DroidDeck: Steam games on your Android handheld
DroidDeck is a free, open-source Android app that brings the SteamOS experience to phones and handhelds: Valve's own Steam client in Big Picture mode, with Windows games running through Valve's ARM64 Proton. No root, no PC, no streaming.
- Downloads link only to GitHub
- Every fact sourced from the README
- Checked 2026-10-15
- Latest
- 0.4.02026-10-12
- Android
- 9+No root required
- GPU
- Adreno 730+or any 8xx · 6xx experimental
- Storage
- ~3 GB+1.1 GB desktop & emulators
Will DroidDeck run on my device?
It comes down to the GPU. The README supports Adreno 730 or newer and every Adreno 8xx, treats Adreno 6xx as experimental, and does not support Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR or Adreno 710. Type your phone or handheld, or pick its chip, and the checker applies that rule for you.
Not sure which chip you have? Look in Settings › About phone › Processor. Rule source: the DroidDeck README.
A Steam Deck experience, inside an Android app
Most ways of playing PC games on Android either stream them from a computer or wrap Windows games in a custom launcher. DroidDeck installs a Linux runtime inside an ordinary Android app and starts Valve's ARM64 Steam client, so you sign in to your own account and launch games the way you would on a Steam Deck.
Valve's own Steam client
Steam runs in Big Picture mode, the same interface as a Steam Deck: your library, store, friends and settings.
Proton for Windows games
Windows games run through Valve's ARM64 Proton, and you can switch Proton versions per game.
GOG, Epic and Amazon
Since 0.4.0, the Stores feature downloads those libraries and adds each game to Steam as a non-Steam game.
Desktop and emulators
Optional KDE Plasma desktop, emulators, and a Flathub store for ARM64 Linux apps.
Open source, GPL-3.0
Code, build scripts and release notes are public on GitHub. It builds on WinNative and Bannerlator.
No root, no PC
Everything runs on the device itself, inside an ordinary Android app. Nothing is streamed.
What you need
- AndroidAndroid 9 or newer
- GPUAdreno 730 or newer, or Adreno 8xx. Adreno 6xx experimental. Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR, Adreno 710 unsupported.
- RootNot required
- StorageAbout 3 GB for the runtime, 1.1 GB more for the desktop and emulators, plus your games
- Android 14+Turn on Disable child process restrictions in Developer options before launching Steam
- AccountYour own Steam account; GOG, Epic and Amazon accounts are optional
Install DroidDeck in five steps
- Download the APK from the GitHub Releases page and allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps.
- Open DroidDeck and install the Linux runtime it offers on first launch.
- On Android 14 or newer, enable Disable child process restrictions in Developer options. On Android 12 and 13, use the Fix it for me button when Steam first starts.
- Press Play. Steam downloads on its first launch; sign in with your Steam account.
- Optional: install Desktop & apps for the desktop and emulators, and enable Stores for GOG, Epic Games and Amazon Games.
Every step, with what to do when one fails, is in the full DroidDeck install guide.
Download it safely, then set it up
The DroidDeck README is blunt: the project has no stand-alone website, and you should not click download links on websites that claim to be the DroidDeck team. The only download is the APK attached to each release on GitHub. This guide links there and nowhere else.
Download safely
Which GitHub file to pick, and how to spot fake APK sites.
Install & setup
Runtime, the Android 12–14 child-process setting, Steam sign-in.
Compatible devices
Every chip and GPU, plus the Samsung Exynos trap.
Troubleshooting
Steam closing instantly, black screens, DX12 crashes.
Is it safe?
What the app can access and where the real risks are.
iPhone & iPad
Why there is no iOS version, and what to use instead.
Latest DroidDeck updates
DroidDeck has been shipping a new version every few days. We check this guide against each release and note the version and date at the top of every page.
Full DroidDeck changelog- DroidDeck 0.4.02026-10-12
- KDE Plasma replaces LXQt as the desktop.
- GOG, Epic Games and Amazon Games stores: sign in, browse, download, and launch through Proton as non-Steam games.
- Steam touch controller (beta).
- Up to four controllers.
- DroidDeck 0.3.22026-10-08
- Downloads keep going while the device sleeps; native Steam sleep.
- Adreno 6xx support (experimental).
- Steam libraries on an SD card.
- DroidDeck 0.3.12026-10-05
- Wine sync options: esync, fsync and ntsync.
- FEX for x86 Linux apps.
- Image scaling filters and picture-in-picture.
DroidDeck vs GameNative, Winlator and GameHub
DroidDeck is not the only way to play PC games on Android. What sets it apart is that it runs Valve's own Steam client and Proton instead of its own launcher; the trade-off is that it only supports Adreno GPUs.
DroidDeck FAQ
What is DroidDeck?
DroidDeck is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) Android app that runs Valve's Steam client in Big Picture mode on your phone or handheld, and plays Windows games through Valve's ARM64 Proton. It is a community project and is not affiliated with Valve.
Is DroidDeck free?
Yes. The app is free and open source. You still need to own the games you play, and features such as LSFG frame generation need your own copy of Lossless Scaling.
Where do I download the DroidDeck APK?
Only from the project's GitHub Releases page. The README says DroidDeck has no stand-alone website and warns against download links on sites that claim to be the team. Our download guide shows how to pick the right file.
Do I need root?
No. The README states that no root is required.
Which phones and handhelds can run it?
Android 9 or newer with an Adreno 730 or newer GPU, or any Adreno 8xx. Adreno 6xx is experimental. Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR and Adreno 710 are unsupported, which rules out Google Pixel, Exynos Samsung models and MediaTek phones. Use the device checker.
Why does Steam close right after I press Play?
On Android 14 and newer you must turn on Disable child process restrictions in Developer options first. On Android 12 and 13, Steam's first launch offers a Fix it for me button. See troubleshooting.
Is there a DroidDeck for iPhone or iPad?
No. DroidDeck is an Android APK and there is no iOS build. Our iPhone page lists what you can use instead.
How much storage does it need?
About 3 GB for the runtime, plus 1.1 GB more if you install the desktop and emulators, plus the space for your games.
Ready to try it?
Check your device first, then grab the APK from GitHub and follow the setup guide.