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• Steps For Enabling SSH On The Steam Deck

• How To Use SSH To Connect To The Steam Deck

The Steam Deck's versatility extends beyond gaming, offering a portable PC experience. Its desktop mode allows access to internal storage, making remote file access a valuable feature. Leveraging Secure Shell (SSH), a secure remote access protocol, is straightforward on the Steam Deck's Linux operating system. This guide details enabling and using SSH, along with helpful tips.

Steps For Enabling SSH On The Steam Deck

Enabling SSH on your Steam Deck is a simple process:

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Press the Steam button.
3. Navigate to Settings > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode.
4. Press the Steam button.
5. Select Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
6. Open Konsole from the Start menu.
7. Set a password (if you haven't already) using the command: passwd. Create a strong password.
8. Enable SSH with the command: sudo systemctl start sshd. To ensure SSH starts automatically after a reboot, use: sudo systemctl enable sshd.
9. With SSH enabled, you can now access your Steam Deck remotely using any third-party SSH client.

Important: Avoid modifying or deleting system files to prevent OS corruption.

How To Disable SSH On The Steam Deck

To disable SSH:

1. Open Konsole from the Start menu.
2. Use sudo systemctl disable sshd to prevent SSH from starting automatically on reboot. To immediately stop SSH, use sudo systemctl stop sshd.

How To Use SSH To Connect To The Steam Deck

Once SSH is enabled, use a third-party application like Warpinator for easy file transfer. Install Warpinator on both your Steam Deck and your PC, then launch it on both devices simultaneously for seamless file sharing.

Alternatively, if you're using a Linux PC, you can directly access files through your file manager. Simply enter sftp://deck@steamdeck in the address bar, then provide the password you set earlier.