The Steam Deck is Valve’s new handheld gaming device that allows you to play your Steam library on the go. With its powerful hardware packed into a compact design, the Steam Deck aims to deliver desktop-quality gaming in a portable form factor. One of the key features that sets the Steam Deck apart is its storage options, which include a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Does the Steam Deck have a microSD card slot?
Yes, the Steam Deck includes a microSD card slot that allows you to insert a compatible memory card to expand the storage capacity. The microSD card slot is located on the back of the device, underneath the kickstand.
Here are some key facts about the Steam Deck’s microSD card support:
- The Steam Deck has a standard microSD card reader that supports UHS-I interface speeds.
- You can use microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC card formats.
- There are no limits on the capacity of the microSD card you can use. Larger capacity cards (256GB to 1TB) have been tested to work.
- The Steam Deck supports SD Express cards as well for even faster read/write speeds.
So in summary, the Steam Deck is fully equipped with a microSD card slot to augment the built-in SSD storage of the device. You have the flexibility of adding as much extra storage as needed in the form of standard removable microSD cards.
What can you store on the microSD card?
The microSD card on the Steam Deck works just like expanded storage on any device. You can use it to store any files you want to keep on your Steam Deck, including:
- Steam games – You can install and run Steam games directly from the microSD card.
- ROMs and emulators – The Steam Deck is great for retro emulation, so you can store ROMs on the microSD card.
- Media files – Music, videos, ebooks, photos etc. can all be stored on the card.
- Documents and backups – Use the microSD for extra storage space for any files.
The SteamOS software gives you full access to the microSD storage just like any other drive on the Steam Deck. You can browse files directly or use it as extended storage for your game library. The main benefit is having extra space for installing more games than what fits on the internal SSD alone.
How to install/remove the microSD card
Working with the microSD card on the Steam Deck is straightforward. Here are the steps to install or remove an SD card:
- Power off the Steam Deck fully by holding the power button and selecting Power Off.
- On the back of the device, locate the microSD card slot underneath the kickstand.
- To install, slide your microSD card into the slot with the contacts facing down until it clicks into place.
- To remove, gently press on the microSD card to release it and slide it out.
- Power your Steam Deck back on to access the newly installed or removed SD card.
It’s super easy to pop in and out microSD cards as needed. Make sure to fully power off the Steam Deck first before inserting or removing the card to prevent corruption.
How to set up microSD card storage
Once you’ve physically installed the microSD card, here are the steps to set it up for storage use on your Steam Deck:
- Boot up your Steam Deck and go to the Settings app.
- Go to the Storage section.
- Your microSD card will be shown here as Removable Storage if inserted correctly.
- Select the microSD card and choose Format as Storage.
- Give the microSD card a name (like “SD Card”) and select Format.
This will format and set up the microSD card as adoptable storage for the Steam Deck. The card will then show up as extra storage space for downloading games, files, etc.
At any time, you can go back to the Storage settings to view details or eject/format the SD card as needed.
Steam Deck supported microSD card specs
Not all microSD cards will provide optimal performance – the Steam Deck works best with cards that meet the recommended specs below:
- Interface: UHS-I or higher (U3 ideal for best speed)
- Capacity: Up to 1TB tested to work
- Speed Rating: A2 or faster read/write for loading games
- Brand: Major brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, etc.
Cards rated U3, A2, V30 or higher will give you the fastest load times for games stored on the microSD card. While you can use slower cards, you may experience longer launch times for some installed games.
Does an SD card stick out of the Steam Deck?
No, when inserted properly, the microSD card sits fully flush within the slot and does not protrude or stick out from the Steam Deck at all. The slot is designed so that the card fits entirely inside the chassis for a seamless look and feel.
The back of the Steam Deck remains flat and smooth when an SD card is inserted. This allows the device to still sit evenly on flat surfaces and fit into carrying cases and accessories without issues.
Can you run Steam Deck games from SD card?
Yes absolutely, one of the main advantages of using the microSD card on the Steam Deck is to install and run more games than the internal SSD alone can hold.
Any Steam game can be installed to the microSD card and launched directly from there. The Steam Deck will run the games seamlessly from the SD card, though load times may be slightly longer depending on the card speed and the game.
The Steam Deck software fully supports running games from the removable storage. Just install the games to the SD card location instead of the internal SSD when downloading or moving them.
Do all Steam games work from SD card?
The vast majority of Steam games will work perfectly fine when installed and run from the microSD card on the Steam Deck. However, here are some exceptions to note:
- Games with DRM protections may have restrictions preventing installation to external storage.
- Some anti-cheat software may block games from working properly off SD cards.
- Extremely storage-intensive games may have issues.
Besides those rare cases, you can expect the general gameplay experience to be the same when running Steam games from the SD card rather than internal SSD.
Can you swap SD cards for more storage?
A great feature of the Steam Deck is that you can easily hot-swap different microSD cards to exponentially expand your available game storage.
By using multiple SD cards, you can essentially have unlimited storage for your Steam library. Just swap cards out whenever you want to change which games are accessible on your Steam Deck.
This works seamlessly as long as you properly eject the card before swapping. The Steam Deck will quickly read any new card that is inserted.
Tips for using SD card on Steam Deck
To get the best performance from your microSD card storage on the Steam Deck, keep these tips in mind:
- Use A2 or faster rated microSD cards from reputable brands.
- Be careful not to exceed the storage limits of your SD card to avoid errors.
- Install less storage intensive indie or 2D games to SD versus huge AAA games.
- Always safely eject the SD card before removing it to prevent corruption.
- Back up your SD card regularly in case of failure or damage.
Following best practices for using your microSD storage will ensure optimal reliability and gameplay experience.
Can you use SD card as internal storage?
When you format the microSD card as storage on your Steam Deck, it essentially becomes adoptable storage that acts like an extension of the internal SSD.
The SteamOS will combine the SD card storage with the internal drive and present it as a single large volume. There are no limitations on what you can store and run from the adopted SD card space.
This gives you more flexibility than external storage alone, allowing you to seamlessly install games across both the internal SSD and microSD without micromanaging each location.
Steam Deck SD card vs SSD performance
Using the built-in SSD will provide faster performance than microSD cards in most cases. Here’s a general comparison:
| Storage Type | Read Speed | Write Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck SSD | Up to 6,000 MB/s | Up to 4,000 MB/s |
| microSD Card | Up to 160 MB/s | Up to 90 MB/s |
As you can see, the Steam Deck’s NVMe SSD provides significantly faster read/write speeds compared to even the best microSD cards available today.
In real world gaming usage, this means:
- Faster game launch times when installed on SSD.
- Faster loading when booting from SSD.
- Better performance in storage intensive games on SSD.
So for a responsive experience, install high performance games to the Steam Deck’s SSD. Use the SD card for lower intensity indie games or as a game library expansion for your favorite AAA titles.
Is it safe to use SD card in Steam Deck?
Using a microSD card with your Steam Deck is completely safe and carries minimal risk as long as you follow best practices:
- Safely eject the card before removing it to prevent corruption.
- Use name brand cards that meet Steam Deck requirements.
- Don’t remove card during reads/writes or game play.
- Handle gently and keep contacts clean.
- Check for errors periodically and reformat if needed.
The Steam Deck hardware is designed to work flawlessly with supported SD cards. As with any storage medium, there is always a chance of failure, so regularly back up any crucial data.
Does Steam Deck need SD card?
The Steam Deck works great right out of the box with just its internal SSD storage. A microSD card is fully optional based on your storage needs.
Here are some factors to consider:
- Number of games – More SD space allows bigger library.
- Game sizes – Larger AAA titles take up more SSD room.
- Digital vs physical – Physical cartridges don’t use internal storage.
- Emulation – Old school ROMs are tiny, newer games need space.
For most users, a 256-512GB microSD card will provide plenty of additional game and media storage alongside the built-in SSD. But you can still have a great experience using just the internal storage if preferred.
Conclusion
Having expandable storage via the microSD card slot is a killer feature for the Steam Deck. It enables essentially unlimited storage for building out your portable Steam library.
SD cards provide a seamless way to augment the built-in SSD with terabytes of extra capacity for games, media, and more. While internal storage is faster, microSD performance can still deliver great gaming experiences.
Just make sure to use decently fast, high quality SD cards and follow proper setup and usage guidelines. With the right microSD card, you’ll be set to enjoy your Steam Deck game collection anywhere you go.