How to Transfer Files from PC to Steam Deck: USB, SD Card, Wireless
You can move files from a PC to a Steam Deck with a USB drive or SD card, or send them wirelessly with an app. Here is how each method works and where it falls short.
In this article
You can transfer files from a PC to a Steam Deck with a USB flash drive or SD card [1]. You can also send them wirelessly with the Warpinator app [2]. The drive method has some limitations, so it helps to know what you need before you choose [1].
A drive or card is the simplest choice when you want a straight copy and don't mind a cable. Warpinator suits you if you'd rather avoid cables, as long as both devices are on and working together. SSH or SAMBA is the more technical option, with more setup, so it's best saved for when you're comfortable with that kind of work.
This article walks through each method from simplest to most technical. That way you can pick the one that fits your setup and get your files onto the Deck for offline play.
How do you copy files with a USB drive or SD card?
You can transfer files between a Steam Deck and PC with an SD card or USB flash drive, but there are some limitations. [1] The drive works as a middleman: you copy the files onto it on your PC, then copy them from it onto the Deck.
- Copy the files to the drive on your PC. Plug a USB flash drive into your PC, or insert an SD card using a card reader. Create a folder such as
Deck Transfer, then copy your saves, game installs or media into it. - Wait for the copy to finish. Watch the progress window until it closes. Then use your PC's eject option before unplugging the drive. Removing the drive before copying finishes can corrupt files, so do not pull it out early.
- Plug the drive into the Steam Deck. Connect a USB flash drive to the Deck's USB port, or insert the SD card into the microSD slot. Give the Deck a moment to recognize it.
- Copy the folder onto the Deck. Open the file manager on the Deck, find the drive, and copy your folder to internal storage or the SD card. Keep everything in one folder so it is easy to find later. A large game install takes longer than a few save files, so plan for the wait.
- Eject the drive on the Deck. Once the copy is done, eject the drive before unplugging it. The folder should now appear in the location you chose.
When you are unsure how the process feels, start with a small folder. Working through the steps once with a few files means you will know what to expect before you move anything important. To go further, see How to Use Steam Deck Without Wifi.
How do you send files wirelessly with Warpinator?
Warpinator lets you send files between your PC and Steam Deck without a cable or memory card. You can transfer files to and from your Steam Deck using the Warpinator app. [2] You install it on both devices once, and after that each batch of files takes only a few clicks.
Work through these steps in order, starting on the Steam Deck.
- Find Warpinator on the Steam Deck. Use the store that comes pre-installed on the Deck to search for Warpinator. You can download the transfer file app through the pre-installed store. [2] Install it and open it so the Deck is ready to receive files.
- Install Warpinator on the PC. Download the PC version of Warpinator and install it like any other program. Open it so it starts looking for nearby devices. When both apps are running, the Steam Deck should appear in the PC's device list, and your PC should appear on the Deck.
- Send the chosen files from the PC to the Steam Deck. Select the files or folders you want to move, choose the Steam Deck as the destination, and send them. Keep both apps open until the transfer finishes. Once it completes, the files are on the Deck, and you can find them in the Deck's file list.
After the first setup, you only repeat step 3 for each new batch of files. Your PC and the Deck stay paired in the app, so there is no cable to plug in or unplug.
Can you use SSH or SAMBA for a PC-to-Deck transfer?
You can move files from a Windows PC to a Steam Deck over SSH or SAMBA, but expect more setup than a USB drive or Warpinator needs. [3]
Setting up SSH with FileZilla
SSH is the most direct route for this kind of transfer. It needs a setup step on the Deck and a matching step on your PC.
- On the Steam Deck, set up SSH so the Deck accepts connections from your PC. [3]
- On Windows, install FileZilla. [3]
- In FileZilla, connect to the Steam Deck over SSH using the Deck's connection details.
- Drag the files you want from your PC's folders into the Deck's folders.
Once you're connected, FileZilla shows your PC and the Deck side by side, so you can see where each file lands.
SAMBA as the other option
SAMBA is the alternative. You set up a SAMBA server on the Deck so its folders can be shared with your PC. [3] If you copy files often, a shared folder saves you from repeating the connection steps each time.
Is it worth the effort?
For a one-time copy, SSH or SAMBA is usually more work than it's worth. If you only need to move a few save files once, a USB flash drive or SD card gets the job done faster. Plan on a longer first session with either option, since it has more steps than the drive or Warpinator routes. Save SSH or SAMBA for regular transfers, when you don't want to plug in a drive every time.
Which method has the most limitations?
The simplest route is a USB flash drive or SD card, but every option trades something away: speed, cables, or setup time.
Drives and SD cards are simple, but they have limits. Lifewire notes that transferring with an SD card or USB flash drive comes with some limitations [1]. In practice, you may run into capacity and speed limits, so a large game folder can take a while to copy or may not fit on the card you have. To go further, see How to Save Steam Deck Battery While Gaming: 5 Settings That Matter.
Wireless apps avoid cables. Warpinator lets you move files to and from your Steam Deck [2]. Both devices need to be on and able to see each other, so a problem on either side stops the transfer.
SSH and SAMBA give you the most control. On Windows, you install FileZilla and set up SSH on the Deck [3], or you can set up a SAMBA server to share folders. That flexibility costs setup time, so these methods suit you best if you are comfortable with that work.
Method | Cable needed | Main limit | Setup effort |
|---|---|---|---|
USB flash drive or SD card | Yes, the drive or card itself | Capacity and speed | Low |
Warpinator | No | Both devices must be working together | Low |
SSH or SAMBA | No | Setup time | Higher |
The drive method is the easiest, but it is capped by what the card holds and how fast it copies. Warpinator removes the cable but depends on both devices cooperating. SSH and SAMBA offer the most flexibility, and you pay for it with setup time.
Does Steam have its own transfer option?
Steam has its own built-in option for moving games between machines on the same local network, but it is not the tool for moving your personal files. Steam documents this feature in its help center under the title "Steam Local Network Game Transfers" [4]. If your goal is a game install that Steam manages, that page is the place to start.
The feature is separate from copying personal files such as saves or media. You should not expect it to move a folder of screenshots, a set of music files, or your save data to the Deck. Those jobs still need a physical or wireless copy method.
A simple way to decide is to ask what you are trying to move:
- A game install that Steam manages: Look at Steam's local network transfer feature first.
- Saves, screenshots, or media: Use a USB flash drive, an SD card, or the Warpinator route covered in this article.
Splitting the jobs this way saves you from setting up a network feature when you only need to copy a folder. A flash drive can carry a save folder across in a single copy, with no network setup at all.
If you are unsure, start with the drive or card. It is the simplest route, and it does not depend on your home network working well. Lifewire notes that an SD card or USB flash drive can move files between a Steam Deck and a PC, though it lists some limitations [1].
Which method should you try first?
Start with a USB flash drive or SD card if you want the simplest copy. You can transfer files between a Steam Deck and PC with an SD card or USB flash drive, but there are some limitations [1].
If you'd rather avoid cables, try Warpinator. You can transfer files to and from your Steam Deck using the Warpinator app [2]. Use SSH or SAMBA only if you are comfortable with setup.
Your next step is simple: grab a USB drive or SD card and copy one small folder across today.