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 offers more than just gaming, and remote file access is a valuable feature.

Enabling SSH on Your Steam Deck

Follow these steps to enable SSH:

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Access the Steam menu, then navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
3. Return to the Steam menu 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 the command: sudo systemctl start sshd.
7. To ensure SSH starts automatically after a reboot, use the command: 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 Your 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, or sudo systemctl stop sshd to immediately stop the SSH service.

Connecting to Your 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 transfer.

Alternatively, if you're using a Linux PC, open your file manager and enter sftp://deck@steamdeck in the address bar. You'll be prompted for the password you set earlier.