How to re-install SteamOS on Steamdeck
Looking to reinstall SteamOS on your Steam Deck but unsure of the steps? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This guide will walk you through the process of getting your Steam Deck back to its original state with a fresh installation of SteamOS. Follow along to learn how to restore your device easily and efficiently.
How to download the SteamOS recovery image
If you’ve installed an alternative operating system on your Steam Deck, and you’re looking to get SteamOS back in action, you’ll need the official recovery image file. Good news: Valve makes snagging this download pretty straightforward.
To grab the SteamOS recovery image, just head to the “Steam Deck Recovery Instructions” page on the Steam site. Over there, spot the “Download the recovery image here (click)” bit, and give it a click to start downloading the image file onto your machine.
When you hit the download link for SteamOS, Valve will pop up with a message. This is the “Steam end user license agreement”. Take a moment to read through and get the gist of it. Once you’ve done that, look for the line that says, “By selecting the box to the left you agree to the terms of this Steam End User License Agreement,” and tick that box.
Now that the box is checked on the download page, hit the green “Download SteamOS Deck Image” button to kick off the SteamOS recovery image download. It might take a little while to complete, so hang tight.
How to create a SteamOS recovery USB or SDCard
Even though the Steam Deck is primarily a portable gaming console, it’s fundamentally a computer. As such, you’ll need to create a bootable USB or SD Card to reinstall the SteamOS operating system. In this section, we’ll walk through the process of creating your recovery medium.
Firstly, navigate to Etcher.io and download the Etcher tool for your computer’s operating system. Etcher is compatible with Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Once downloaded, open the app and insert either a USB flash drive (ensure compatibility with the USB-C port on the Deck) or an SD card into your PC’s card reader.
Note: if you’re creating a recovery USB that isn’t USB-C for SteamOS, make sure you have a USB dock to connect it to the Deck.
After plugging in your chosen recovery medium, open the Etcher application. Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a SteamOS recovery disk:
- Click on the “Flash from file” button in the Etcher application. A pop-up window will appear. Navigate to the downloaded SteamOS Bz2 archive and select it.
- Next, click on the “Select target” button. Choose either your SD card or USB flash drive from the menu. After selecting the device, Etcher will configure it to create your SteamOS recovery image.
- Click on the “Flash!” button. Etcher will begin creating your recovery medium. This process may take some time, so patience is required.
Once Etcher has completed, safely eject the SD card or USB drive from your computer. Then, plug it into your Steam Deck and power the device off. Next, hold the Power button and the “-” button simultaneously until you hear a tone. Release the Power button while continuing to hold the “-” button until the Steam Deck bootloader appears.
In the Steam Deck bootloader, select the boot manager and choose either your SD card or USB drive as the boot device.
How to re-install SteamOS
To reinstall SteamOS on your Steam Deck, follow these steps. First, navigate to the SteamOS desktop and locate the ‘Re-image Steam Deck’ icon. Click on this icon to initiate the reinstallation process. Please be aware that selecting this option will completely erase all data on your Steam Deck, including user data and games. Opt for this if you’re looking for a clean slate on your device.
Once you choose the “Re-image Steam Deck” option, a terminal window will appear and begin the reinstallation of SteamOS. This process may take some time, so please be patient.
After the installation completes, remove the SteamOS installation media and restart your Steam Deck. Upon rebooting, you’ll have a freshly installed SteamOS on your Steam Deck, ready for use.
How to re-install SteamOS without losing your stuff
If you need to refresh your Steam Deck without a complete wipe, here’s what to do. First, go to the installer desktop and find the ‘Reinstall SteamOS’ option. Click on it. By selecting ‘Reinstall SteamOS’, your Deck will attempt to reinstall SteamOS while preserving your user data as much as possible.
Once the installation is finished, remove the installation medium and restart your Steam Deck. After rebooting and logging back in, you will have a rejuvenated Steam Deck with your user data still intact.
