How To Install Decky on Steam Deck

To install Decky Loader on Steam Deck, use Desktop Mode to run the official Decky installer, choose Latest Release, then return to Gaming Mode.

What Decky Loader Does On Steam Deck

Decky Loader is a homebrew plugin launcher that adds a new tab to the Steam Deck Quick Access menu so you can run small tools inside Gaming Mode. These tools change how your library looks, adjust system behaviour, and add shortcuts without forcing you back to Desktop Mode every time.

Many creators share Decky plugins through the built-in plugin store inside the loader. From there you can browse, search, and install plugins with a few taps. The catalog ranges from visual themes to performance helpers and game information tools, all designed around the SteamOS interface.

Decky itself is not an official Valve feature, and it comes from the SteamDeckHomebrew group on GitHub. The safest starting point is the Decky Loader website, which links to the current installer, documentation, and plugin list.

Before You Install Decky On Steam Deck

Quick check: spending a few minutes on setup reduces the chance of errors or odd behaviour later on.

Charge The Steam Deck — Aim for at least half a battery so the device does not shut down while the installer runs.
Update SteamOS First — Install pending system updates in Gaming Mode so Decky targets the current version of SteamOS.
Back Up Saves You Care About — Cloud sync helps, yet manual backups for key games add another layer of safety before adding homebrew.
Free A Little Storage Space — Decky itself is small, though plugins and shader data can add up, so clear unused games or downloads where possible.
Prepare Basic Input — A mouse and keyboard in Desktop Mode make the process easier, but you can manage with the trackpads and touchscreen if needed.
Accept The Homebrew Risk — Decky Loader is third party software. It should not touch your Steam library in a destructive way, yet there is always some risk when you run tools that Valve did not ship.

Most people install Decky without problems, yet you take responsibility for changes to your own device. Read prompts during install, avoid random scripts, and keep your source limited to the official project pages.

Installing Decky Loader On Steam Deck Step By Step

The standard path uses Desktop Mode and a graphical installer. This method suits nearly any user because it feels close to installing software on a regular Linux desktop.

Switching Steam Deck Into Desktop Mode

Open The Power Menu — In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, scroll to Power, and select it.
Choose Switch To Desktop — Pick the Desktop option and wait while SteamOS loads the KDE Plasma desktop.
Connect Input Devices If You Have Them — Plug a USB hub, mouse, or keyboard into the USB-C port, or pair Bluetooth devices from the system tray.

Desktop Mode shows a familiar taskbar and icons. The trackpads work like a laptop touchpad, and the trigger buttons act as mouse clicks by default.

Downloading The Official Decky Installer

Open A Web Browser — Launch Firefox or another browser from the Discover app or from the taskbar.
Visit The Decky Project Page — Go to the Decky Loader website or the Decky installer releases page to grab the current version.
Save The Installer File — Download the file to your Downloads folder. On some browsers it may show a .desktop file or a file that ends in .download while it finishes.
Move The File To The Desktop — Open the file manager, drag the installer from Downloads to the desktop for easier access.

When the file finishes, you should see a Decky icon on the desktop. That file launches the installer that sets up the loader inside Gaming Mode.

Running The Decky Loader Installer

Enable Execution For The File — If double-clicking does nothing, open the context menu, open Properties, and allow the file to run as a program.
Launch The Installer — Double-click the Decky installer and accept any prompt that asks whether you want to trust the file.
Enter The Admin Password If Asked — The installer needs elevated rights to place files under the Steam Deck homebrew path. If you have never set a password, follow the prompt to create a temporary one.
Choose Latest Release — When the installer asks which build to install, pick the latest stable release. Beta builds are meant for testing and carry more risk.
Wait For The Progress Messages — The window will show messages as it downloads files, sets up services, and registers Decky with SteamOS.
Select Return To Gaming Mode — When the installer finishes, use the button in the window or the desktop shortcut to switch back to Gaming Mode.

After the restart into Gaming Mode, Decky Loader should already be active in the background and ready to use from the Quick Access menu.

Command Line Way To Install Decky On Steam Deck

Deeper fix: if the graphical installer fails or you prefer a single command, you can install Decky through the Konsole terminal in Desktop Mode.

Open Konsole In Desktop Mode — From the application launcher, search for Konsole and start it.
Check Your Internet Connection — Confirm that websites load in a browser so the script can download files.
Copy The Official Install Command — Paste the line from the Decky installer page instead of retyping it by hand.

curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/install_release.sh | sh

Run The Command — Press Enter in Konsole, read the prompts, and confirm when asked.
Pick Latest Release When Prompted — As with the graphical method, pick the stable release channel.
Return To Gaming Mode — Close Konsole, open the Power menu, and switch back to Gaming Mode.

This script comes from the same installer project. Always verify that the address matches the official Decky pages before running any command fetched from the web.

How To Open Decky And Install Plugins

Once Decky Loader is installed, you handle almost everything from Gaming Mode. The loader plugs into the Quick Access menu that appears on the right side of the screen.

Press The Quick Access Button — Tap the three-dot button on the right edge of the Steam Deck to open the sidebar.
Find The Decky Plug Icon — Scroll along the top of the menu until you see a small plug symbol. This is the Decky tab.
Open The Plugin Store — Inside the Decky tab, pick the small storefront icon to open the plugin store browser.
Browse Or Search For Plugins — Use the search bar or sort by most downloaded to find plugins that match how you use your Deck.
Install A Plugin — Select a plugin, read its description, and press the install button. Decky downloads and enables it inside Gaming Mode.
Configure Plugin Settings — Many plugins add their own menus inside Decky where you can turn options on or off or change sliders.

Installed plugins stay listed in the Decky tab. You can toggle them off temporarily, remove them, or adjust settings without leaving Game Mode.

Popular Plugin Types To Try First

Quick picks: the store includes many options, yet a few plugin categories give clear benefits right away when you first install Decky on Steam Deck.

Visual Theme Tools — Plugins like CSS loaders change menu styles, fonts, and animations so your interface feels more personal.
Performance Helpers — Some plugins expose extra power tuning controls, fan curves, or per-game performance profiles in a simple panel.
Game Information Panels — Others pull rating data, completion times, or compatibility notes from well known databases.
Maintenance Utilities — Storage cleaners and shader cache managers help you keep internal storage from filling with old data.

Decky Install Methods Compared

Method	What You Need	Best Use Case
Desktop Installer	Desktop Mode, browser, basic mouse or trackpad use	First Decky install or users who prefer windows and buttons
Konsole Script	Desktop Mode, Konsole, copy and paste into terminal	Quick reinstall, advanced users, or when the desktop file fails
Re-Run Installer	Existing installer file on desktop	Running updates, repairs, or removal without a fresh download

Keeping Decky Loader Updated Safely

Homebrew tools change often as SteamOS improves and plugins gain new features. Decky Loader includes update paths that keep the loader and its plugins fresh without much effort from you.

Watch For Decky Update Prompts — From time to time the Decky tab will show an update banner or extra button. Run those updates before large gaming sessions.
Update Plugins From The Store — Many plugin updates arrive through the same store page where you installed them. Open each plugin entry to see if an update is available.
Reload Decky After Changes — Use the reload option or briefly switch back to Desktop Mode and then into Gaming Mode if the Decky tab behaves oddly after an update.
Wait After Major SteamOS Releases — When Valve ships a big SteamOS version, give the Decky team time to check compatibility before you install the system update with Decky active.

For deeper release notes and technical detail you can read the Decky Loader repository on GitHub. The project page lists current issues, release tags, and notes about known conflicts with other tools.

How To Uninstall Decky Loader From Steam Deck

You can remove Decky Loader at any time. Removal uses the same installer you used for setup, and there is also a matching terminal command.

Uninstall With The Desktop Installer

Enter Desktop Mode Again — Use the Power menu in Gaming Mode to switch back to the desktop.
Run The Decky Installer File — Double-click the Decky installer icon you kept on the desktop.
Choose Uninstall Decky Loader — When the window appears, pick the uninstall option instead of Latest Release.
Confirm Any Prompts — Read each message and confirm when you are ready to remove Decky.
Restart Into Gaming Mode — Switch back to Gaming Mode and open the Quick Access menu to confirm that the Decky tab has disappeared.

Uninstall With A Terminal Command

Open Konsole In Desktop Mode — Just as with the install script, start a Konsole window.
Paste The Official Uninstall Command — Copy the line from the Decky installer page rather than typing it yourself.

curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/uninstall.sh | sh

Run The Script And Confirm — Let the script finish and then reboot into Gaming Mode.

If the removal process fails or Decky still appears, rerun the installer, pick repair or uninstall again, and then restart the Deck.

Troubleshooting Common Decky Install Problems

Quick check: most install issues on Steam Deck come down to network glitches, file permissions, or a conflict with other software. Run through these points before you assume the loader is broken.

Decky Tab Does Not Appear — Restart the Steam Deck into Gaming Mode a second time. If the icon still does not show, run the installer again and pick repair or reinstall.
Installer Fails To Download Files — Test another website in Desktop Mode to confirm that Wi-Fi works. Slow or unstable connections can stop the script mid way.
Permission Errors On The Installer File — Make sure the .desktop installer is marked as executable in its file properties so KDE can run it instead of opening it as text.
Port Conflicts With Other Services — Some services, such as Syncthing, may use the same ports that Decky expects. Changing Syncthing to port 8384 or closing other background tools frees those ports for Decky.
SteamOS Update Breaks Decky — If Decky stops working after a big system update, check the Decky Loader GitHub issues page. Many times you only need to update Decky to the newest release.
Individual Plugins Misbehave — Turn off plugins one by one in the Decky menu. When the problem disappears, remove or update the plugin that caused it.

Most problems clear up after a fresh install of Decky Loader, a round of plugin updates, or a simple reboot. Take it slow, change one thing at a time, and stick to plugins that receive regular maintenance.