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H2: Customize Your Steam Deck with Decky Loader
H3: Introduction
The Steam Deck has become one of the most popular handheld gaming consoles in the market thanks to its price-to-performance ratio. Although Valve has included some enhancements to improve the user experience, only Decky Loader lets you take customization to the next level. Decky Loader is a program that allows you to install plugins made by fellow Steam Deck users. In this guide, we will learn how to install Decky Loader and how to use it to customize your Steam Deck experience.
H3: Disclaimer
Note: Decky Loader may sometimes not work as intended if you’re enrolled in the beta channel of SteamOS.
H3: How to Install Decky Loader on Steam Deck
Installing Decky Loader is pretty simple. All it takes is going to the Steam Deck desktop mode, downloading a package, and double-clicking it to install Decky Loader. Here are the steps in detail.
H4: Step 1: Enable Developer Mode
Installing Decky Loader requires you to first enable Developer Mode on Deck. Here’s how to do it and install the Decky loader.
1. Click the Steam button on your Steam Deck and go to Settings.
2. Go to System and toggle on “Developer Mode.”
3. Scroll all the way down on the side panel and find the Developer menu. If you do find it, Developer mode has been enabled on your Steam Deck.
H4: Step 2: Switch to Desktop Mode
Now, switch to Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck. You can follow our linked guide to learn all about SteamOS desktop mode.
H4: Step 3: Download & Install Decky Loader
1. Head to the official Decky Loader website and click the “Download” button to get the decky_installer.desktop file.
2. Open the Dolphin file manager on the Deck, head to downloads, and double-click or tap on the file to install it.
3. Select “release” in the window that appears next and click OK.
4. The installation should finish in 30-40 seconds depending on your internet connection speed.
5. Once installed, switch back to gaming mode by pressing the Steam button on the Deck and then tapping on the Power option.
H3: How to Install Steam Deck Plugins via Decky Loader
You are now set, and it’s time to start installing Steam Deck plugins. Fortunately, Decky Loader has a dedicated store that lets you directly download and start using the plugins. You will find dozens of plugins here, which are all free and open-source.
H4: Step 1: Go to Decky Store
1. Press the three-dot button on your Steam Deck and tap the “Plug” icon.
2. Then, tap the store icon to load up the Decky Store.
H4: Step 2: Browse and Install Plugins
1. Browse from the list of plugins and click the “Install” button to install a plugin on your Steam Deck.
2. Once installed, they should now appear on the Decky Loader’s main page. You can then tap and use them.
H3: Top 10 Decky Loader Plugins for Steam Deck
As of writing this, there are over 30 plugins in the Decky store. While most of them are straightforward to use and understand, there are also those that may not appeal to users at first glance but are quite useful. That said, here are some of the best Decky Loader plugins that you should try.
H4: 1. vibrantDeck
One of the issues, or rather cost-cuttings in the Steam Deck is found in its display quality. Thanks to the vibrantDeck plugin, you can tweak the Deck’s display to increase its saturation and Linear Gamma Gain (RGB) to your liking.
H4: 2. CSS Loader
CSS Loader is a plugin that allows you to load custom themes on the Steam Deck. It has a vast collection of themes that you can download and apply.
H4: 3. Animation Changer
Enter Animation Changer, a plugin that has over 1500 animations to try out. Follow our dedicated guide to learn how to change the Steam Deck boot animation.
H4: 4. Discord Status
Discord Status is a great way of showing off friends in Discord that you own a Steam Deck. It creates a custom status whenever you are playing a game on your Steam Deck, which looks very cool.
H4: 5. SteamGridDB
After installing the plugin, navigate to the game on your home screen that has broken artwork. Go to options and tap “Change Artwork…” SteamGridDB will then display a variety of images that you can choose to set images for capsule, wide capsule, hero, logo, and the main icon.
H4: 6. Storage Cleaner
As the name suggests, Storage Cleaner is an app that can help you clear storage by deleting the shader cache of games.
H4: 7. Audio Loader
Audio Loader allows you to load different sound packs for UI sounds on Steam Deck.
H4: 8. Controller Tools
Controller Tools enables you to check the battery percentage and charging status of the connected controllers. It supports DualSense, DualShock, and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers.
H4: 9. ProtonDB Badges
The ProtonDB Badges plugin simplifies this for you by adding a badge on the top-left corner of the image.
H3: Conclusion
Decky Loader provides users the flexibility to customize your Steam Deck the way you want it. With these plugins, you can change not only the look and feel but also its functionality. You will surely love the best Decky Loader plugins on this list.
H3: FAQ
Q. Is Decky Loader easy to install?
A. Yes, it is very easy to install Decky Loader. All you need to do is go to the website, download the file, double-click to install, and you’re good to go.
Q. How many plugins are available in the Decky Store?
A. Currently, there are over 30 plugins available in the Decky Store.
Q. Will the Decky Loader app break after I update to Beta version?
A. There have been reports of the app breaking after an update to Beta. If you’re on the Stable stream and don’t plan to move to Beta anytime soon, you’re good to go.
Q. Do I need to pay for these plugins?
A. No, all plugins available in the Decky Store are free and open-source.
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