Decky Loader is a straightforward plugin system for Steam Deck and SteamOS, allowing users to integrate numerous additional features and powerful plugins.
This guide offers clear instructions for setting it up. However, it’s important to note a few points:
- Installing plugins with Decky Loader is not officially supported by Valve and can sometimes be unstable. If you encounter unusual UI behavior, disabling plugins should be the first troubleshooting step.
- Occasionally, Decky Loader may disappear after SteamOS updates. Re-running the installer is typically required to restore the menu.
Installation is simple. Begin by entering Desktop Mode. The following images are from a Steam Deck running SteamOS 3.6, demonstrating how to access Desktop Mode via the Power menu:
Quick Installation via Konsole Terminal
This method is for advanced users. If you prefer not to use the terminal, proceed to the next section.
For those comfortable with the terminal, open the Konsole application and paste the following command:
curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/install_release.sh | sh
Follow the on-screen prompts. You may be asked to enter a password; if you haven’t set one, a temporary one might be assigned.
Upon completion, the terminal output will resemble the image below:
After this, you can return to Gaming Mode.
Installing Decky Loader Using the UI
This is the simpler method, requiring no terminal use.
Once in Desktop Mode, open your web browser (Chrome or Firefox) and navigate to the Decky Loader GitHub page. Locate and click the prominent Download button.
This action will download a file named “decky_installer.desktop” to your Downloads folder.
If you are using Firefox, the file might be named “decky_loader.desktop.download”. In this case, you will need to rename it by right-clicking and removing the “.download” extension.
The “.desktop” extension indicates an executable shortcut, not that the file must be placed on your desktop. Simply double-click it to run the installer. (If it doesn’t work, try moving it to your Desktop first.)
A dialog box may appear asking what you want to do; select Execute.
On the subsequent prompt, click Continue.
The Konsole terminal will then open, prompting you to enter your password or setting a temporary one if none exists.
Next, choose the Decky Loader version you wish to install (typically “release”) and click OK. The system will download and install it, then confirm completion, allowing you to click OK again.
Once finished, you can switch back to Gaming Mode.
How to Install Plugins
After installing Decky Loader, return to Gaming Mode. Open the Quick Access Menu (the right-side overlay menu), which is accessed via the three-dots button on the right side of the Steam Deck. If menu controls become unresponsive, a full restart of the Steam Deck or SteamOS machine should resolve the issue; the touchscreen can be used for this.
Within the Quick Access Menu, you will find three new buttons:
- To open the Decky Loader menu
- To open the plugin store
- Decky Loader settings
Inside the Plugin Store (indicated by button 2 in the image above), you can browse and select plugins for installation:
Simply click the install button for any desired plugin. That completes the process!
How to Update Plugins
Updating plugins is straightforward. Decky Loader will display a small yellow circle when an update is available for a plugin. To update, navigate to the settings, select Plugins on the left, and then click update.
