Setting up DroidDeck takes five steps. The only tricky one is an Android developer setting that, if you skip it, makes Steam close the moment it starts.
Before you start
- A supported device. Android 9 or newer with an Adreno 730 or newer GPU, or any Adreno 8xx. Adreno 6xx is experimental. Check yours on the DroidDeck device list.
- Free storage. About 3 GB for the runtime, 1.1 GB more for the desktop and emulators, and room for games. A large game can easily take 30 GB or more.
- A Steam account with the games you want to play. Accounts on GOG, Epic Games or Amazon Games are optional.
- A controller is not required but makes most PC games playable. Handhelds such as the AYN Odin 2 or Retroid Pocket 5 have one built in.
- A charger and Wi-Fi. The first setup downloads several gigabytes.
Step 1: Download and install the APK
Open the DroidDeck releases on GitHub on your device, expand Assets under the latest
release, and download the .apk file. Open it; Android will ask you to allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps.
Allow it and tap Install. Never use an APK from another site: the project says it has no stand-alone website. Details are in the
DroidDeck APK download guide.
Step 2: Install the Linux runtime
Open DroidDeck. On first launch it offers to install the Linux runtime, the environment in which the Steam client and Proton run. This is the roughly 3 GB download, so use Wi-Fi. Since 0.3.2, downloads continue while the device sleeps. In the app's Setup area you will also find a GPU drivers tab (added in 0.3.0), which detects your chip and keeps matching drivers installed.
Step 3: Allow child processes (Android 12 and newer)
Android 12 and later limit how many background processes an app can keep running, and kill the rest. The Steam client and Proton start many processes, so with the default setting Steam exits right after it launches, often without any error message. The README gives the fix:
- Android 14 and newer: before launching Steam, turn on Disable child process restrictions in Developer options.
- Android 12 and 13: if that option is missing from Developer options, start Steam once anyway. DroidDeck shows a Fix it for me button that automates the setup. Follow its prompts.
To enable Developer options, go to Settings › About phone and tap Build number seven times. Android confirms that you are now a developer, and Developer options appear in Settings, usually under System. On Samsung phones, Build number is inside About phone › Software information.
Step 4: Press Play and sign in to Steam
Press Play. The first time, DroidDeck downloads Valve's Steam client, then opens it in Big Picture mode. Sign in with your Steam account and approve the login with Steam Guard. From here it works like a Steam Deck: browse your library, install a game, and launch it. Windows games run through Valve's ARM64 Proton, and you can change the Proton version per game in the game's properties under compatibility.
Expect some games not to work. The project says compatibility and performance vary by device, and hardware validation is limited. Start with a lighter game to confirm everything works before downloading something huge.
Step 5 (optional): Desktop, apps and other stores
- Desktop & apps installs a KDE Plasma desktop (since 0.4.0) and emulators. It needs about 1.1 GB more. Desktop compositing uses software rendering, so it is for apps rather than games.
- Store installs ARM64 Linux apps and games from Flathub, with options for AppImages and setup scripts.
- Stores (Setup › Stores › Show Stores in the rail) signs in to GOG, Epic Games and Amazon Games, downloads your games and adds each one to Steam as a non-Steam game so it launches through Proton.
If something goes wrong
The most common problems are Steam closing immediately (step 3), an unsupported GPU, and running out of storage. The DroidDeck troubleshooting guide covers each one. For anything else, the project's Discord has a #bug-reports forum; attach the zip from Share logs so the developers can see what happened.
Setup questions
How long does the first setup take?
Mostly as long as the downloads: about 3 GB for the runtime, then the Steam client, then your games. On a fast connection the app itself is ready in minutes.
Do I need a controller?
It is strongly recommended. DroidDeck has a Steam Deck-style controller layout and supports up to four controllers since 0.4.0; a Steam touch controller is available in beta.
Can I install games to an SD card?
Yes. Since 0.3.2, DroidDeck supports Steam libraries on an SD card.
Where are the Developer options?
Open Settings › About phone and tap Build number seven times. Developer options then appear under Settings › System (the exact place varies by brand).