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Here’s a step-by-step guide to share files from your Steam Deck to your Windows laptop over Wi-Fi using SMB (Samba):
Step 1: Enable Desktop Mode on Steam Deck
1. Hold the power button on your Steam Deck.
2. Select Switch to Desktop to enter KDE Plasma desktop mode.
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Step 2: Install and Configure Samba (SMB Server)
Install Samba
1. Open Discover Store or Konsole terminal.
2. In Konsole, run:
sudo pacman -S samba
3. If prompted for a password, use your sudo password (default is usually deck unless changed).
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Configure Samba
1. Edit Samba config file:
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
2. Add this section at the bottom to share a folder (replace /home/deck/Shared with your folder path):
[SteamDeckShare] path = /home/deck/Sharedbrowseable = yes
read only = no
guest ok = yes
create mask = 0777
directory mask = 0777
3. Save & exit nano:
Press CTRL + X, then Y, then Enter.
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Create the Shared Folder
mkdir /home/deck/Shared
chmod 777 /home/deck/Shared
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Set Samba User (Optional for Security)
If you want to set a username/password (recommended for privacy):
sudo smbpasswd -a deck
Enter a password you’ll remember.
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Start Samba Services
sudo systemctl enable smb nmb
sudo systemctl start smb nmb
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Step 3: Find Your Steam Deck IP Address
Run in terminal:
ip addr
Look for your Wi-Fi interface (usually wlan0) and note the inet IP address (example: 192.168.1.45).
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Step 4: Access the Steam Deck SMB Share from Windows
1. On your Windows laptop, press Win + R.
2. Type:
\192.168.X.XSteamDeckShare
Replace 192.168.X.X with your Steam Deck’s IP.
3. If prompted for credentials:
Username: deck
Password: the one you set with smbpasswd (or leave blank if you enabled guest access).
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Optional: Make the Share Persistent
In Windows:
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click This PC > Map Network Drive.
3. Choose a letter (e.g., Z:) and enter:
\192.168.X.XSteamDeckShare
4. Check Reconnect at sign-in.
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Summary Checklist:
Task Command / Action
Install Samba sudo pacman -S samba
Create folder mkdir ~/Shared
Edit config sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
Start services sudo systemctl enable –now smb nmb
Access from Windows \[Steam Deck IP]SteamDeckShare
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Troubleshooting Tips
Firewall: Steam Deck’s firewall may block SMB. Disable it temporarily for testing:
sudo systemctl stop firewalld
Windows Network Discovery: Make sure Windows has Network Discovery turned on in settings.
If you disabled read-only mode with:
sudo steamos-readonly disable
but you’re still getting:
error writing /etc/samba/smb.conf
Here’s why:
🛑 Steam Deck Uses usr/lib Overrides
Steam Deck’s SteamOS 3.x uses an /etc overlay system, where:
Many config files in /etc/ are symlinked to immutable versions in /usr/lib/.
Even after disabling read-only, some files are still locked because they’re part of the immutable system image or controlled by overlayfs.
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🔧 How to Properly Edit smb.conf on Steam Deck
1. Copy the Default Config to /etc/
Instead of editing the system copy, do this:
sudo mkdir -p /etc/samba
sudo cp /usr/share/samba/smb.conf.default /etc/samba/smb.conf
Then edit your copy:
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
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2. Modify the Copy
Add your shares at the bottom of /etc/samba/smb.conf, example:
[SteamDeckShare]
path = /home/deck/Shared
browseable = yes
read only = no
guest ok = yes
create mask = 0777
directory mask = 0777
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3. Start Samba with Your Config
Make sure Samba uses your /etc/samba/smb.conf:
sudo systemctl enable –now smb nmb
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✅ Why This Works
Steam Deck keeps core system configs locked in /usr/lib/
You are supposed to override configs in /etc/, not edit the system copies directly
Samba will look for /etc/samba/smb.conf first if it exists
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Summary Checklist
Task Command
Disable read-only sudo steamos-readonly disable
Create config dir sudo mkdir -p /etc/samba
Copy default config sudo cp /usr/share/samba/smb.conf.default /etc/samba/smb.conf
Edit the config sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
Start Samba sudo systemctl enable –now smb nmb