To see free space, open Steam > Settings > Storage in Gaming Mode. To inspect the internal SSD’s reported health data, use the SMART Status view in Desktop Mode; that route is community-reported and may vary by SteamOS version. Storage capacity and SSD health are different checks.
Check available storage in Gaming Mode
- Press the Steam button.
- Choose Settings, then Storage.
- Review the internal drive and any connected storage shown there.
Valve documents this screen for managing system and connected storage in its Steam Deck Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide. If the labels differ on your device, SteamOS updates may have changed the menus; check that your system is up to date. The amount of usable space depends on the installed system software, updates, and your own files, so a model’s advertised capacity is not a promise of a particular free-space total.
Inspect the SSD’s SMART information
Graphical route in Desktop Mode
- Switch to Desktop Mode.
- Open KDE Menu > System > Info Center.
- Under Devices, select SMART Status, then Detailed Information.
This menu path was described in a Steam Community answer dated December 10, 2022, rather than in Valve’s troubleshooting guide, so it may not appear exactly this way in every SteamOS release. The view can show drive-reported data such as power-on hours and read/write errors.
What a SMART result can—and cannot—tell you
SMART data is telemetry reported by the drive, not a guarantee of how long it will keep working. NVMe includes health/log monitoring and device self-test mechanisms, but the available general NVMe documentation does not set a Steam Deck-specific replacement threshold. A normal status therefore cannot rule out a future failure, and an error count alone does not establish that replacement is necessary.
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If you see errors or notice unusual behavior, back up important saves and user data. If data is at risk or the Deck is malfunctioning, contact Steam Support or a qualified repair professional before trying invasive fixes.
Optional terminal inspection
A SteamOS issue report for version 3.6.20, build 20241030.1, shows the command sudo smartctl -a /dev/nvme0 and a SMART route through Settings > About This System > Show More Information > Devices > SMART Status. This is a user-submitted, version-specific example—not a universal Valve procedure.
Only use the command if you are comfortable in a terminal, and first verify the drive name on your own Deck; NVMe device names can vary. The command reads information. Do not run write, erase, or self-test commands just to check health or storage space.
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If you need more room
Valve’s current Steam Deck specifications list 512GB NVMe and 1TB NVMe configurations, along with support for SD, SDXC, and SDHC cards over UHS-I. The troubleshooting guide says UHS-I Class 3 or better cards are supported; UHS-II and UHS-III transfer speeds are not supported. A compatible UHS-I microSD card can add storage, but it does not diagnose or repair the internal SSD. See Valve’s Steam Deck Tech Specs and troubleshooting guide for compatibility details; specifications can change.
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| Method | What it answers | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Steam > Settings > Storage | How much space is available on the internal and connected storage | Valve-documented storage-management route |
| Desktop Mode Info Center > SMART Status | Drive-reported health details such as power-on hours and errors | Community-documented menu path; can vary by SteamOS version |
| Terminal smartctl command | Text-based SMART/NVMe information | Example comes from a report tied to SteamOS 3.6.20 build 20241030.1; verify the device name first |
The Storage screen is for capacity management; SMART inspection is for drive telemetry. Neither should be treated as a prediction of remaining SSD life.
Quick Recap
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