How To Enable SSH On The Steam Deck

This guide explains how to enable and use SSH on your Steam Deck for remote access to its files. The Steam Deck's desktop mode allows for more than gaming, and SSH provides secure remote access.

Enabling SSH on the Steam Deck

Follow these steps to enable SSH:

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Press the Steam button, navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
3. Press the Steam button again, and select Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
4. Open Konsole from the Start menu.
5. Set a password (if you haven't already) using the command: passwd.
6. Enable SSH using: sudo systemctl start sshd.
7. To ensure SSH starts after a reboot, use: sudo systemctl enable sshd.
8. You can now access your Steam Deck remotely using a third-party SSH client.

Important: Avoid modifying or deleting system files to prevent OS corruption.

Disabling SSH on the Steam Deck

To disable SSH:

1. Open Konsole from the Start menu.
2. Use sudo systemctl disable sshd to prevent SSH from starting automatically on reboot. Use sudo systemctl stop sshd to immediately stop the SSH service.

Connecting to the Steam Deck via SSH

After enabling SSH, use a third-party application like Warpinator for easy file transfer. Install Warpinator on both your Steam Deck and your PC, then launch it on both devices simultaneously for simple drag-and-drop file transfers.

Alternatively, if you're using a Linux PC, you can use your file manager. Enter sftp://deck@steamdeck in the address bar and provide the password you set earlier.