How to Connect Steam Deck to a PC

Required Equipment

To connect your Steam Deck to a PC, you will need the following equipment:

A Steam Deck device
A USB-C cable
A PC
An active internet connection

The Steam Deck comes with a USB-C port, so you’ll need a USB-C cable to establish a connection between the device and your PC.

Make sure you have a PC that meets the minimum system requirements for running Steam and your desired games. The Steam Deck is compatible with both Windows and macOS, so ensure that your PC operating system aligns with the compatibility requirements.

An active and stable internet connection is essential for the initial setup and for accessing your Steam library from your PC.

Ensure that your PC has sufficient available storage space to accommodate the games you plan to play. This is important as you’ll be streaming and transferring games from your PC to the Steam Deck.

Once you have gathered all the necessary equipment, you are ready to proceed with the steps to connect your Steam Deck to your PC.

Step 1: Connect Steam Deck to PC using USB-C Cable

The first step in connecting your Steam Deck to your PC is to use a USB-C cable to establish a physical connection between the two devices. Follow these steps:

Locate the USB-C port on your Steam Deck. It is usually located at the bottom of the device.
Take one end of the USB-C cable and plug it into the USB-C port on your Steam Deck.
Take the other end of the USB-C cable and plug it into an available USB port on your PC.
Ensure that the USB-C cable is securely connected to both the Steam Deck and the PC.

Once the USB-C cable is connected, you have established a physical connection between the Steam Deck and your PC. This connection allows for data transfer and power supply between the two devices.

Make sure that both your Steam Deck and your PC are powered on during this process. If the Steam Deck is not powered on, press and hold the power button until it starts up.

After completing this step, you are ready to move on to the next step, which involves enabling USB debugging on your Steam Deck.

Step 2: Turn on USB Debugging on Steam Deck

To connect your Steam Deck to your PC and enable the necessary debugging settings, follow these steps:

Power on your Steam Deck by pressing and holding the power button.
Once the Steam Deck is powered on, navigate to the “Settings” menu by tapping the gear icon on the home screen.
In the Settings menu, select “System”.
Scroll down and select “Developer options”.
Toggle the “USB Debugging” option to enable it. This option allows your Steam Deck to communicate with your PC.
Confirm the action when prompted.

Enabling USB debugging on your Steam Deck is important to establish a stable connection between the device and your PC. This debugging mode allows the Steam Deck to communicate with your PC, ensuring smooth data transfer and interaction between the two devices.

Once you have successfully turned on USB debugging, you can proceed to the next step, which involves installing the necessary drivers on your PC.

Step 3: Install Necessary Drivers on Your PC

In order to establish a successful connection between your Steam Deck and your PC, you need to install the necessary drivers on your computer. Follow these steps to install the required drivers:

Open your preferred web browser and visit the official Steam website.
On the Steam website, navigate to the “Downloads” or “Support” section.
Find and download the latest version of the Steam client for your PC’s operating system.
Once the download is complete, locate the installation file and double-click on it to run the installer.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process for the Steam client.
After the Steam client is installed, launch it and log in to your Steam account.
Once you are logged in, the Steam client will automatically detect your Steam Deck and prompt you to install any necessary drivers.
Follow the prompts and allow the Steam client to install the required drivers for your Steam Deck.

Installing the necessary drivers ensures that your PC recognizes your Steam Deck and establishes a seamless connection. It enables the proper functioning of the device and allows you to access your Steam library and play games on your Steam Deck.

After successfully installing the drivers, you are ready to proceed to the next step, which involves checking for Windows updates on your PC.

Step 4: Check for Windows Updates

Before proceeding with connecting your Steam Deck to your PC, it is important to ensure that your computer is up to date with the latest Windows updates. Follow these steps to check for and install any available updates:

Click on the “Start” menu in the bottom left corner of your screen and select “Settings”.
In the Settings menu, click on “Update & Security”.
In the Update & Security menu, select “Windows Update” from the left-hand sidebar.
Click on the “Check for updates” button to initiate a search for available updates.
If any updates are found, click on the “Install” button to start the installation process.
Follow the on-screen instructions and allow your PC to complete the installation of the updates.
Once the updates are installed, restart your PC to apply the changes.

Checking for Windows updates and installing them is crucial as it ensures that your PC has the latest security patches, bug fixes, and feature enhancements. This helps in maintaining system stability and compatibility when connecting and using your Steam Deck.

After verifying that your PC is up to date with the latest Windows updates, you can move on to the next step, which involves setting up Steam Big Picture Mode.

Step 5: Set up Steam Big Picture Mode

To optimize your gaming experience on your Steam Deck, it is recommended to set up and enable Steam Big Picture Mode. This mode is designed to provide a more immersive and user-friendly interface for gaming on large screens. Follow these steps to set up Steam Big Picture Mode:

Ensure that the Steam client is running on your PC.
In the top-right corner of the Steam client window, click on the “Big Picture Mode” icon. It resembles a square with two arrows pointing outwards.
The Steam client will now launch into Big Picture Mode, resembling a console-like interface. You may need to wait for a moment while it loads.
Once in Big Picture Mode, navigate to the “Settings” menu, which is located in the top-right corner of the screen. It is represented by a gear icon.
In the Settings menu, click on “System”.
Under the System settings, configure the display and audio options according to your preferences.
Explore the various settings in the System menu to customize your gaming experience in Big Picture Mode.
Once you have configured the desired settings, click on the “Exit” button to return to the regular Steam interface.

Setting up Steam Big Picture Mode enhances the visual aesthetics and usability of Steam on large displays, providing a seamless gaming experience on your Steam Deck. It offers a controller-friendly interface and allows you to easily navigate and launch games from your Steam library.

With Steam Big Picture Mode successfully set up, you are now ready to proceed to the next step, which involves enabling Remote Play on Steam.

Step 6: Enable Remote Play on Steam

To stream and play games from your PC to your Steam Deck, you need to enable Remote Play on your Steam client. Remote Play allows you to enjoy your PC games on the portable Steam Deck. Follow these steps to enable Remote Play:

Open the Steam client on your PC and ensure that you are logged in to your Steam account.
Click on the “Steam” menu in the top-left corner of the client and select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
In the Preferences window, navigate to the “Remote Play” tab.
Under Remote Play, check the box next to “Enable Remote Play”.
Choose the desired streaming quality from the “Streaming quality” dropdown menu. Higher quality may require a more stable internet connection.
You can also customize other settings such as “Advanced Host Options” or “Advanced Client Options” according to your preferences.
Click on the “OK” button to save the changes and enable Remote Play.

Enabling Remote Play on your Steam client allows you to stream games from your PC and play them on your Steam Deck. This feature utilizes your PC’s hardware to run the games and streams the gameplay to your Steam Deck, giving you the flexibility to play your favorite games wherever you are.

With Remote Play successfully enabled, you are now prepared to connect your Steam Deck to your Steam library in the next step.

Step 7: Connect Steam Deck to Your Steam Library

Now that you have set up and enabled Remote Play on your Steam client, it’s time to connect your Steam Deck to your Steam library. Follow these steps to establish the connection:

Ensure that your Steam Deck is powered on and connected to your PC via the USB-C cable.
On your Steam Deck, navigate to the Steam app and launch it.
Sign in to your Steam account using your credentials.
Once you are logged in, your Steam Deck will automatically detect your PC with the active Steam client.
Navigate to the “Library” tab on your Steam Deck to access your games.
From your Steam library, you can browse and select the game you want to play on your Steam Deck.
Click on the game to launch it, and it will start streaming from your PC to your Steam Deck.

Connecting your Steam Deck to your Steam library allows you to access and play your entire collection of games on the device. It essentially turns your Steam Deck into a portable gaming console, giving you the freedom to enjoy your favorite games wherever you go.

With your Steam Deck successfully connected to your Steam library, you can move on to the next step, which involves adjusting the settings specific to your Steam Deck.

Step 8: Adjust Steam Deck Settings

After connecting your Steam Deck to your Steam library, it is essential to adjust the settings on your Steam Deck to optimize your gaming experience. Follow these steps to customize the settings:

On your Steam Deck, navigate to the Steam app and launch it.
Sign in to your Steam account if you haven’t done so already.
In the Steam app, click on the user avatar in the top-right corner to access the Steam overlay menu.
From the Steam overlay menu, select “Settings”.
Within the Settings window, you can configure various options according to your preferences.
Adjust display settings such as brightness, display scaling, and aspect ratio to suit your viewing preferences.
Explore the controller settings to customize the layout and sensitivity of buttons and analog sticks.
Ensure that the network settings are optimized for the best streaming performance, such as connecting to a stable Wi-Fi network.
Make sure to save any changes you make to the settings by clicking on the “OK” button.

Adjusting the settings on your Steam Deck allows you to tailor the device to your specific gaming preferences. This step ensures that the gameplay experience on your Steam Deck is optimized, taking into account factors such as display quality, controller responsiveness, and network stability.

With the settings on your Steam Deck adjusted, you are now ready to move on to the next step, which involves customizing the controller layout for a more personalized gaming experience.

Step 9: Customize Controller Layout

To further enhance your gaming experience on your Steam Deck, you have the option to customize the controller layout. This allows you to optimize the control scheme according to your preferences. Follow these steps to customize the controller layout:

On your Steam Deck, open the Steam app and make sure you are signed in to your Steam account.
From the Steam app, click on the user avatar in the top-right corner to open the Steam overlay menu.
Within the Steam overlay, select “Controller Configuration”.
In the Controller Configuration menu, you can modify the layout of buttons, triggers, and analog sticks.
Click on the specific input or button you want to customize and select the desired function or action.
You can also create and save multiple custom controller layouts for different games.
Once you have customized the controller layout to your satisfaction, click on the “Save” button to apply the changes.

Customizing the controller layout on your Steam Deck allows you to tailor the control scheme to your individual preferences. This step provides a personalized gaming experience, enhancing your comfort and control in games.

With the controller layout customized, you are now ready for the final step, which involves starting to play games on your PC using your Steam Deck.

Step 10: Start Playing Games on Your PC using Steam Deck

Now that you have successfully connected and set up your Steam Deck, it’s time to start playing games from your PC using the device. Follow these steps to begin your gaming journey:

Ensure that your Steam Deck is powered on and connected to your PC via the USB-C cable.
On your Steam Deck, navigate to the Steam app and launch it.
Sign in to your Steam account if you haven’t done so already.
From your Steam library, select the game you want to play on your Steam Deck.
After selecting the game, click on the “Play” button to start streaming the game from your PC to your Steam Deck.
Enjoy playing the game on your Steam Deck using the controller and features provided.
Take advantage of the Steam Overlay to access additional features, such as screenshots, chat, and web browsing, without leaving the game.
Customize your gameplay experience further by utilizing the features and settings available within each game.
When you’re done playing, simply close the game and exit the Steam app on your Steam Deck.

With your Steam Deck, you can now enjoy your PC games on-the-go. The device allows you to stream your games from your PC to the handheld Steam Deck, giving you the freedom to play your favorite titles wherever you are.

Congratulations! You are now all set to embark on countless gaming adventures on your Steam Deck, immersing yourself in the world of gaming with the power and convenience at your fingertips.