How to install DroidDeck

Works on any supported Android 9+ device with an Adreno 730+ GPU (experimental: Adreno 6xx). No root required. Budget ~3 GB of free storage.

Before you start — check your device on the compatibility list. If your phone or handheld uses a Mali/Xclipse/Tensor GPU (Samsung Exynos, Google Pixel, Dimensity), DroidDeck will not run. Download the APK only from the official GitHub releases page.

Installation on an Android handheld (Retroid / AYN / AYANEO / etc.)

Download the latest APK from the official GitHub releases page to your device (or download on PC and copy it over USB).
Allow unknown apps. Open the APK; Android will ask permission to install from your browser or file manager. Grant it.
First launch. DroidDeck will download its runtime (~3 GB). Stay on Wi-Fi and keep the device plugged in.
Sign in to Steam. Once the runtime is ready, the Steam client opens in Big Picture mode. Log in with your normal Steam account and Steam Guard.
Disable process restrictions (required). The official README instructs turning off "Restrict child processes" in Developer options before launching Steam. On Android 12/13 where the toggle is missing, newer builds show a "Fix it for me" button on first launch that does it automatically. Fallback: run adb shell device_config put activity_manager max_phantom_processes 2147483647 from a PC with ADB. Without this fix, games get killed mid-session. (Full explainer)
Set up Steam Input. In v0.3.0+ the app emulates a Steam Deck controller natively — check Settings → Controller to confirm your physical controls map correctly, including gyro.
Install a game and test. Start with a lightweight title (Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight) to verify the Proton stack works before trying demanding games.

Installation on an Android phone

Verify your phone has a Snapdragon flagship SoC (Adreno 730/740/750/830). See the device list.
Follow steps 1–4 above — the flow is identical.
Pair a controller. Phones have no built-in controls; pair a Bluetooth controller (Backbone, GameSir, 8BitDo, or an Xbox/DualSense pad). Steam Input in v0.3.0+ handles Deck-style emulation.
Mind thermals. Phones throttle harder than handhelds. Remove the case, play in a cool room, or use a clip-on cooler for long sessions.

Optional: Flathub Store for ARM64 Linux apps

From setup, you can enable the Flathub Store to install ARM64 Linux apps and games that launch full-screen with controller support. This is also how you access the desktop layer added in v0.4.0 (KDE Plasma, SteamOS-style).

Troubleshooting

Steam takes ~30 seconds to start — update to v0.3.0 or newer; startup was cut to ~6 seconds.
Games get killed mid-session — see step 5 (Restrict child processes / "Fix it for me") above; this is the most common cause.
Controller not detected — re-check Steam Input settings; Bluetooth LE Steam controller support arrived in v0.4.0.
Choppy frame pacing in light games — a known community report on some devices; try toggling LSFG frame generation off/on and closing background apps.