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 your files. The Steam Deck's desktop mode opens up possibilities beyond gaming, and SSH provides a secure way to manage files remotely.

Enabling SSH on Your Steam Deck

Follow these steps to enable SSH:

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Access the Steam menu (usually a button).
3. Navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
4. Return to the Steam menu.
5. Select Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
6. Open Konsole (the terminal) from the Start menu.
7. Set a password (if you haven't already): passwd. Create and confirm your password.
8. Start the SSH service: sudo systemctl start sshd.
9. Enable SSH to start automatically on reboot: sudo systemctl enable sshd.
10. You can now access your Steam Deck remotely using an SSH client.

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

Disabling SSH on Your Steam Deck

To disable SSH:

1. Open Konsole from the Start menu.
2. To disable SSH on reboot: sudo systemctl disable sshd.
3. To immediately stop the SSH service: sudo systemctl stop sshd.

Connecting to Your Steam Deck via SSH

After enabling SSH, you can use a third-party SSH client. Warpinator is a user-friendly option. Install it on both your Steam Deck and your PC, then launch it on both devices simultaneously for easy file transfer.

For Linux users, simply open your file manager and enter sftp://deck@steamdeck (replace deck with your Steam Deck's hostname if different) in the address bar. You'll be prompted for the password you set earlier.