I’m trying to help my son transition from his Nintendo Switch to a Steam Deck OLED, where he wants to continue playing Minecraft. He initially played it on Switch and later on a PC with Xbox Game Pass. Now, he wants to access his existing Minecraft account on the Steam Deck but is struggling. I tried Prism Launcher, but it defaults to Java edition, and the Xbox Cloud Launcher seems to require an Xbox Platinum pass. I’m looking for step-by-step instructions to get Minecraft Bedrock running on the Steam Deck. He wants to keep his existing add-ons and play with friends online, ideally without needing Xbox Game Pass anymore, though I’m open to buying the game again if necessary. Technology has gotten a bit overwhelming for me, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
So here’s what I did: I bought Minecraft Bedrock Edition through Google Play Store (it’s the only version available there). You’ll need a Microsoft account to log in. Make sure to install the Bedrock launcher from the Discover app in desktop mode on the Steam Deck. Then, link your Google account in the launcher to download Minecraft. It can be a bit tricky launching it directly from desktop mode, so try switching to gaming mode for better control support. It worked well for me, and I can now play with friends on their switches!
Getting the Bedrock Edition on the Steam Deck can be a bit of a challenge, but you might want to check out [this tutorial](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/sq6es9/how_to_install_minecraft_bedrock_edition_on_linux/) that walks you through the process. Alternatively, you can also run the Android version, as it’s also considered Bedrock. Just remember that it may not be officially supported, so it could have occasional hiccups. Good luck!
A bit off-topic, but if the Steam Deck doesn’t work out for some reason, you could consider getting a second-hand Switch Lite for him. It’s perfect for playing some exclusive titles with friends.
To get Minecraft Bedrock on the Steam Deck, your best bet is to head into desktop mode and use the Discover Store to find and install the Bedrock launcher. It should work pretty seamlessly without the need for third-party solutions. Just a heads up, you might find that the version you’ll get is a bit behind compared to what you’d find on Xbox. However, your son should be able to access all his existing purchases and get logged into his Microsoft account without issues. Let me know if you need more pointers!
I actually tried that before posting, and it asked for a Google Play sign-in, which I don’t have. I want to keep using the Microsoft sign-in he already has—can I ditch Xbox altogether and still keep his stuff?
Thanks for the info! I’ll give it another go.
Awesome! Thank you! I managed to get it working. I purchased through Google Play and it’s all set now. Really appreciate your help!