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You can play Xbox Cloud Gaming on a Steam Deck by installing Microsoft Edge in Desktop Mode, adding Edge to Steam as a non-Steam shortcut, and configuring that shortcut to open xbox.com/play. After setup, the shortcut appears in Gaming Mode and streams games through the browser rather than installing Xbox titles on the Deck.
This is Microsoft’s documented browser workaround, not a native Xbox Cloud Gaming application for SteamOS. Microsoft describes the Edge Flatpak used here as community-maintained and says Edge on SteamOS is not officially supported, while Xbox describes Steam Deck cloud play as a beta browser experience. Follow the steps below for the current setup path, then treat account, plan, catalog and regional availability as variables that can change.
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What does Xbox Cloud Gaming on Steam Deck actually install?
The procedure installs the Microsoft Edge Flatpak and creates a Steam shortcut that opens the Xbox Cloud Gaming website in a kiosk-style browser window. The games remain on Microsoft’s servers; the Steam Deck receives a streamed video feed and sends your controller input back through the browser. Nothing in this process downloads the Xbox game files to your internal storage or microSD card.
Microsoft’s full instructions are in Xbox Cloud Gaming in Microsoft Edge with Steam Deck. Xbox’s overview, published December 19, 2025, characterizes Steam Deck access as beta and browser-based in Getting Started with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
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Because the service is streamed, you need to sign in to the Xbox account and service tier that provides access when the site asks. The games shown, eligibility of your plan and availability in your country or region can change; the shortcut itself does not grant a subscription or expand the catalog.
What do I need before starting?
Have the following ready before you leave Gaming Mode. The installation and shortcut creation happen in Desktop Mode, so allow enough time to switch modes and return afterward.
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- An active internet connection suitable for browser-based game streaming.
- Your Microsoft/Xbox account credentials, plus any subscription or entitlement required for the particular game you want to stream.
- Access to the Discover Software Center, the Application Launcher, Konsole and Steam’s shortcut properties.
- A mouse and keyboard if possible. Microsoft recommends them for convenience, but the Deck’s touchscreen, trackpads and touch keyboard can perform the same setup tasks.
Microsoft’s guidance does not require an external keyboard and mouse. Press STEAM+X to open the touch keyboard, then use the touchscreen or trackpads when a text field needs input. A small wired or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse can make right-clicking, typing the launch options and editing the shortcut faster, but they are optional.
How do I switch the Steam Deck to Desktop Mode?
Use the Steam menu’s power controls to leave the game-oriented interface.
- Press the Steam button.
- Open Power.
- Choose Switch to Desktop and wait for the KDE desktop to load.
Keep the Deck connected to power if your download or system update process is lengthy. You will return to Gaming Mode only after Edge and its Steam shortcut are configured.
How do I install Microsoft Edge from Discover?
Install the community-maintained Flatpak through Discover’s browser category rather than downloading a separate installer.
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- Open Discover Software Center on the desktop.
- Select Applications, then Internet, then Web Browsers.
- Find Microsoft Edge and choose Install.
- Wait until Discover reports that the installation has completed.
The package used in this walkthrough is not actively maintained by Microsoft. Microsoft says it does not officially support Microsoft Edge on SteamOS, so consider Edge a practical community Flatpak used to reach the web service, not a supported native Steam Deck client. If Discover shows more than one similarly named browser entry, use the Microsoft Edge listing in the Web Browsers category rather than an unrelated Chromium build.
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How do I add Edge to Steam as a non-Steam game?
Adding the browser through the Application Launcher creates the Steam library entry that Gaming Mode can start.
- Open the Application Launcher on the desktop.
- Find Microsoft Edge.
- Right-click it and select Add to Steam.
- When the Add a Game window appears, select Microsoft Edge and confirm.
Steam now lists Edge as a non-Steam shortcut. At this point it still behaves like a normal browser shortcut; the next steps give it permission to read the device information needed for controller handling and tell it to open Xbox Cloud Gaming directly.
Why does the setup use a Flatpak override, and how do I apply it?
The documented command grants Edge read-only access to the Steam Deck’s /run/udev device-information path. Microsoft includes this override so the browser shortcut can work with Steam Deck controls while retaining read-only access rather than write access.
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- Open Konsole from the Application Launcher.
- Enter this command exactly:
flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge- Press Enter. Konsole may return to the prompt without a confirmation message; that can still mean the override was accepted.
- Close Konsole after the command finishes.
Do not replace --user, the :ro suffix or the application identifier. The command applies to the Edge Flatpak for your user account and does not install a second browser.
How do I turn the Edge shortcut into an Xbox Cloud Gaming shortcut?
Edit the shortcut’s name and launch options in Steam so it opens the play page at the correct size and scale.
- Open Steam while still in Desktop Mode.
- Open Library and select the Microsoft Edge shortcut.
- Open its Properties.
- Change the shortcut name to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
- Locate the launch-options field. Steam’s generated command includes the marker
@@u @@; append the following text after that marker, leaving the existing text intact:
--window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"- Close the Properties window or use Steam’s save/close control, depending on the desktop client layout.
The two scale-factor switches and the 1024-by-640 window size are the values in Microsoft’s walkthrough. The --kiosk flag opens the Xbox play URL directly instead of presenting a general-purpose Edge window. If you type the URL manually, use https://www.xbox.com/play exactly.
Which controller layout should I select?
Apply Steam’s Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad template to the shortcut. This is the controller configuration Microsoft documents for the Edge-based setup.
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- In the shortcut’s Steam page, open Controller layout.
- Choose Browse templates.
- Select Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad.
- Apply the configuration and return to the shortcut’s library page.
The template matters because the browser page needs gamepad-style input while some setup and web-interface actions still benefit from pointer control. If you customize bindings later, keep a way to move a pointer and activate on-screen controls so you can sign in or recover from a web prompt.
How do I launch Xbox Cloud Gaming from Gaming Mode?
Return to the standard Steam Deck interface and start the renamed shortcut from the non-Steam section of your library.
- On the desktop, use the system menu to choose Return to Gaming Mode (the wording can vary slightly with SteamOS updates).
- Open your Steam Library.
- Find the Non-Steam section or filter.
- Select Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
- Press Play. Edge should open directly to the Xbox Cloud Gaming play page in the configured window.
- Sign in if prompted, choose an available cloud title and begin streaming.
The first launch can include normal website sign-in or account-selection screens. Use the touchscreen, trackpads or a connected mouse to select fields, and press STEAM+X if you need the touch keyboard. Once the shortcut is working, you can launch it from Gaming Mode without reopening the desktop for ordinary play.
Can I add artwork to the library entry?
Yes. Microsoft documents optional custom artwork for the Steam library entry, but it changes only how the shortcut looks. It does not alter the Edge permissions, controller template, launch options or streaming behavior.
Leave artwork until the shortcut launches correctly. That keeps visual customization separate from troubleshooting and prevents a cosmetic change from being mistaken for a functional requirement.
What is the best input method during setup?
Use an external mouse and keyboard when convenience is the priority; use the Deck’s built-in controls when portability is more important. Both approaches are covered by Microsoft’s setup guidance.
| Input method | Best use | What Microsoft says |
|---|---|---|
| External keyboard and mouse | Fastest text entry, right-clicking and launch-option editing in Desktop Mode | Recommended for convenience, but optional |
| Touchscreen | Selecting desktop controls and web-page fields without peripherals | Supported as an alternative |
| Trackpads | Pointer movement and selection in Desktop Mode or the browser | Supported as an alternative |
| STEAM+X touch keyboard | Typing commands, names and URLs when no physical keyboard is connected | Microsoft documents this shortcut for bringing up the keyboard |
What should I check if the shortcut does not work?
Check the failure at the stage where it occurs instead of repeating the whole installation. The following branches match the documented setup components.
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Edge is not listed in Discover
Confirm that Discover is showing Applications > Internet > Web Browsers, then search for Microsoft Edge again. The documented package is a community-maintained Flatpak; it is not a native SteamOS app maintained by Microsoft.
The shortcut is missing from Steam
Return to Desktop Mode, open the Application Launcher, right-click Microsoft Edge and choose Add to Steam. In the Add a Game window, make sure the Edge entry is selected before confirming.
Edge opens a normal browser instead of Xbox Cloud Gaming
Open the shortcut’s Properties and inspect the launch-options field. The Xbox arguments must be appended after Steam’s existing @@u @@ marker, including the complete kiosk URL and its quotation marks:
--window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"Also verify that the shortcut was renamed rather than a different Edge entry being launched from the general application menu.
The page opens, but controls do not respond
Run the Flatpak override again in Konsole exactly as shown, then check the shortcut’s Controller layout. The documented template is Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad; apply it to this shortcut, not to another game.
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Press STEAM+X to display the touch keyboard and use the touchscreen or trackpads. A physical keyboard and mouse are a convenience recommendation, not a prerequisite.
The game or catalog item is unavailable
The shortcut only opens the service. Catalog visibility, plan eligibility and regional availability depend on Xbox’s current service conditions and your account, so a correctly configured browser shortcut cannot make every title available.
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Is this an officially supported Xbox app for SteamOS?
No. The documented path is a browser-based workaround using a community-maintained Microsoft Edge Flatpak. Microsoft says it does not actively maintain that package and does not officially support Edge on SteamOS, while Xbox labels Steam Deck cloud play beta.
That status affects expectations: SteamOS, Edge or the website may change independently, and a future update could require revisiting the shortcut or controller configuration. Keep the Microsoft Support instructions available if a SteamOS or browser update changes a menu label.
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The method is useful because it places a direct Xbox Cloud Gaming entry in Gaming Mode without installing a separate native client. It also keeps game files off the Deck, which avoids using local storage for Xbox titles.
The trade-off is dependence on a browser package that Microsoft does not officially support on SteamOS. You also remain subject to the cloud service’s account, subscription, catalog, regional and beta conditions. Those are service-level limits, not errors in the Steam shortcut.
How do I verify the complete setup before relying on it?
Run this short checklist in order:
- Microsoft Edge is installed from Discover under Applications > Internet > Web Browsers.
- The Edge entry was added to Steam through the Application Launcher.
- The command
flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edgewas entered in Konsole. - The shortcut is named Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
- The launch options appear after
@@u @@and include the 1024-by-640 window, both scale factors and the kiosk URL. - The Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad template is applied.
- The shortcut launches from Gaming Mode’s non-Steam library section and reaches
https://www.xbox.com/play.
If every item passes, the installation portion is complete. Any remaining inability to play is then more likely to involve sign-in, account eligibility, catalog availability, regional access or the beta browser service rather than the shortcut construction itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove the shortcut without uninstalling Edge?
Yes. Removing the non-Steam entry from Steam only removes that library shortcut; it does not inherently remove the Edge Flatpak. If you also want to reclaim the browser’s installed space, uninstall Microsoft Edge separately through Discover in Desktop Mode.
Can I use the shortcut when the Deck is offline?
No. The shortcut opens a cloud-streaming website, so an internet connection is required to authenticate, receive the game stream and send controller input. It does not provide an offline copy of Xbox games.
Will Steam Deck updates preserve this setup?
The shortcut, launch arguments and controller template are stored in Steam, while the browser and its Flatpak permissions are separate components. After a SteamOS, Edge or Xbox website change, check that the shortcut still opens the play URL and that the controller template remains applied.
Does this setup make every Xbox game playable on the Deck?
No. The browser entry only provides access to the cloud service. Which games appear and can be started depends on the current catalog, your account’s plan and entitlement, and availability for your region.
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