How to Add Epic Games to Steam Deck (Launcher and Alternatives)
The Epic Games Store has no Linux version, so on Steam Deck you run its launcher through Proton. Many guides suggest Heroic or Junk Store as smoother options.
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You can add Epic games to your Steam Deck by installing the Epic Games Launcher on it, and yes, the launcher absolutely works there. [1] The official launcher isn’t natively available on Linux. [1] So you run it through Proton, the compatibility layer built into the Deck. [2]
The launcher works, but it is a rough fit for a handheld. Controller navigation can feel janky, and performance is patchy at best. [1] Expect the rough edges to show up in everyday use, not just during setup. For more detail, see How to Use a Controller for Non Steam Games on PC.
The steps below walk you through the official install from Desktop Mode. Later sections cover easier ways to get your Epic library running on the Deck.
What should you know before you install the launcher?
Epic's exclusives are the main reason to install the launcher. Epic has its fair share of games that aren't sold through Steam, so if you want one of them on your Deck, you need Epic's client [2]. If your library is mostly Steam games, you probably don't need it.
Running the launcher through Proton doesn't make it much smoother. Running it through Proton on a handheld doesn't magically improve the experience, so expect the launcher to be functional rather than smooth [1]. Treat it as a way to reach Epic's catalog, not as a polished storefront.
Say you want one Epic-exclusive game for a weekend. The setup is worth the effort in that case. If you only want Steam titles, skip the launcher and save yourself the trouble.
Not every game works on Steam Deck, even after the launcher is running. A Steam community user put it plainly: "Yes i'm aware that not all games work on the steam deck." [3] Pick your Epic games with that in mind before you buy. You may also find this useful: Non-Steam Games Not Showing Up on Steam Deck? Causes and Fixes.
How do you run the Epic launcher on Steam Deck?
Proton lets you run the Epic Games Store launcher on Steam Deck, so you can get your Epic games onto the Deck. The launcher has no Linux version, so you run it through Proton, the compatibility layer built into the Deck [2]. The setup takes a few steps.
- Open the STEAM menu and switch to Desktop Mode. To install the Epic Games Store Launcher on the Steam Deck, you must swap from gaming mode to desktop mode [2]. Desktop Mode lets you install software that is unavailable through the Steam store [2].
- Download and run the installer. Get the official Epic Games Store launcher from Epic's download page and run its installer in Desktop Mode. Proton handles the Windows install for you.
- Add the launcher to Steam. Add the installed launcher to your Steam library as a non-Steam game, so you can start it from Steam.
- Launch it from Steam. Switch back to Game Mode and start the launcher from your library. The launcher runs within Game Mode, so you can use the Deck's controls [2].
- Sign in and install your games. Sign in with your Epic account, then install your games from inside the launcher.
After the first setup, you start the launcher the same way as any other game in your Steam library.
Is Heroic or Junk Store an easier way to get Epic games?
Heroic Games Launcher is the option recommended most strongly, so start there if you want the smoother route to your Epic games. It offers full support for your whole Epic Games library without the random issues that you will get when attempting to install the Epic Games Launcher. [2] Best of all, it features native builds for the Steam Deck. [2]
Junk Store and the official launcher
Junk Store, run through Decky Loader, is another option. One reviewer prefers it for ease of use. [1]
The official launcher is the choice if you want the exact Epic client. It has no Linux port, so you run it through the Steam Deck’s Proton compatibility layer. [2]
Option | How it runs on Steam Deck | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
Heroic Games Launcher | Native Steam Deck build | You want smoother play |
Junk Store via Decky Loader | Installed through Decky Loader | You want ease of use |
Official Epic launcher | Through Proton | You want the exact Epic client |
Pick the official launcher if you want the exact Epic client, and pick Heroic if smoother play matters more. Junk Store fits when ease of use comes first. Each route gets you to your Epic games, so the choice comes down to what you value most.
Which route should you pick?
For most readers, Heroic is the smoother way to get Epic games on Steam Deck. Epic's own launcher runs through Proton, but it feels rough on a handheld [1][2]. Heroic, by contrast, offers full support for your whole Epic library and native builds for the Steam Deck [2].
If you need the exact Epic client and can live with the rough edges, stick with the official launcher. Otherwise, start with Heroic and add your Epic games from there. For a broader view of every non-Steam route, see the overview article in this series.