How to install DroidDeck on Android
How to install DroidDeck on an Android phone or handheld, from the APK to your first game. The whole process happens on the device. Most failed installs come from one Android setting, which step 2 covers.
Before you start, check three things:
- Android 9 or newer.
- A supported Adreno GPU. See supported devices.
- About 3 GB of free storage for the runtime, plus room for your games.
Install DroidDeck step by step
Step 1: Get the APK from GitHub
Download DroidDeck-0.4.0.apk from the official releases page and open it. If Android asks, allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps. Not sure which of the four files to take? The DroidDeck APK page explains them.
Step 2: Turn off “Restrict child processes”
This is the step people miss. Before Steam launches, the Android setting Restrict child processes must be turned off in Developer options.
- Open Android Settings and go to About phone.
- Tap Build number seven times to enable Developer options, if you have not done so before.
- Open Developer options and switch Restrict child processes off.
Some devices on Android 12 and 13 do not show this option. On those, the first launch of Steam in DroidDeck presents a Fix it for me button that helps automate the setup.
Menu names differ between phone makers. Developer options is sometimes under System or Additional settings.
Step 3: Install the Linux runtime
Open DroidDeck. The app asks to install its Linux runtime. Allow about 3 GB. This is the environment Steam and Proton run in, and it is downloaded from inside the app.
Step 4: Press Play and sign in to Steam
Press Play. Steam downloads on first launch, then shows the usual sign-in screen in Big Picture mode. Sign in with your own Steam account.
Step 5: Install a game
Pick a game from your library and install it as you would on a Steam Deck. Start with something light to confirm everything works before you download a large game.
Optional parts of a DroidDeck install
Desktop and emulators
Install Desktop & apps if you want the Linux desktop and emulators. It needs about 1.1 GB more. From version 0.4.0 the desktop is a SteamOS-style KDE Plasma desktop with a Return to Gaming Mode shortcut.
GOG, Epic Games and Amazon Games
From version 0.4.0, go to Setup, then Stores, and turn on “Show Stores in the rail”. You can then sign in to GOG, Epic Games and Amazon Games, download games from those libraries and have each one added to Steam as a non-Steam game.
Flathub store
Turn on the Flathub Store in Setup to install ARM64 Linux apps and games. You can also add your own AppImages.
Games on an SD card
From version 0.3.2, SD cards and external drives can be used as full Steam libraries.
If DroidDeck does not work
| What happens | What to check |
|---|---|
| Steam does not start | “Restrict child processes” is still on. Redo step 2, or use the “Fix it for me” button. |
| The app says the device is not supported | Your GPU may not be an Adreno 730 or newer. See supported devices. |
| A DirectX 12 game crashes on an older chip | On Adreno 6xx this is a known limit. DirectX 11 games are more likely to run there. |
| Not enough space | The runtime alone needs about 3 GB before any game. |
| Performance is lower than expected | Some phones limit apps they do not recognise. The alternative APK files on the download page exist for this. |
For anything else, the developers ask for bug reports in the DroidDeck Discord, in its bug-reports forum, with the zip from Share logs attached. Share logs is in Setup and in the session drawer.
Updating and removing DroidDeck
From version 0.3.0, the Updates page inside DroidDeck installs new builds without leaving the app. You can also install a newer APK from GitHub over the old one. To remove DroidDeck, uninstall it like any Android app; that also removes the runtime and anything stored inside the app’s data.
Install DroidDeck questions
Why will Steam not start in DroidDeck?
The most common cause is the Android setting “Restrict child processes”. It must be turned off in Developer options. On Android 12 and 13 devices where that option is missing, the first launch of Steam shows a “Fix it for me” button that helps automate the change.
How long does it take to install DroidDeck?
The APK installs in seconds. The Linux runtime is about 3 GB and Steam downloads on first launch, so the total time depends on your connection.
Do I need a PC to install DroidDeck?
No. You can download the APK and set everything up on the Android device itself.
Can I install DroidDeck games on an SD card?
Yes. Since version 0.3.2, SD cards and external drives can be used as full Steam libraries.
Do I need to install the desktop and emulators?
No. “Desktop & apps” is optional. Install it if you want the Linux desktop and the emulators; it needs about 1.1 GB more.
Does DroidDeck work offline?
Version 0.3.0 made Offline mode work after you have signed in once. You need to be online for the first sign-in and for downloading games.
Back to the DroidDeck guide.