The Steam Deck is a powerful handheld gaming PC that natively supports thousands of Steam games. But many gamers have libraries on other platforms like the Epic Games Store, GOG, or itch.io. Adding these non-Steam games to your Steam Deck lets you launch them through the familiar Steam interface, take advantage of Steam Input controller configurations, and enjoy features like the performance overlay. However, getting non-Steam games to work perfectly can sometimes be tricky. This guide will walk you through adding games, setting up controllers, managing storage, and troubleshooting common problems.
Adding Non-Steam Games to Your Steam Deck
Adding a game from outside Steam is straightforward, but it requires switching to Desktop Mode. Press and hold the power button, then select ‘Switch to Desktop’. Once on the desktop, open Steam from the taskbar or application menu. In the Steam client, click ‘Games’ in the top menu, then ‘Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library’. A window will appear listing all detected applications, but if your game isn’t there, click ‘Browse’ to locate the game’s executable file (.exe for Windows games, or a Linux binary for native titles). Select the file and click ‘Add Selected Programs’.
Many users install non-Steam games through third-party launchers like Heroic Games Launcher or Lutris, available in the Discover Software Center. After installing a game via one of these, you can add the launcher itself or the game directly. Some launchers, like Heroic, have built-in options to add a game shortcut to Steam automatically. For flatpak apps, you may need to add them by pointing to a desktop file or using a command like flatpak run com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl as a non-Steam shortcut.
Common Issues When Adding Games
If the ‘Add a Game’ button is greyed out, make sure you are actually in Desktop Mode and that the Steam client is running and logged in. Another issue can occur if the file browser doesn’t show some files: change the file type filter in the bottom-right from ‘Applications’ to ‘All Files’ to see executables. If you still cannot add games after an update, try restarting Steam or even your Steam Deck. Sometimes flatpak permissions can interfere; installing games from trusted sources and keeping everything updated usually resolves these hiccups.
Making Non-Steam Games Work: Controller Configuration
One major advantage of adding games to Steam is Steam Input, which allows deep controller customization. The Steam Deck’s built-in controller should work with most non-Steam games automatically, but sometimes it needs a little configuration. After adding a game, right-click it in your library, go to ‘Properties’, then ‘Controller’. Here you can override the Steam Input settings. The default ‘Use default settings’ usually applies the standard gamepad template, which works for many games. If not, you can select one of the official presets or browse community configurations. For games that only support mouse and keyboard, you can use the ‘Keyboard (WASD) and Mouse’ template to map controls effectively.
It is also crucial to ensure the Steam Overlay is enabled. In the game’s Properties, under the ‘General’ tab, make sure ‘Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game’ is checked. Many controller features, including gyro and the on-screen keyboard, depend on the overlay. Additionally, check the controller order: press the Steam button, navigate to Controller Settings, and ensure the Steam Deck’s controller is listed as controller #1.
Enabling Full DualSense Features
If you want to use a PlayStation DualSense controller with your Steam Deck for non-Steam games, you can unlock its advanced features like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. First, go to Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings, and enable ‘PlayStation Configuration Support’. This tells Steam to handle the DualSense as a Steam Input device. Then, for the specific non-Steam game, go to Manage > Controller Layout, and you can choose the official ‘Gamepad With DualSense Features’ template or a community-made layout that leverages these features. Keep in mind that to get adaptive triggers, the game may need to support DirectInput, and some reports suggest a wired connection is more reliable. Also, some games require the controller to be in ‘PS5 mode’ rather than emulating an Xbox controller, which you can achieve by disabling Xbox configuration support in Steam’s controller settings for that game.
Managing Storage for Non-Steam Games
Non-Steam games can consume significant storage, not just from the game files but also from Proton compatibility data and shader caches. When you run a Windows game through Steam using Proton, Steam creates a prefix folder containing a simulated Windows environment. These are stored in /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/, in folders identified by the game’s AppID (for non-Steam games, this is a randomly generated number). Shader caches are stored in /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/shadercache/.
To see what is taking up space, you can use a tool like Filelight or Disk Usage Analyzer (both available in Discover) to scan these directories. Alternatively, Storage Cleaner utilities in Desktop Mode can help identify and remove redundant files. However, be careful: the compatdata folder may contain your save files. If you plan to delete a prefix, first copy any save data from the prefix’s virtual drive_c/user/Documents or similar locations.
Removing Unnecessary Files
If you remove a non-Steam game from your library, the compatdata and shader cache are not automatically deleted. To free up space, navigate to the compatdata folder, locate the folder with the game’s ID (you can often identify it by creation date or by opening the folder and checking the game’s executable name in the prefix), and delete it. Similarly, remove the corresponding shader cache folder. If you are unsure, there are community tools like ‘Steam Deck Cleaner’ that can safely prune unused compatdata. Always double-check before deleting anything to avoid removing data for games you still play.
Removing Non-Steam Games Completely
If you want to uninstall a non-Steam game entirely, start by removing the shortcut from your Steam library. Go to your library, right-click the game, select ‘Manage’, and then ‘Remove non-Steam game from your library’. This removes the entry, but the original game files remain wherever you installed them. Navigate to the installation folder (e.g., on your SD card or internal storage) and delete the game’s directory. Next, clean up the Proton prefix and shader cache as described above. For games installed via Heroic or Lutris, you can use those launchers to uninstall the game, which typically removes the main files, but you may still need to manually delete any leftover compatdata if the game was added to Steam separately.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Controller Not Working in Non-Steam Games
If the Steam Deck’s built-in controller isn’t responding in a non-Steam game, first check that Steam Overlay is enabled. Without it, Steam Input cannot apply your configuration. Also, verify that the controller is set to the correct order. In some games, you might need to set the controller layout to ‘Gamepad with Joystick Trackpad’ instead of the default. If the game still doesn’t recognize the controller, try launching it from Big Picture Mode in Desktop Mode once to initialize configurations. Another trick is to set a community configuration specifically made for that game. Finally, if the game has its own input settings, ensure it is set to use an Xbox controller or generic gamepad, as Steam generally emulates an Xbox 360 controller.
Cannot Add Non-Steam Games Anymore
If you suddenly find you can no longer add games to Steam, several factors could be at play. First, ensure you are running the latest version of SteamOS and that the Steam client is up to date. Sometimes a bug in an update can break the feature, and a reboot or reinstalling Steam (without losing games) might fix it. Check if the ‘Add a Non-Steam Game’ option appears under the Games menu; if not, you might be in Game Mode, where it’s not available. Also, if you recently changed permissions or installed flatpaks, a corrupted shortcuts.vdf file could be the culprit. You can find it in /home/deck/.steam/steam/userdata/<yourid>/config/. Renaming or deleting it will reset your non-Steam shortcuts, but you’ll have to re-add them. Use with caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add non-Steam games to my Steam Deck?
Switch to Desktop Mode, open Steam, and click Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. Browse for the game’s executable or select it from the list. For games from Heroic or Lutris, use their built-in ‘Add to Steam’ functions.
Why isn’t my controller working in non-Steam games?
Ensure Steam Overlay is enabled, check the controller order (Steam Deck should be #1), and try selecting a different controller layout. For Windows games, Steam emulates an Xbox controller, so set the game’s input to gamepad.
How can I enable DualSense features for non-Steam games?
Go to Steam Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings and enable PlayStation Configuration Support. Then, for the game, choose a layout that supports DualSense features, like the official Gamepad With DualSense Features template. For adaptive triggers, a wired connection may be necessary.
How do I clear storage from non-Steam games?
Non-Steam games store data in compatdata and shader cache folders. Navigate to /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/ and shadercache/ and delete folders associated with removed games. Back up save files first.
How can I completely remove a non-Steam game?
Right-click the game in your library, select Manage > Remove non-Steam game from your library. Then manually delete the game’s installation folder and, if desired, its compatdata and shader cache folders.
Why can’t I add games to Steam anymore?
Make sure you are in Desktop Mode and Steam is updated. If the option is still missing, restart Steam or the Deck. A corrupted shortcuts.vdf file can also cause issues; renaming it may fix the problem but will reset your non-Steam shortcuts.
With these tips, you can enjoy all your favorite games on the Steam Deck, regardless of platform.
