Running Discord on Steam Deck: A Guide for Beginners

Installing Discord on Steam Deck

Switch to Desktop Mode. Press and hold the Power button and select Switch to Desktop when the menu appears. Alternatively, press the Steam button, press A, and select Switch to Desktop.

Open the Discover app. Select the blue shopping cart icon in the bottom left corner.

Search for Discord. Use the search bar at the top of the app to search. If you don't have a Bluetooth keyboard attached, press the Steam button + x.

Select Install. This will install Discord on your Steam Deck. Find the installed app in your list of apps on your Steam Deck (go to the Steam Deck icon in the bottom left corner of your screen). Sign into Discord using the on-screen instructions.

Adding Discord as a Non-Steam Game

Open the Steam app. You'll want to do this while the Steam Deck is still in Desktop mode. Doing this will add Discord to your library so the app can be opened from Gaming mode.

Click Games. It'll be at the top of your Steam app.

Select Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. It's near the bottom of the menu.

Check the box next to "Discord" to check it. The list is alphabetical, so you might need to scroll down to find it.

Click Add Selected Programs to continue. The window will close and add Discord to your SteamOS Library. Then, close every other open window.

Return to Gaming Mode. Click the shortcut on the Desktop or use the Power menu.

Using Discord on Steam Deck

Open Discord. You'll find it in the "Non-Steam" tab in your library. Since Discord isn't completely ready for your Steam Deck, your controls don't match up with it yet. You can easily get other controller settings from the community for your Discord using these steps.

Press the Steam button and select Controller Settings. Choose Controller Settings again at the bottom of the screen.

Select Current Layout. This screen will allow you to customize your current controller settings for Discord.

Press R1. You'll go to the "Community Layouts" tab, so you can look through what others have created.

Download and apply one that you like. You can download and apply one that you like, and, as you use Discord, return to the Controller Settings > Current Layout page to make your own tweaks and edits. None of this is a permanent decision, so don't worry! You can always change something if you need to. Any voice chats that you join will remain active when you switch to a game, so you can talk with your friends while playing a game. The built-in Steam Deck mic picks up button presses and background noises, so using headphones with a mic is a good idea. Switch between Discord and a game by pressing the Steam button.