Steam Deck Configuration Reference¶

Complete reference for all Steam Deck configuration options.

System¶

Snapshots & Safety¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`create_snapshot`	bool	`true`	Create btrfs snapshot before changes

Hostname¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`hostname`	string	`""`	System hostname (empty = keep current)

Static IP¶

static_ip:
  enabled: false          # Enable static IP
  connection: ""          # NetworkManager connection name
  address: ""             # IP with CIDR, e.g., "192.168.1.100/24"
  gateway: ""             # Gateway IP, e.g., "192.168.1.1"
  dns: []                 # DNS servers, e.g., ["1.1.1.1", "8.8.8.8"]

Find your connection name with nmcli con show.

API Settings¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`github_token`	string	`""`	GitHub token for API calls

Automatic Authentication

If you enable >3 Decky plugins, the bootstrap script automatically shows a QR code for GitHub login. No manual token needed.

Package Managers¶

package_managers:
  flatpak: true    # Recommended - survives SteamOS updates
  pacman: false    # Requires unlocking filesystem, lost on updates
  nix: false       # Survives updates, for advanced users

Desktop Applications¶

Master Switch¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_flatpak_apps`	bool	`true`	Enable Flatpak app installation

Communication¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_discord`	bool	`false`	Discord
`install_signal`	bool	`false`	Signal
`install_telegram`	bool	`false`	Telegram
`install_slack`	bool	`false`	Slack
`install_element`	bool	`false`	Element (Matrix)
`install_zoom`	bool	`false`	Zoom

Media¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_spotify`	bool	`false`	Spotify
`install_vlc`	bool	`false`	VLC media player
`install_plex`	bool	`false`	Plex
`install_jellyfin`	bool	`false`	Jellyfin

Browsers¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_firefox`	bool	`false`	Firefox (Flatpak version)
`install_chromium`	bool	`false`	Chromium

Productivity¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_obs`	bool	`false`	OBS Studio
`install_vscode`	bool	`false`	Visual Studio Code
`install_libreoffice`	bool	`false`	LibreOffice
`install_gimp`	bool	`false`	GIMP
`install_thunderbird`	bool	`false`	Thunderbird

Utilities¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_flatseal`	bool	`true`	Flatpak permission manager
`install_syncthing`	bool	`false`	File sync
`install_qbittorrent`	bool	`false`	BitTorrent client
`install_filezilla`	bool	`false`	FTP client
`install_neovim`	bool	`false`	Neovim editor

Password Managers¶

# Install one or more password managers
password_managers:
  - "1password"
  - "bitwarden"

Key	Type	Default	Description
`password_managers`	list	`[]`	Password managers to install
`password_manager_install_method`	string	`"flatpak"`	`flatpak` or `distrobox`

Available managers: 1password, bitwarden, keepassxc, protonpass

Distrobox for 1Password

Use distrobox method for 1Password to get full browser integration and SSH agent support.

Remote Access¶

SSH¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_ssh`	bool	`false`	Enable SSH configuration
`ssh_port`	int	`22`	SSH server port
`ssh_import_authorized_keys`	bool	`false`	Import keys from private repo
`ssh_authorized_keys`	list	`[]`	Key files to authorize
`ssh_generate_key`	bool	`false`	Generate SSH keypair
`ssh_key_name`	string	`""`	Key filename (default: hostname)
`ssh_add_to_github`	bool	`false`	Add key to GitHub
`ssh_save_to_private`	bool	`false`	Save key to private repo
`ssh_configure_git`	bool	`false`	Configure git for SSH

VPN & Remote Desktop¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_tailscale`	bool	`false`	Tailscale VPN
`install_remote_desktop`	bool	`false`	Enable remote desktop
`install_sunshine`	bool	`false`	Sunshine streaming host
`install_vnc`	bool	`false`	VNC server
`install_anydesk`	bool	`false`	AnyDesk

Gaming Enhancements¶

Decky Loader¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_decky`	bool	`true`	Install Decky Loader

Decky Plugins¶

decky_plugins:
  powertools:
    enabled: true
    store_name: "PowerTools"
    description: "CPU/GPU control, per-game profiles"

Available plugins:

Plugin Key	Store Name	Description
`powertools`	PowerTools	CPU/GPU control
`autosuspend`	AutoSuspend	Auto-suspend on idle
`battery_tracker`	Battery Tracker	Battery health
`protondb_badges`	ProtonDB Badges	Compatibility ratings
`steamgriddb`	SteamGridDB	Custom artwork
`hltb`	HLTB for Deck	How Long to Beat
`playtime`	PlayTime	Play time tracking
`isthereanydeal`	IsThereAnyDeal for Deck	Deal notifications
`css_loader`	CSS Loader	Visual themes
`animation_changer`	Animation Changer	Boot animations
`bluetooth`	Bluetooth	Bluetooth management
`tailscale_control`	Tailscale Control	VPN control
`kde_connect`	KDE Connect	Phone integration
`decky_cloud_save`	Decky Cloud Save	Cloud saves
`deckmtp`	DeckMTP	MTP transfer
`autoflatpaks`	AutoFlatpaks	Auto-update Flatpaks
`discord_status`	Discord Status	Discord presence
`decky_notifications`	Decky Notifications	Notifications
`magicpods`	MagicPods	AirPods support

Proton Tools¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_proton_tools`	bool	`true`	Enable Proton tools
`install_protonup_qt`	bool	`true`	Proton version manager
`install_proton_ge`	bool	`true`	GloriousEggroll's Proton
`install_protontricks`	bool	`true`	Windows component installer

Game Streaming¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_moonlight`	bool	`false`	Moonlight client
`install_chiaki`	bool	`false`	PlayStation Remote Play
`install_greenlight`	bool	`false`	Xbox streaming

Gaming Launchers¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_heroic`	bool	`false`	Epic/GOG launcher
`install_lutris`	bool	`false`	Game launcher
`install_bottles`	bool	`false`	Wine prefix manager

Emulation¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_emudeck`	bool	`false`	EmuDeck installer

Android¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_waydroid`	bool	`false`	Android container

Controller Utilities¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`install_stickdeck`	bool	`false`	Use Deck as PC controller
`install_cryoutilities`	bool	`false`	Performance tweaks

SD Card & Storage¶

Key	Type	Default	Options
`emulation_storage`	string	`"auto"`	`auto`, `internal`, `sdcard`
`move_shader_cache`	bool	`false`	Move cache to SD card

Storage Options:

auto: Use SD card if present, else internal
internal: Always use internal storage
sdcard: Force SD card (fails if none present)

Paths¶

Key	Type	Default	Description
`deck_home`	string	`"/home/deck"`	Home directory

The emulation_path is computed automatically based on emulation_storage.

Example Configurations¶

Minimal Gaming Setup¶

hostname: "gamedeck"

install_discord: true
install_spotify: true

install_decky: true
decky_plugins:
  powertools:
    enabled: true
  protondb_badges:
    enabled: true

Full-Featured Setup¶

hostname: "gamedeck"
create_snapshot: true

# Apps
install_discord: true
install_spotify: true
install_vlc: true
install_firefox: true
password_managers:
  - "1password"
password_manager_install_method: "distrobox"

# Remote Access
install_ssh: true
ssh_generate_key: true
ssh_add_to_github: true
install_tailscale: true

# Decky
install_decky: true
decky_plugins:
  powertools:
    enabled: true
  protondb_badges:
    enabled: true
  steamgriddb:
    enabled: true
  css_loader:
    enabled: true
  hltb:
    enabled: true

# Streaming
install_moonlight: true
install_chiaki: true

# Emulation
install_emudeck: true
emulation_storage: "sdcard"
move_shader_cache: true

Travel/Minimal Setup¶

hostname: "traveldeck"

# Minimal apps
install_discord: true
install_spotify: true

# No SSH - not on trusted networks
install_ssh: false

# Tailscale for secure remote access
install_tailscale: true

# Minimal Decky
install_decky: true
decky_plugins:
  powertools:
    enabled: true

# Use SD card for everything
emulation_storage: "sdcard"
move_shader_cache: true