Copy2Deck documentation

Getting started

Copy2Deck connects directly from your Windows PC to your Steam Deck over your local network. Both devices should be connected to the same home network.

What you need

• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.
• A Steam Deck connected to the same network.
• Desktop Mode access on the Steam Deck.
• A password set for the Deck’s deck user.

Enable SSH on Steam Deck

On your Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode, open Konsole, and run these commands one at a time:

passwd
sudo systemctl enable --now sshd
hostname -I

The first command creates or changes your Deck password. The second enables the SSH service now and after restart. The last command shows the Deck’s network address, such as 192.168.1.42.

Connect to your Deck

1. Open Copy2Deck on your Windows PC.
2. Enter the address shown by hostname -I.
3. Keep the port at 22 unless you deliberately changed the Deck’s SSH setup.
4. Enter username deck and the password you created.
5. Optionally select Save connection details.
6. Select Connect.

Once connected, you can move files, browse your Deck, find game folders, and run backups without connecting again in each area.

Save connection details

When this option is selected, Copy2Deck saves the host, port, username, and password after a successful connection. The password is protected by Windows and can only be decrypted by the same Windows user account. The saved details are filled in automatically the next time the app opens.

Clear Save connection details at any time to immediately remove the saved connection file. If you share your Windows account with someone else, leave this option off.

Confirm your Deck

The first time Copy2Deck sees a Deck, it asks you to verify and trust its identity. This helps protect you from connecting to the wrong device. If that identity changes later, confirm that the Deck was reinstalled or intentionally reset before accepting it.

Copy to Deck

Use this tab when you want to send one file or a complete folder from Windows to a destination on the Steam Deck.

1. Choose a local file or folder.
2. Enter or browse to the remote destination.
3. Select how existing files should be handled.
4. Choose the verification level you want.
5. Start the transfer and follow its progress, speed, elapsed time, and remaining estimate.

Existing-file choices

Copy2Deck can overwrite all matching files, skip existing files, or compare size and modification time to avoid unnecessary uploads. Choose overwrite when you need an exact replacement; use comparison for faster repeat transfers.

Verification

Size verification checks that the remote file length matches the source. Stronger verification reads the uploaded data to confirm its contents. Strong verification takes longer but is useful for important files or unreliable networks.

Before uploading, Copy2Deck checks available destination space when the server supports that query. Folder transfers create the selected folder inside the chosen destination and preserve its internal structure.

Deck Manager

Deck Manager is a remote file browser for the connected Steam Deck. It provides common file operations without requiring Dolphin or terminal commands on the Deck.

Navigation and quick locations

Enter a path directly, go up one directory, refresh the current view, or use quick locations discovered from the Deck. Available shortcuts can include Home, Downloads, Desktop, Documents, Steam, Steam Games, Compatdata, Shader Cache, Workshop, and mounted storage.

File operations

• Create a remote folder.
• Upload a Windows file or an entire folder.
• Download the selected remote file or folder.
• Rename an item or move it to another remote path.
• Delete files or folders after confirmation.
• Sort the listing by name, type, size, or modification date.

Storage analysis

Calculate size measures one selected item. Analyze folder sizes calculates the contents of the current directory, and Storage overview summarizes important Deck locations. Copy2Deck first asks the Deck’s native du tool for a fast total, then falls back to walking files over SFTP if necessary.

Steam Games

Select Scan games to discover installed titles from Steam library manifests. Copy2Deck searches the internal library and other Steam library folders it can access.

Select a game to jump directly to:

• Install folder — the game’s installed files.
• Compatdata — its Proton prefix and Windows-style user data.
• Shader cache — precompiled graphics data for the game.
• Workshop — downloaded Steam Workshop content.

The storage action calculates totals for these related locations so you can understand the game’s full footprint, not only its install size. A related location may legitimately be absent if the game has never created it.

Versioned backups

Backup profiles download a chosen Deck folder into dated version folders on your Windows PC. They are ideal for saves, mods, configuration folders, and other files you want to preserve before experimenting.

Create a profile

1. Select New profile and give it a clear name.
2. Choose the remote source folder on the Deck.
3. Choose the local Windows destination.
4. Optionally define include and exclude wildcard patterns.
5. Choose how many versions to retain.

Patterns can be separated by commas or semicolons. Use includes to limit the backup and excludes to omit caches or other unnecessary content.

Preview, back up, and restore

Preview scans the source and reports file count and total size without copying. Back Up Now creates a timestamped version, downloads matching files, and removes versions older than the profile’s retention setting. Restore uploads a selected version back to the configured remote source after confirmation.

Security & privacy

• Your connection to the Deck is encrypted.
• Your password stays in memory unless you choose Save connection details.
• Saved passwords are encrypted for the current Windows account and are not stored as readable text.
• Files move directly between your PC and Steam Deck; Copy2Deck does not upload them to a cloud service.
• Copy2Deck remembers trusted Deck identities so it can warn you about unexpected changes.
• Connection settings and backup profiles are stored locally on the Windows PC.

Only use Copy2Deck on networks you trust, keep Windows and SteamOS updated, and disable remote access on the Deck if you no longer need it.

Troubleshooting

Connection refused or timed out

Confirm both devices are on the same network, re-run sudo systemctl enable --now sshd, and check the Deck’s current address with hostname -I. Home routers can assign a different address after a restart.

Authentication failed

Confirm the username is deck and reset the password with passwd in Konsole if needed. Remember that Konsole does not display password characters while you type.

Permission denied

The deck account cannot modify every system location. Choose a destination inside the Deck user’s home folder, Steam library, or another location owned by that account.

A game or location is missing

Refresh the game list after connecting. Confirm the game is installed, and remember that compatdata, shader cache, and Workshop directories are created only when needed.

A transfer stopped

Reconnect, verify free space, and retry. Using comparison or skip behavior can avoid uploading files that already completed. Check the app log for the specific file and error.