How to Add Storage to Your Steam Deck: A 2024 Comprehensive Guide

Overview of how to add storage to a Steam Deck:

The Steam Deck is a popular handheld gaming device that comes with different storage options, ranging from 64 GB to 512 GB. The 64 GB version features eMMC storage, which is slower than the SSD-equipped 256 GB and 512 GB variants. While these storage options should be sufficient for many users, they can fill up quickly if you install several large games.

In this article, we'll teach you how to expand the Steam Deck's storage without causing major issues. You can extend the device's storage using a microSD card, a USB drive, or a larger SSD drive. We'll detail each method below, starting with the simplest and moving to the more complex.

Method 1: Add Storage to the Steam Deck - Using a microSD Card (Recommended)

The easiest way to create more space for games on the Steam Deck is by adding a microSD card as expandable storage. However, to do this successfully, you'll need to purchase a high-quality microSD card and format it as EXT4.

Here's how.

Step 1: Install the microSD card. Locate the microSD card slot on the bottom right of your Steam Deck, and insert the card until you hear it click into place.

Step 2. Format your microSD card: With the microSD card inserted, press the Steam button > go to Settings > System > and format the SD card as ext4. This will make your microSD card compatible with the Steam Deck.

Step 3: Move your installed games to the microSD card: Go to 'Settings' > 'Storage'; select the game you want to move, press Y to move it, and choose your installed microSD card as the destination.

By following these steps, you should successfully expand your Steam Deck's storage and be able to download more games and applications on the device.

Method 2: Upgrade the Steam Deck's SSD

Another way to increase the Steam Deck's storage is by upgrading the SSD to a larger one. However, this method can be somewhat complicated and may lead to unexpected issues. Therefore, if you decide to upgrade your Steam Deck's SSD, you must proceed with caution.

Please try following this guide:

Step 1: Purchase a reliable large SSD and initialize it. Determine the SSD capacity you want and initialize your SSD in advance. If you are not tech-savvy, we recommend using the Partition Master Tool; it's easier for beginners.

Here's how to initialize an SSD using the Partition Master tool:

Connect the SSD to a PC with Windows and launch the tool. In the “Partition Management” section, right-click on the new SSD, choose “Initialize to GPT” or “Initialize to MBR,” then click “Execute Task” and “Apply” to start the initialization process.

Read more: The 5 Best SSDs for Steam Deck in 2023

Step 2: Remove the eight screws on the back of the Steam Deck, take out the battery, and then extract the existing SSD.

Step 3: Clone your games from the old SSD to the new one, or download the SteamOS recovery image, which is a more complicated process.

Step 4. Install the new SSD in your Steam Deck.

This can take a while, so you can click the link below to learn more:

How to Upgrade Steam Deck SSD [The Easiest Way]

Upgrading your Steam Deck SSD might seem daunting, but there's no need to panic or spend too much time on it. On this page, you can get a detailed tutorial on how to upgrade the SSD on your Steam Deck.

Method 3: Increase Storage with a USB Drive

You can also try connecting a USB flash drive via the USB Type-C port on your Steam Deck for additional external storage. This method is a bit more involved, however, and requires that you understand the following:

All right, here's how you do it.

Step 1: Delete all partitions on the USB flash drive, then connect it to your Steam Deck.

Step 2. Press the [STEAM] button to open the main menu, then go to [Power] > [Desktop].

Step 3. Go to System → Preferences → Console. Type your password at the terminal prompt, and then follow the instructions to set a new one.

Step 4: Go back to the system menu and choose Partition Manager (you may have to enter your password).

Step 5: Right-click on the USB drive and select “New.”

Step 6. In the prompt, select ext4 from the dropdown menu as the target file system and assign a label to the partition. Then click OK.

Step 7. Click the “Apply” button in the top-left corner. When it's done, you'll see your USB drive in the taskbar. Click “Install and Launch.”

Step 8. Open Konsole again and type sudo chown deck /run/media/deck/[your USB drive's label], then hit Enter. This will change the ownership of the USB drive from root to deck, allowing SteamOS to access it.

Step 9. Open Steam again, and then click “Steam” in the top-left corner and select “Settings.”

Step 10: Switch to the “Downloads” tab, and click “Steam Library Folders”.

Step 11. Click the “+” next to the current storage device to add your USB drive as an external storage device for your Steam Deck.

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Conclusions

Adding more storage to your Steam Deck will allow you to download more games. This article outlines three effective ways to get more free space on your Steam Deck. If you're tech-savvy, you can upgrade the SSD or connect an external USB for more memory. However, if you're new to this, it's highly recommended that you opt for a microSD card.

Now that you know how to use Partition Master to expand the storage on your Steam Deck, you can have more games at your fingertips. You can even use this tool to install Windows on Steam Deck. If you found this guide helpful, share it with your friends and tell them how they can add more storage to their Steam Decks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adding Storage to the Steam Deck 1. **How do I increase the storage on my Steam Deck?** - The Steam Deck supports microSD cards, which can be used to expand storage by inserting a high-capacity microSD card. - Additionally, you can connect external USB storage devices like a USB-C hard drive or a USB-A flash drive. 2. **What size microSD card does the Steam Deck support?** - The Steam Deck officially supports microSDXC cards up to 2TB in size. 3. **Do I need a specific type of microSD card?** - For optimal performance, it's recommended to use a microSD card that is Class 10 or UHS-1 Class 3 and above, and ensure it meets the read and write speed requirements of the Steam Deck. 4. **How do I format a microSD card for use with the Steam Deck?** - On the Steam Deck, go to Settings > System > Storage > Manage Disks, and follow the prompts to format the microSD card. 5. **Will using an external USB storage device affect game performance?** - Using an external USB storage device may impact game performance, depending on the device's speed. SSDs are generally faster than HDDs, so it's recommended to use a USB 3.0 or faster device. 6. **Can I move my Steam library to an external storage device?** - Yes, you can manage your library on the Steam Deck and move games to the microSD card or an external USB storage device. 7. **Will games run smoothly from external storage?** - Most games should run smoothly on external storage, but there might be slight latency depending on the device's speed and the complexity of the game. 8. **How do I safely remove an external storage device?** - In system settings, choose Storage, locate the device you want to remove, and select "Eject." Make sure to save all data before disconnecting. 9. **Will changing the microSD card affect installed games?** - If you properly eject and replace the microSD card, installed games should not be affected. However, it's strongly advised to back up important data before swapping. 10. **Does the Steam Deck support RAID configurations?** - Currently, the Steam Deck does not support RAID configurations through its internal storage. Please note that this information is subject to change with updates to the Steam Deck. It's recommended to refer to the latest official documentation or visit the Steam community for the most up-to-date information.

1. What is the external hard drive format for Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck requires an ext4-formatted drive. You'll need to format your external drive as ext4 so that SteamOS recognizes it as a valid location for installing games when you switch back to Gaming Mode.

2. Will expanding the storage on my Steam Deck void the warranty?

No, using the MicroSD card slot on the Steam Deck to expand the storage will not void the warranty. However, if you open the Steam Deck and replace its original internal SSD, the warranty might be voided.

3. How much storage can be expanded when using a MicroSD card with the Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck's microSD card slot is compatible with microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards. You can use cards with up to 2TB of storage in your Steam Deck.