DroidDeck APK download: where to get it safely

There is exactly one place to download DroidDeck: the Releases page of the project's GitHub repository. The current version is 0.4.0, released on 2026-10-12.

Why GitHub is the only safe source

DroidDeck is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence, and its developers publish builds as assets attached to each release on GitHub. When you download from github.com/Droid-Deck/DroidDeck/releases, you get the exact file the project published, next to its release notes. A copy on another website might be the same file, an old version, or something else entirely, and you have no simple way to tell.

Search results for "DroidDeck APK" already include sites that look official and offer their own download buttons. Some may be harmless mirrors. But an APK that can install a Linux runtime and log in to your Steam account is exactly the kind of file you do not want from an unknown source. Going to GitHub takes ten more seconds and removes the guesswork.

How to download the right file

1. Open the latest release. Check that the address bar shows github.com/Droid-Deck/DroidDeck.
2. Scroll down to Assets and expand it if it is collapsed.
3. Tap the file that ends in .apk. Ignore Source code (zip) and Source code (tar.gz); those are the project's source, not the app.
4. When the download finishes, open it from your notifications or your file manager.

The releases page also lists component builds such as FEX, gamescope or a Debian CI image. Those are pieces the app downloads or uses internally; you do not install them yourself. Look for the release titled DroidDeck followed by a version number.

Installing the APK on Android

Android blocks apps from unknown sources by default. The first time you open the APK, Android asks you to allow the app you used to open it, usually your browser or file manager, to install unknown apps. Allow it, go back, and tap Install. You can switch that permission off again afterwards in Settings › Apps › Special app access › Install unknown apps.

Before you install, check that your device can run it: Android 9 or newer and a supported Adreno GPU. The DroidDeck compatible devices list has the full rule and a checker. Also make sure you have room: about 3 GB for the runtime, 1.1 GB more for the optional desktop and emulators, and whatever your games need.

After installing, follow the DroidDeck setup guide: install the runtime, deal with the Android 12 to 14 child process setting, and sign in to Steam.

Updating DroidDeck

The project has been shipping a new version every few days. Since 0.3.0, DroidDeck has an in-app Updates page, which is the easiest way to stay current. You can also download the newer APK from GitHub and install it over the old one; Android keeps your data when the new APK is signed with the same key. We summarise each release on the DroidDeck changelog.

If you want to test changes before they reach a release, the Updates page offers a Preview channel that follows the development branch, and the project's Discord is where Preview builds and device reports are discussed. Preview builds are less tested, so keep them off a device you depend on.

How to spot a fake DroidDeck download

• The page calls itself the official DroidDeck website. The README says there is none.
• The download button points anywhere other than github.com/Droid-Deck/DroidDeck.
• It asks you to install a "downloader", complete a survey, or pay.
• It offers a version number that does not exist on the GitHub releases page, or an iOS version.

If you already installed DroidDeck from somewhere else, uninstall it, change your Steam password, and install the GitHub build. Read more in is DroidDeck safe.

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