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To add a non-Steam game to your Steam Deck library, first make sure the game or application is already installed or otherwise available on the Deck. Switch to Desktop Mode, use the Steam client’s Add a Game option to create a library shortcut, then return to Gaming Mode and configure the title’s controller layout from its game details. Adding it does not install the game, provide updates, or verify ownership.
What adding a non-Steam game does
Steam’s add-to-library flow creates a shortcut in your library; it does not install the program. Steam states, “This will only add a shortcut to your game in the Steam client.” The game or application must already be installed or otherwise available on the Deck, and adding an entry does not establish that you own the title or make Steam responsible for its updates. Steam Support: Add Non-Steam Games to a Library
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Add the game from Desktop Mode
- Switch to Desktop Mode. Press the Steam button, choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop.
- Open Steam. In the desktop client, select Add a Game in the lower-left corner, then choose Add a Non-Steam Game.
- Select the installed program. Choose it from the list and add it. If it is not listed, Steam’s general client instructions describe browsing for the program, then selecting it to add. The exact labels and available list can vary by client version.
- Return to Gaming Mode. Use the desktop’s Return to Gaming Mode shortcut. The new entry should appear in your library’s non-Steam section.
Steam’s Desktop FAQ documents the Deck-specific route and notes that apps and games running in SteamOS Desktop Mode can access the Deck’s inputs while Steam is running. Steam Deck and Steam Machine Desktop: FAQ
Set up or change the controls
In Gaming Mode, highlight the non-Steam entry and open its game details. Select the gamepad icon or control settings to inspect and edit its layout. You can start with the current template or browse community layouts from that screen. A shared layout is an option to try, not a guarantee that its bindings will fit your game, launcher, or preferred setup.
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Choose a layout based on what the title needs. Gamepad-first controls suit games designed around a controller; mouse-and-keyboard emulation can be more practical for a launcher or game that expects a cursor or keyboard input. You can adjust the layout for the task rather than assuming one control scheme will work throughout. Steam Deck – Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide
Navigate the desktop without extra peripherals
A dock, keyboard, and mouse are optional for the add-and-configure workflow. On the Deck, the right trackpad moves the desktop pointer, clicking the right trackpad acts as a primary click, and clicking the left trackpad acts as a secondary click. With Steam running, press Steam + X to open the on-screen keyboard. Steam says apps and games in SteamOS Desktop Mode have access to the Deck’s inputs when Steam is running. Steam Deck and Steam Machine Desktop: FAQ
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If you prefer a larger display or external peripherals, a USB-C hub or dock can connect a display, keyboard, mouse, controller, Ethernet, and power. Match the hub’s ports and power pass-through to your setup, and check that your display and cables support the resolution and refresh rate you intend to use. Steam says a variety of USB-C hubs and docks work with the Deck; its guidance does not certify a specific model, and display results can depend on the setup. Docking the Steam Deck
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The game or launcher does not work
Compatibility depends on the application. Steam advises checking that a non-Steam application supports Arch Linux. Some launchers may need mouse or touchscreen input before a game starts, even if the game itself can use a controller. For a non-Steam entry that is unstable, Steam recommends closing or disabling third-party applications installed through Desktop Mode and restarting the Deck. Steam Deck – Software Info & Troubleshooting Guide
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Try a compatibility tool only when appropriate
Steam lets you force a compatibility tool, such as Proton, for an individual library entry. This is a troubleshooting option to test when the application needs it, not a universal fix; changing it may not resolve a compatibility problem. The setting is in the entry’s properties in Steam. Steam Deck – Software Info & Troubleshooting Guide
Check whether the Deck is receiving inputs
If controls still seem faulty, open Steam > Settings > Controller > Test Controller Inputs. This helps distinguish a problem with input recognition from a layout that needs different bindings. Steam Deck – Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide
Quick Recap
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- Adjustable Stand for Tailor-Made Comfort: The docking station has a stand composed of two foldable panels. Therefore, the back panel no longer blocks the heat dissipation outlet of the gaming consoles, greatly enhancing the heat dissipation effect.
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