How To Install Emulators On Your Steam Deck 2025: Complete Guide

The Steam Deck is an incredibly powerful handheld gaming PC that can do much more than just play Steam games. Installing emulators transforms your device into the ultimate retro gaming machine, capable of playing thousands of classic games from dozens of consoles. Based on my experience setting up multiple Steam Decks, I can guide you through the entire process from start to finish.

Yes, you can easily install emulators on your Steam Deck using EmuDeck – a free, open-source tool that automates the entire installation process. The method I’ll show you takes about 15-20 minutes and requires no technical expertise.

Steam Deck emulation has become incredibly user-friendly in 2025, with tools like EmuDeck handling all the complex configuration automatically. You don’t need to be a Linux expert or manually configure dozens of settings – just follow the steps in this guide and you’ll be playing retro games in no time.

I’ve personally tested this method on three different Steam Deck models, including the original LCD and newer OLED versions. The process works identically across all models and has been refined by the community over the past two years.

What You’ll Need Before Starting?

Before diving into installation, let’s make sure you have everything ready. Having these items prepared will save you time and prevent frustration during setup.

You’ll need a Steam Deck (any model works), an internet connection, and at least 8GB of free storage space. For the best experience, I recommend a fast microSD card if you plan to store many games.

Required Hardware:

• Steam Deck: Any model (64GB LCD, 256GB LCD, 512GB LCD, or OLED versions)
• Power Adapter: Keep your device charged during setup
• MicroSD Card: Recommended for storing ROMs (Class 10 U3 A2 or faster)

Recommended Accessories:

• USB-C Hub or Dock: Makes file transfers much easier
• External Keyboard/Mouse: Helpful for desktop mode navigation
• Larger Storage: For extensive game libraries

If you’re looking to optimize your gaming setup beyond emulation, check out our gaming hardware guides for more recommendations.

Understanding Emulation Basics

Emulation is the process of making one computer system behave like another computer system. In the context of Steam Deck, emulators are programs that imitate the hardware of game consoles, allowing you to play games from those consoles on your handheld device.

Think of emulators as translators – they take the instructions from old game cartridges and discs and convert them into language your Steam Deck’s modern processor can understand. This process happens in real-time as you play, which is why some older consoles require more powerful devices to emulate properly.

The Steam Deck runs on SteamOS, which is based on Linux. This might sound intimidating if you’re used to Windows, but don’t worry – the tools I’ll show you handle all the technical complexity behind the scenes. You won’t need to type any complex commands or understand Linux to get emulation working.

Step 1: Access Desktop Mode on Steam Deck

Your Steam Deck normally runs in Gaming Mode, which is optimized for playing Steam games. To install emulators, we need to switch to Desktop Mode, which gives you access to a full Linux desktop environment.

1. Press and hold the power button (located on the top of your Steam Deck) for about 3 seconds
2. Select “Switch to Desktop” from the power menu that appears
3. Wait for the desktop to load – this may take 30-60 seconds on first boot

Once in desktop mode, you’ll see a familiar computer interface with a start menu, file browser, and web browser. The Steam Deck’s trackpads work as mouse controls, and you can use the on-screen keyboard for typing.

If you find the trackpad controls difficult, you can connect external peripherals via the USB-C port or Bluetooth. Most users find setup much faster with a proper mouse and keyboard.

Step 2: Download and Install EmuDeck

EmuDeck is the game-changing tool that makes Steam Deck emulation accessible to everyone. It’s a free script that automatically downloads and configures all the best emulators for your device.

What makes EmuDeck special is that it handles all the technical complexity – downloading multiple emulators, configuring controls, setting up folder structures, and even creating Steam shortcuts for your games. Without EmuDeck, you’d need to manually configure each emulator individually.

1. Open the Firefox web browser from the desktop start menu
2. Navigate to emudeck.com – the official EmuDeck website
3. Click the “Download EmuDeck” button to get the installer
4. Save the file to your Downloads folder when prompted
5. Open the Files application and navigate to your Downloads folder
6. Right-click the EmuDeck installer and select “Execute”
7. Follow the on-screen prompts – the default settings work for most users

The installation process typically takes 10-15 minutes, depending on your internet speed. EmuDeck will download all necessary emulators and configure them automatically. You don’t need to make any decisions during installation – just follow the prompts.

During installation, EmuDeck will ask about storage preferences. If you have a microSD card installed, I recommend selecting it for ROMs storage to save space on your internal drive. The actual emulators will still be installed on your internal storage for best performance.

Step 3: Configure Storage Options

Proper storage configuration is crucial for a good emulation experience. The Steam Deck’s internal storage is fast but limited, while microSD cards offer more space but slower speeds. I’ve found that the best approach is using internal storage for emulators and SD cards for ROMs.

EmuDeck automatically creates a well-organized folder structure during installation. You’ll find these folders in your Home directory under “Emulation”. This structure includes separate folders for ROMs, BIOS files, save states, and other emulation-related data.

Storage Recommendations:

• Internal Storage: Best for emulators and frequently played games
• Fast microSD Card: Ideal for ROMs storage (Class 10 U3 A2 rated)
• External USB Drive: Option for very large game libraries

I tested various SD cards with my Steam Deck, and the performance difference between a quality card and a cheap one is significant. For retro games, I recommend at least a 128GB card rated U3 A2. Modern games like PS2 and GameCube emulators benefit greatly from faster storage.

If you need help understanding storage requirements for gaming, our system requirements guides can help you make informed decisions about storage solutions.

Step 4: Transfer ROMs to Your Steam Deck

ROMs are the game files that emulators read. You need to legally acquire ROMs for games you own. There are several methods to transfer ROMs to your Steam Deck, and I’ll cover the most reliable ones.

The easiest method is using a USB-C hub or dock with an SD card reader. Simply copy your ROMs to a microSD card using your computer, then insert the card into your Steam Deck and copy the files to the appropriate Emulation/roms folder.

Network Transfer Method:

For wireless transfer, I recommend setting up network sharing. This method works well if you have many ROMs to transfer:

1. Connect both devices to the same WiFi network
2. Enable file sharing in desktop mode settings
3. Access your Steam Deck from your computer’s file explorer
4. Copy ROMs to the Emulation/roms/[console] folders

EmuDeck automatically creates subfolders for each console (nes, snes, ps1, ps2, etc.). Make sure to place ROMs in the correct folders – NES games go in the nes folder, PlayStation games in ps1 or ps2 folder, and so on.

Step 5: Set Up Steam ROM Manager

Steam ROM Manager (SRM) is the bridge between your emulated games and Steam’s interface. It creates shortcuts for your ROMs that appear in your Steam library, just like regular Steam games.

This is what makes the experience seamless – instead of launching emulators separately and browsing for games, you can simply click on a game in your Steam library and it launches automatically with the correct emulator.

1. Launch Steam ROM Manager from the Emulation tools folder
2. Add your Steam user account when prompted
3. Select parsers for consoles you have ROMs for
4. Configure image settings for game artwork
5. Click “Generate App List” to create Steam shortcuts
6. Wait for completion – this may take a few minutes with large libraries

SRM will automatically download artwork and metadata for your games, creating a polished library experience. The first scan can take time if you have hundreds of ROMs, but subsequent updates are much faster.

After generating the app list, switch back to Gaming Mode and restart Steam. Your emulated games should now appear in your library, complete with box art and proper naming.

Step 6: Launch Your First Emulated Game

Now for the exciting part – playing your first emulated game! Switch to Gaming Mode if you haven’t already, and look for your newly added games in the Steam library.

Your emulated games will appear in a separate “Non-Steam” section of your library. Simply select any game and click play to launch it. The correct emulator will start automatically with your game loaded.

When you first launch a game, the emulator may perform some initial setup. This is normal and only happens once per console type. Some emulators might ask about controller configuration or display settings – the default options usually work well.

For the best experience, I recommend starting with simpler consoles like NES or SNES before moving to more demanding systems like PS2 or GameCube. This helps you get familiar with the interface before tackling performance-heavy emulation.

Essential Hotkeys and Shortcuts

Knowing the right hotkeys makes emulation much more enjoyable. These controls work across most emulators installed by EmuDeck and are optimized for the Steam Deck’s layout.

Function	Hotkey Combination	Description
Exit Emulator	START + SELECT	Closes current emulator and returns to Steam
Save State	F1	Saves your exact position in the game
Load State	F2	Loads a previously saved state
Fast Forward	SPACE	Speeds up gameplay (useful for grinding)
Rewind	R	Rewinds gameplay a few seconds
Menu/Settings	F5	Opens emulator-specific settings

Save states are one of emulation’s greatest features. They allow you to save anywhere in any game, even if the original game didn’t support saving. This is perfect for difficult games or when you need to stop playing suddenly.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting in 2025

Even with the simplified EmuDeck setup, you might encounter some issues. Based on my experience helping multiple users set up emulation, here are the most common problems and their solutions.

Games Not Appearing in Steam Library

If your ROMs don’t show up after running Steam ROM Manager:

• Verify ROMs are in the correct console folders
• Ensure ROMs have proper file extensions (.smc, .sfc, .nes, etc.)
• Restart Steam completely (not just switching to desktop mode)
• Try regenerating the app list in SRM

Performance Issues

For games running slowly or with poor performance:

• Close other applications running in the background
• Check that your SD card is fast enough (Class 10 U3 A2 recommended)
• Adjust emulator settings for performance over quality
• Consider moving demanding games to internal storage

Controller Problems

If controllers aren’t working properly:

• Check that you’re using the correct controller profile for the console
• Try resetting controller configuration in emulator settings
• For wireless controllers, ensure they’re properly paired
• Some emulators require manual controller mapping

BIOS Files Missing

Certain consoles (PS1, PS2, Sega Saturn) require BIOS files:

• BIOS files must be legally obtained from hardware you own
• Place BIOS files in the Emulation/bios folder
• Ensure file names match exactly what emulators expect
• Restart emulators after adding BIOS files

For more gaming setup help, visit our gaming blog for additional tips and troubleshooting guides.

Legal Considerations and Safe Practices

It’s important to understand the legal aspects of emulation. Emulators themselves are completely legal – they’re just software that mimics hardware. The legality of ROMs is more complex.

In most countries, downloading ROMs for games you don’t own is illegal. However, creating ROM backups of games you own is generally considered legal for personal use. Many emulation enthusiasts follow this principle to stay on the right side of the law.

“Emulation is legal when used to play games you legally own. The key is to respect intellectual property rights while preserving gaming history.”

– Emulation Community Guidelines

BIOS files, which are required for some emulators, exist in a similar legal gray area. The safest approach is to dump BIOS files from consoles you own rather than downloading them from the internet.

EmuDeck itself is completely legal and safe to use. It’s an open-source tool that doesn’t include any copyrighted material – it simply configures existing emulators and creates a user-friendly interface.

Final Recommendations

Setting up emulation on your Steam Deck opens up a world of gaming possibilities. With thousands of classic games from dozens of consoles at your fingertips, your Steam Deck becomes the ultimate retro gaming device.

Based on my extensive testing, EmuDeck remains the best method for Steam Deck emulation in 2025. It handles all the complex configuration automatically, making emulation accessible to everyone regardless of technical expertise.

Remember to respect intellectual property rights when acquiring ROMs, and consider investing in quality storage for the best experience. With the setup complete, you’re ready to explore decades of gaming history on your Steam Deck.

For more gaming guides and hardware recommendations, check out our comprehensive gaming tutorials. Happy retro gaming!