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The Steam Deck is a powerful device that caters to both gamers and portable PC enthusiasts. With its desktop mode, users can go beyond gaming and access their internal storage remotely for various purposes. Given that the Steam Deck operates on a version of Linux, it supports Secure Shell (SSH), a protocol designed for secure remote data access. However, many Steam Deck users are unaware of how to enable and utilize this feature. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview on enabling and using SSH on the Steam Deck, along with additional helpful tips.
Steps For Enabling SSH On The Steam Deck
Enabling SSH on your Steam Deck is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:
- Power on your Steam Deck.
- Press the Steam button.
- Navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
- Press the Steam button again.
- Select Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
- Open the Konsole from the Start menu.
- If you haven't set a password yet, do so by entering the command:
passwd. Follow the prompts to set a password. - Enable SSH by entering the command:
sudo systemctl start sshd. To ensure SSH runs after a reboot, enter:sudo systemctl enable sshd. - Once SSH is enabled, you can now access your Steam Deck remotely using any third-party SSH client.
Important: Be cautious not to delete or move system files, as this could corrupt the operating system.
How To Disable SSH On The Steam Deck
If you need to disable SSH on your Steam Deck, follow these steps:
- Open the Konsole from the Start menu.
- To disable SSH, enter the command:
sudo systemctl disable sshd. To stop SSH immediately, use:sudo systemctl stop sshd.
How To Use SSH To Connect To The Steam Deck
With SSH enabled, you can access your data remotely using a third-party application like Warpinator. Install Warpinator on both your Steam Deck and your PC, and launch them simultaneously. Transferring data between devices becomes a breeze.
For Linux PC users, installing a third-party application isn't necessary. Simply open your file manager and navigate to the directory: sftp://deck@steamdeck in the address bar. Enter the password you previously set to establish the connection.
