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Steam Deck SSH Activation Guide

By HarperFeb 19,2025

This guide explains how to enable and use SSH on your Steam Deck for remote access to your files. The Steam Deck's desktop mode allows for more than just gaming, making remote file access a valuable feature.

Enabling SSH on Your Steam Deck

Follow these steps to enable SSH:

  1. Power on your Steam Deck.
  2. Access the Steam menu and navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
  3. Return to the Steam menu and select Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
  4. Open the Konsole terminal from the Start menu.
  5. Set a password (if you haven't already) using the command: passwd.
  6. Enable SSH with the command: sudo systemctl start sshd.
  7. To ensure SSH starts automatically after a reboot, use: sudo systemctl enable sshd.
  8. You can now connect to your Steam Deck remotely using a third-party SSH client.

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

Disabling SSH on Your Steam Deck

To disable SSH, use the Konsole and these commands:

  1. To disable SSH on startup: sudo systemctl disable sshd.
  2. To immediately stop the SSH service: sudo systemctl stop sshd.

Connecting to Your Steam Deck via SSH

After enabling SSH, use a third-party application like Warpinator for easy file transfers. Install Warpinator on both your Steam Deck and your PC, then launch it on both devices simultaneously for simple drag-and-drop file sharing.

Alternatively, if you're using a Linux PC, you can connect directly through your file manager. Enter sftp://deck@steamdeck in the address bar and provide the password you set earlier.

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