Loader and SteamGridDB plugin compatibility information. If the plugin has not yet caught up with a SteamOS or Steam client change, switch to Steam’s Desktop Mode artwork controls. Your non-Steam shortcut and its underlying installation are separate from the plugin.
Public Community artwork versus private library artwork
Applying an image only to your personal library is different from uploading artwork publicly to a Steam Community Hub. Steam’s Community Artwork policy says public submissions should be your own work and directly related to the game. Stolen or inappropriate work can be removed.
That policy is a rule for public Community uploads, not a complete statement of copyright law for every image used locally. If you create artwork for your own library, keep the use private and respect the rights attached to images you did not create. If you publish an image to a Community Hub, follow Steam’s current originality and relevance requirements.
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- Install and test the game or application outside Steam.
- Switch to Desktop Mode.
- Add the installed executable or launcher through Add a Game and Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Complete Add Selected Programs.
- Return to Gaming Mode and verify the shortcut under Non-Steam.
- Choose Steam’s desktop artwork controls or the optional Decky plugin.
- Apply artwork to the verified entry, checking each library view.
- Keep a backup of image files and remember that updates, ownership, and installation remain handled by the original source.
Following that order prevents the most common mix-up: trying to style a shortcut before confirming that it launches the right program. It also keeps the boundary clear between a polished Steam library interface and Steam’s separate systems for licenses, downloads, and updates.
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