Enable SSH on Steam Deck: A Step-by-Step Guide

Quick Links

• Steps For Enabling SSH On The Steam Deck

• How To Use SSH To Connect To The Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is an incredibly versatile piece of hardware, catering not just to gamers but also to portable PC users. With its desktop mode, the Steam Deck allows you to do much more than play games, including accessing files on its internal storage remotely for various purposes.

Running on a Linux-based system, the Steam Deck supports Secure Shell (SSH), a protocol that enables secure, remote data access. However, many users are unfamiliar with how to enable and utilize this feature. This guide will walk you through the process of enabling and using SSH on your Steam Deck, providing all the essential information you need.

Steps For Enabling SSH On The Steam Deck

To enable SSH on your Steam Deck, follow these straightforward steps:

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Press the Steam button.
3. Navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
4. Press the Steam button again.
5. Select Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
6. Open the Konsole from the Start menu.
7. Set a password if you haven't already by entering the command: passwd. Follow the prompts to set your password.
8. Enable SSH by entering the command: sudo systemctl start sshd. To ensure SSH starts automatically after reboots, enter: sudo systemctl enable sshd.
9. Once SSH is enabled, you can access your Steam Deck's data remotely using any third-party SSH client.

Important: Avoid deleting or moving system files to prevent OS corruption.

How To Disable SSH On The Steam Deck

If you need to disable SSH, follow these steps:

1. Open the Konsole from the Start menu.
2. To disable SSH, enter the command: sudo systemctl disable sshd. To stop SSH immediately, use: sudo systemctl stop sshd.

How To Use SSH To Connect To The Steam Deck

With SSH enabled, you can remotely access your Steam Deck's data using third-party applications like Warpinator. Install Warpinator on both your Steam Deck and your PC, then launch them simultaneously. Transferring data between devices becomes a breeze.

For Linux PC users, no third-party application is necessary. Simply open your file manager and enter sftp://deck@steamdeck in the address bar. Enter the password you set earlier to establish the connection.