Is It Safe to Use a Different Charger for My Steam Deck?

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I just got my first Steam Deck today, and I’m super excited about it! However, I’ve noticed that the original charger seems pretty terrible. It’s taking over 7 hours to fully charge, and it struggles to keep the battery alive even while plugged in. I’ve switched to using a Chromebook charger, and it’s charging much faster—about an hour to get a full charge, and it actually keeps the Steam Deck running while it’s plugged in. My concern is whether it’s okay to keep using this Chromebook charger, or should I stick to the original one?

Is It Safe to Use a Different Charger for My Steam Deck
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4 Answers

ChargerGuru88 -

Any USB-C charger should work with the Steam Deck, so you’re good there. Just make sure your Chromebook charger outputs at least 45W, and you should be fine!

TechWizard_X -

Your original charger might be underperforming. If you’ve updated your drivers, it can help with charging issues too. But if you’re seeing good results with the Chromebook charger and it’s the right output, keep using it!

CableQueen89 -

Wow, 7 hours is way too slow! I had that problem once too. It turned out a cable that looked similar was the culprit! Labeling your cables can save you from that confusion down the road!

EpicGamer#42 -

That’s a solid idea! I’m definitely going to start labeling them—no more guesswork while charging!

NoobMaster9000 -

It sounds like you might have a faulty charger. With the stock charger, I can typically charge my Steam Deck in just 1 to 2 hours, even while I’m playing. I’d check if your outlet is the issue, or maybe look for another charger that meets the power requirements.

GamerGuy123 -

True! It might be the outlet since I had a similar problem before. Just make sure you’re not mixing up chargers, sometimes a bad cable can mess things up!

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