Steam Deck · Files & desktop tools

LocalSend transfers files over your local network. Install it on both devices and keep its receive window available on the destination.

1. Install LocalSend on the Deck in Desktop Mode and on the phone or computer holding your files.
2. Connect both devices to the same local network and open LocalSend on each device so they can discover one another.
3. On the sending device, choose the files, select Send, and pick the receiving device's displayed name.
4. Confirm the incoming transfer on the receiving device. Wait for completion, then open its receive folder and check the files.

If discovery fails, check the project's network troubleshooting instructions. A guest Wi-Fi network may separate connected devices.

Use Flatseal for a specific app's folder access. Use Protontricks only when a game's instructions require a Windows component or prefix change.

1. Close the affected application, open Flatseal, and select that application's entry rather than changing permissions for every app.
2. For an inaccessible library folder, add only its required path under Filesystem, Other files. Use read-only access when sufficient.
3. Restart the affected app and test access. Use Flatseal's Reset button if your permission changes cause problems.
4. For a documented Protontricks fix, launch the game once through Steam with its selected Proton tool, close it, then select it in Protontricks.
5. Apply only the components or actions named by the game's instructions, then test the game again.

Set up a shared folder between your own devices. Start with a small test folder before choosing a game-save or document folder.

1. In Desktop Mode, unpack the official Linux AMD64 build and start its syncthing executable following the project guide. Start Syncthing on your other device too.
2. Open the local browser interface shown by Syncthing. Add the other device using its device ID, and accept the matching device on that device.
3. Add a folder with the path you want to share. Select the paired device, then accept the shared folder and choose its destination on the receiving device.
4. Copy a test file into the shared folder and wait for both devices to report that they are up to date. Keep Syncthing running while you need synchronization.

Sync propagates edits and deletions. Keep independent save backups; optional versioning archives incoming changes and is configured separately on each device.

Use Desktop Mode to browse a download before extracting it into a chosen folder.

1. Unpack the official portable Linux Qt6 build and open PeaZip from the extracted application folder, following its Linux setup notes.
2. Open the archive in PeaZip and review the file list. For a multipart archive, keep all supplied parts together.
3. Choose Extract, select a new destination folder, and review the overwrite and output options. Keep deletion of the original archive disabled.
4. Complete extraction and check the output folder in Dolphin. Keep the original archive and use the extracted files only as directed by their project.

Filelight maps folders in Desktop Mode. Storage Cleaner shows per-game cache and compatibility-data usage through Decky.

1. Install Filelight from Discover in Desktop Mode. Scan your home folder or the drive you want to inspect.
2. Explore larger segments of the ring map to identify the folders using space. Review their paths and contents before making changes.
3. For Game Mode inspection, install Storage Cleaner through Decky's stable store, then open it from the Decky tab.
4. Read the per-game shader-cache and compatibility-data sizes. Leave cleanup actions untouched while you identify the data and check your backups.

Compatibility folders can contain saves and settings. Shader caches may regenerate after removal, so clearing them is not a permanent storage saving.