Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Steam Deck does not download ROMs for you. EmuDeck installs and configures emulators and creates the folders where your own game files and BIOS files go. Once those files are in the right place, Steam ROM Manager can add them to your Steam library so they launch like any other game.
What EmuDeck does and does not provide
EmuDeck is a setup and configuration tool. Its official overview states: “You need to provide your own ROMS and BIOS, EmuDeck won’t provide those.” In practice, that means EmuDeck handles the emulators, the folder structure, and the front-end integration, while the game files and any required BIOS or firmware come from you.
EmuDeck’s FAQ says ROMs “must be obtained from your console,” and gives the same instruction for BIOS and firmware. It also describes other methods of obtaining files as piracy. Treat that as EmuDeck’s own guidance. It is not a ruling on what is lawful where you live, and this guide does not point to any unauthorized ROM sources.
Before you start
- A Steam Deck running SteamOS, with enough free space on internal storage or on an SD card for your library.
- EmuDeck installed from its official site. The installer lets you choose Easy or Custom mode and asks where ROMs and BIOS files will be stored.
- The game files and BIOS files you are entitled to use, in the formats each system requires.
- Optional: a USB flash drive, if you prefer to copy files from a computer using EmuDeck’s import feature.
Step-by-step: install EmuDeck and prepare the folders
- Press the Steam button, open the Power menu, and choose Switch to Desktop to enter Desktop Mode.
- Download the EmuDeck installer from its official site and run it.
- Choose Easy or Custom mode. Custom mode gives you more control over which emulators are installed and where storage lives.
- When prompted, select where ROMs and BIOS files will be stored: internal storage or an SD card.
- Confirm the folder locations EmuDeck creates (see the table below). These are the paths you will copy files into.
Where the files go: internal storage or SD card
The two storage choices use different base paths. Both follow the same Emulation folder layout, with a roms folder for game files and a bios folder for BIOS and firmware.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch 1 (NOT Nintendo-Switch 2), smartphones, and tablets
- Boost your gaming experience with up to 160MB/s read for fast load times
- A2-rated app performance lets you quickly access and enjoy games and apps without lag for an enhanced gaming experience and a competitive edge
- Store more of your favorite games and other content with capacities up to 2TB
- Built to endure with temperature resistance, waterproofing, x-ray protection, and more
| Setup choice | ROM folder | BIOS folder | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal storage | /home/deck/Emulation/roms |
/home/deck/Emulation/bios |
No extra hardware needed. Shares space with SteamOS and your installed games. |
| SD card | /run/media/SDCARDNAME/Emulation/roms |
/run/media/SDCARDNAME/Emulation/bios |
Replace SDCARDNAME with your card’s actual mount name. The card must use a compatible ext4 or btrfs filesystem; EmuDeck’s guide describes formatting through SteamOS Game Mode when needed. |
The SD card route is useful if you want a library you can move between devices or keep off the internal drive. The official guide establishes SD card support, but it does not recommend specific card models, capacities, or speeds, so check compatibility on your own before buying.
Use the system-specific subfolders
Inside roms, each system has its own subfolder, and each one accepts specific file types. These requirements differ by system, and some emulators also need BIOS or firmware files in the bios folder. Use EmuDeck’s current cheat sheet for the exact folder names and formats, and follow the emulator-specific instructions for any system you add.
Rank #2
- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch 1 (NOT compatible with Nintendo-Switch 2), smartphones, and tablets
- Boost your gaming experience with up to 160MB/s read for fast load times
- A2-rated app performance lets you quickly access and enjoy games and apps without lag for an enhanced gaming experience and a competitive edge
- Store more of your favorite games and other content with capacities up to 2TB
- Built to endure with temperature resistance, waterproofing, x-ray protection, and more
Copy files from a computer with the USB import feature
If your files are on a computer, EmuDeck’s USB import feature on SteamOS and Linux can help. It creates ROM and BIOS folders on a USB flash drive. Copy your files into the matching folders on a computer, plug the drive into the Steam Deck, and run the import from EmuDeck. This is only a transfer method. It does not supply any game files.
Recommended Free Tools
Add your games to Steam
- Open Steam ROM Manager through EmuDeck.
- Enable only the parsers for the systems or emulators you want to add. Leaving unused parsers on adds clutter and slows the preview.
- Run the preview, check that each title is matched correctly, then parse.
- Select the apps you want and save them to Steam.
If you prefer a different interface, EmulationStation-DE is another front-end option that EmuDeck supports.
Rank #3
- Note: NOT compatible with Switch2 Please note that this product is not a microSD Express card and is not compatible with Switch2 for game storage or save data. If used in the Switch2, it may only support limited functions such as storing screenshots or videos, but will not allow game installation or save file access.
- Designed for dependable storage on portable gaming consoles
- Steam Deck users: For optimal gaming performance, including the ability to store and load video games, we suggest using a Gen4x4 2230 SSD.
- 5-year limited manufacturer warranty
- SmartPhones: S20, S20+, S20 ultra 5G, S10 lite, S10, S10+ A22, A22 5G, A52 5G, A32 5G, A52, A72, A32, A02s, A12, A21, A71 5G, A51 5G, A20s, Note 10+, J4 Core, J8, J7 Star, J7, Note 10 Plus. SAMSUNG TABLETS: Tab S7 FE 5G, Tab S7 FE, Tab A7 Lite, Tab A7 10.4 (2020), Tab Active 3, Tab S7, Tab S7+, Tab S6 Lite, Tab S6, Tab A 8.0 (2017), Book S and 10th Generation Fire Tablets.
When a game does not appear or launch
- Wrong folder: confirm the file sits in the subfolder for its system, on the storage location you chose during setup.
- Unsupported format: check the file type against EmuDeck’s current cheat sheet. A file that works on one system may not on another.
- Missing BIOS or firmware: some emulators will not start without the required file in the
biosfolder, even when the game file is correct. - SD card not recognized: confirm the card uses ext4 or btrfs, and check the mount name in the path, since it must match the SDCARDNAME your card actually uses.
- Steam ROM Manager shows nothing: rerun the preview after confirming the parser for that system is enabled.
Legal boundaries
Owning a game does not, by itself, make every copy or every download lawful. The rules depend on where you live, and the answer can change with the method used to obtain a file.
For U.S. readers, 17 U.S.C. § 1201 generally prohibits circumventing technological measures that control access to copyrighted works, subject to statutory exceptions and to exemptions adopted through the U.S. Copyright Office’s rulemaking process. The Copyright Office’s current video-game exemptions are narrow and conditional. They cover certain uses involving games that were lawfully acquired, such as local gameplay after online server support ends, and separate conditions apply to certain institutional preservation activities. These exemptions do not authorize downloading ROMs in general, copying a game simply because you own a copy, or bypassing console protections.
Rank #4
- EXPAND YOUR STORAGE. Insert your card to add massive storage up to 1.5TB[1] to your Android smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, and laptops.
- SPACE FOR MORE. With expansive capacities up to 1.5TB[1], capture and store hours of Full HD video[4], movies, music, games, photos, and podcasts.
- MOVE FILES FAST. Use your card with the SANDISK QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader[6] to achieve up to 195MB/s[2] read speeds [128GB-1.5TB models] and offload your content fast.
- LOAD APPS IN A SNAP. Rated A1[3], the SANDISK Ultra microSD card is optimized for faster app launch and overall app performance.
- EASY CONTENT MANAGEMENT. Easily back up, organize, and transfer your photos and videos with the SANDISK Memory Zone desktop or Android mobile app[5].
Outside the United States, the rules may be different. Check the copyright and anti-circumvention law in your own country before acquiring or modifying any game files.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- CAPTURE LARGER THAN LIFE. Unlock startling 5K[3] point-of-view and pristine high-res stills with video speed class ratings of U3 and V30[4].
- SPEED BARRIERS SHATTERED. Save precious moments with rapid read speeds up to 245MB/s[2] and write speeds up to 170MB/s[2] [256GB-1TB capacities[1]].
- MAXIMIZE WITH MASSIVE CAPACITY. Record longer and store more with up to 2TB[1] of storage.
- DURABILITY YOU CAN COUNT ON. SANDISK microSD cards are temperature proof, humidity proof, waterproof, shock proof, drop proof, magnet proof, X-ray proof and wear-out proof[7].
- EASY CONTENT MANAGEMENT. Easily back up, organize, and transfer your photos and videos with the SANDISK Memory Zone desktop or Android mobile app[10].
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
