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The safest way to reclaim Steam Deck storage without touching your progress is to move installed games—not save data—to a properly formatted microSD card. In Game Mode, open Steam > Settings > Storage, format a compatible card from Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card, add the card as a library, and use Steam’s Move command for the largest games. Verify a moved game and its saves before uninstalling anything. Treat Steam Cloud, shader-cache deletion, and Proton compatibility-data cleanup separately: Cloud is optional per game, while manual cache changes can affect launches, mods, performance, and saves.
What you can delete safely—and what you should not
A Steam Deck contains several different kinds of data. The large files for a game, temporary rendering caches, Proton’s Windows-compatibility environment, and your personal saves may all appear to compete for the same internal capacity, but they do not have the same risk profile.
- Game installation files: the safest target. Steam can move them to another library, such as a microSD card, without intentionally removing your saves.
- Save files: personal progress, settings, and profiles. Their location varies by game, and Steam Cloud is not universal.
- Shader cache: generated graphics data that can be rebuilt, although rebuilding may take time and can temporarily affect stutter or loading.
- Compatdata: Proton prefixes containing game-specific Windows files, settings, mods, and sometimes saves. Deleting the wrong folder can remove more than a disposable cache.
- “Other” data: a broad category in Steam’s storage view. It can include shader caches, compatdata, downloads, non-Steam files, and other content that requires inspection rather than blind deletion.
Valve says Steam Deck uses built-in storage by default and that storage can be managed from Steam > Settings > Storage. That menu should be your starting point because it identifies installed games and exposes Steam’s supported move and uninstall operations.
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Best order of operations
Use this sequence whenever possible. It prioritizes a supported, reversible action and delays filesystem changes until you know exactly what is consuming space.
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- Open Steam > Settings > Storage in Game Mode and sort installed titles by size.
- Prepare a compatible microSD card. Steam Deck supports UHS-I (class 3 or better) cards. Copy anything important from the card elsewhere first because formatting erases its contents.
- Format the card with Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card.
- Add or select the microSD library in the Storage screen, then select a large installed game and choose Steam’s Move command.
- Launch the moved game once. Confirm that your profile, settings, and a recent save are present before changing anything else.
- For games you no longer play, use Steam’s uninstall control only after checking their save protection and making a manual copy when appropriate.
- If internal storage is still tight, switch to Desktop Mode and investigate what Steam labels Other. Do not remove compatdata or shader-cache folders until you understand the consequences for each game.
Why moving games preserves progress
Steam’s move operation relocates the installed game content between libraries. Your progress is separate data, normally stored in a game-specific location and, when supported, synchronized through Steam Cloud. Moving the installation therefore addresses the largest files first without asking Steam to erase the user data associated with the title.
This is not an absolute guarantee for every game. Some titles store settings, mods, or saves inside a Proton prefix or another folder that you might later remove manually. The safe boundary is the Steam move command: use it for installed game files, then test the title before touching compatibility data.
Steam Cloud is useful, but it is not a complete backup
Valve describes Steam Cloud as a service that can store game settings, save games, profile statistics, and other user-specific data. The developer decides which files a particular game uploads, however, and Valve explicitly notes that many games do not use Steam Cloud. Steam Support also warns that it cannot recover every lost save or resolve every cloud conflict.
Check a game before uninstalling it
- Look for the Steam Cloud logo on the game’s Store page.
- Run the game while the Deck is online and allow it to finish saving.
- Exit the game normally and wait for Steam to finish synchronization before uninstalling or deleting local folders.
- If the title has no Cloud support, or the save is irreplaceable, make a manual copy first.
A Cloud icon is evidence that a game supports the feature, not proof that every save file or mod configuration is included. A manual backup is the only dependable protection for games that omit Cloud or for data stored outside the synchronized paths.
Move large games to a microSD card
1. Select a suitable card
Use a UHS-I card rated class 3 or better, which is the compatibility level Valve specifies for Steam Deck. Capacity and speed beyond that minimum can affect convenience, but the essential requirement for this procedure is a compatible UHS-I card that the Deck can format as a game library.
2. Back up the card before formatting
Formatting from Steam removes existing data on the card. If it contains photographs, ROM files, documents, or another library, copy those files to a computer or another drive first. Do not assume that formatting will preserve a previous partition or folder layout.
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3. Format through Steam
- Enter Game Mode and press the Steam button.
- Open Settings, then System.
- Select Format SD card and confirm the warning.
- Wait for Steam Deck to complete the format and mount the card.
If the format option is unavailable or fails, reseat the card, restart the Deck, and confirm that the card is not write-protected or failing. Do not keep retrying with data you have not backed up.
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Return to Steam > Settings > Storage. Select the microSD storage location and use the available option to add or designate it as a Steam library. Steam should then show internal and removable storage as separate destinations.
5. Move titles one at a time
In the Storage view, sort by size and start with a title that consumes substantial capacity but is easy for you to test. Select it, choose Move, pick the microSD library, and let Steam complete the transfer. Keep the Deck powered and avoid removing the card during the operation.
6. Test before proceeding
Launch the moved title from the normal library view. Check that the expected profile, settings, downloadable content, and a recent save load correctly. A successful launch confirms the installation is readable; it does not by itself prove that every optional mod or external save was moved, so check those separately when relevant.
Uninstall games without losing their saves
Uninstalling through Steam removes the game installation, but the safety of the remaining save depends on how that title stores data. Before uninstalling, identify whether the title uses Steam Cloud and whether you have any local-only saves or mods.
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- Open the game’s Store page and check for the Steam Cloud logo.
- Start the game, create or load a recent save, and exit normally.
- Wait until Steam reports synchronization is complete.
- For a non-Cloud title, locate the game’s documented save folder in Desktop Mode and copy it to another computer, external drive, or a clearly named backup folder on the Deck.
- Use Steam’s uninstall control, not a random deletion in the file manager.
- After reinstalling later, restore the backup only to the location documented for that specific game.
Save locations differ between native Linux builds, Windows games running through Proton, and games that use their own launchers. Do not copy a folder from one title into another or assume that a similarly named directory contains the save you need.
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Understanding “Other” storage
When games are moved or removed and the internal-space number remains unexpectedly high, Steam’s Other category is the next place to investigate. “Other” is not a single folder and has no universal cleanup button. It can include shader caches, Proton compatdata, downloads, screenshots, non-Steam games, Flatpak application data, and personal files created in Desktop Mode.
Inspect before deleting
- Switch to Desktop Mode and open a file manager.
- Check large folders by size rather than deleting based on a name alone.
- Relate each folder to a game or application you still use.
- Keep a copy of anything that may contain saves, mods, or configuration.
- Return to Steam’s Storage screen afterward and allow its accounting to refresh.
Do not treat every item in “Other” as disposable cache. A Proton prefix can be large because it contains installed redistributables, mods, launcher data, and game-specific files. The same directory name can therefore represent either recoverable generated data or the only local copy of something you care about.
Shader cache: what it does and what cleanup changes
Steam and Proton build shader data to reduce graphics compilation during play. Removing shader cache generally allows it to be regenerated, but the first launch afterward may rebuild data, take longer, or show extra stutter while shaders are compiled again. There is no authoritative published figure for how much space a typical Deck recovers from shader-cache deletion; community reports are individual results, not a reliable average.
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- The game is already installed on storage you will keep available.
- You have verified its saves and understand that the next launch may rebuild shaders.
- You need temporary space and accept slower first-run behavior.
- You can restore the folder or reinstall the affected content if a particular title behaves badly.
Valve does not provide a supported, game-by-game promise about deleting these folders. Use Steam’s own storage tools first, and clear only identified shader data rather than deleting broad directories indiscriminately.
Compatdata: the high-risk “Other” folder
Proton compatibility data is stored under /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata. Each game typically has its own prefix. That prefix may contain Windows registry data, launcher files, settings, mods, and saves, depending on the title. Removing it can fix a broken prefix or recover space, but it can also reset a game or erase local-only data.
Before removing a compatdata folder
- Identify the exact game associated with the folder; do not guess from a random numeric directory.
- Confirm whether the game’s saves are in Steam Cloud and that synchronization completed.
- Back up any local save, mod, or configuration files found inside the prefix.
- Check whether the title’s launcher or mod setup will need to be recreated.
- Keep the original folder until the game has been reinstalled or launched successfully without it.
Deleting compatdata is not equivalent to deleting a shader cache. A shader cache is normally regenerated; a Proton prefix can contain unique user data. Treat every prefix as potentially valuable until the game’s documentation proves otherwise.
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Moving shader cache and compatdata to the microSD card
A community procedure moves /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata and /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/shadercache to a microSD card and places links at the original paths. This can free internal capacity while leaving Steam’s expected paths in place, but it is an advanced filesystem change, not a Valve-supported storage workflow.
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- Games that depend on those folders may fail to launch when the card is absent.
- Removing or reseating the card can make prefixes and shader data temporarily unavailable.
- MicroSD performance, card health, and filesystem errors can cause stutter or longer load times.
- A mistaken move or link can strand saves, mods, or launcher data.
- Future Steam updates or library changes may require you to repair the links.
A safer decision rule
Only consider this arrangement for games whose installed files and related data are already on that same card, whose saves are backed up, and whose launch behavior you can test. Keep a written record of what was moved and where. If a title stops launching, restore the original folders before attempting more cleanup.
The open-source Steam-Deck.Shader-Cache-Killer project provides scripts that can purge or move selected shader-cache and compatdata folders. It is third-party tooling, not Valve support. Review what each script targets, back up saves and prefixes, and do not run a bulk cleanup when you cannot map a folder to a specific game.
Game-specific example: Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian’s support guidance illustrates why compatdata cleanup must be game-specific. For Baldur’s Gate 3, the required order is to copy the save folder from the Proton prefix to the game’s native save location, allow Steam Cloud to synchronize when enabled, and only then delete the old compatdata folder if the previous Proton environment is no longer needed.
The important lesson is the order, not a universal path. Save locations and migration steps differ by title. Do not apply the Baldur’s Gate 3 folders or instructions to another game without that game’s documentation.
Choose the method by risk and expected benefit
| Method | Safety | Space recovered | Reversibility | Needs the microSD card to launch? | Save or mod risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move installed games with Steam Storage | Supported, lowest risk | Often the largest immediate gain because full game installations move | High; Steam can move the title back | Yes for titles moved there | Low for saves; check mods and external files |
| Uninstall an unused game through Steam | Supported, provided saves are protected | Removes that title’s installation | High for the installation; saves depend on backup or Cloud | No, unless reinstalled there | Medium if the game has local-only saves or mods |
| Delete selected shader cache | Lower risk than compatdata, but not a primary Steam workflow | Varies; no authoritative typical amount is published | Usually high because Steam can regenerate it | Not inherently | Usually no direct save loss; expect rebuild time or temporary stutter |
| Delete compatdata for a verified game | Advanced and game-dependent | Varies by prefix size | Partial; reinstalling or recreating the prefix may be required | Not inherently | High: can remove saves, mods, settings, and launcher data |
| Move shadercache/compatdata and link them to an SD card | Manual and unsupported by Valve | Potentially substantial, but not predictable | Reversible only if the original folders and links are preserved | Often, because the card contains the linked data | High if links, card availability, or save backups are mishandled |
Troubleshooting common outcomes
The SD card does not appear in Storage
Confirm that the card is seated, restart the Deck, and check whether Steam can format it from Settings > System > Format SD card. If the card contains important data, stop before formatting and make a backup. A card that repeatedly disappears may be defective or incompatible; do not trust it with the only copy of a save.
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A moved game will not launch
Make sure the card is inserted and mounted, then verify the game’s files through Steam. If you recently moved compatdata or shadercache manually, restore those folders and test again. A game that launches only when the card is present is behaving consistently with data stored on that card; do not remove it while the game is running.
The game launches, but progress is missing
Exit without overwriting anything, check whether Steam Cloud reports a conflict or an incomplete synchronization, and compare the available local backup with the game’s documented save location. Do not delete the old installation, prefix, or backup until you have identified the correct save. For non-Cloud titles, restore the manual copy only after confirming the required path for that game.
Space did not increase after deleting files
Close Steam, restart the Deck, and allow the Storage page to recalculate. Check whether the files were in a different user account, a mounted library, a download queue, or a folder counted under “Other.” Avoid deleting additional directories simply because the number has not refreshed.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA game stutters after shader cleanup
Give the game time to rebuild its shaders, especially after entering several areas or changing graphics settings. If the behavior persists, restore the prior cache when possible or use Steam’s file verification and normal launch process. Do not interpret a temporary first-run hitch as proof that the game’s saves were damaged.
Back up before any irreversible change
A reliable backup is separate from the game installation and separate from the card you are about to format. For important games, keep at least one copy on a computer or external drive. Name the backup with the game, date, and whether it came from a native save folder or a Proton prefix. This makes restoration possible even if the Deck, card, or Cloud synchronization later fails.
- Back up before formatting an SD card.
- Back up before deleting compatdata.
- Back up before removing a modded installation or launcher prefix.
- Keep the backup until the game has launched and loaded the expected save after cleanup.
What not to do
- Do not format a card that contains the only copy of a save or personal files.
- Do not assume every Steam game uses Cloud saves.
- Do not delete the entire compatdata directory to solve a single game’s problem.
- Do not treat the numeric names inside compatdata as self-explanatory.
- Do not remove the microSD card while Steam is moving files or a game is running.
- Do not present anecdotal reports of recovering 10 GB, 30 GB, or any other amount as a typical result; no authoritative average is established.
Recommended maintenance routine
Every few months, open Steam’s Storage screen, sort by size, and move games you are not currently playing to the SD library. Keep Cloud synchronization enabled where the game supports it, but maintain manual backups for non-Cloud titles. Review “Other” only when the supported game move and uninstall controls are no longer enough. This routine avoids the most dangerous shortcut: deleting opaque folders first and discovering later that they contained the only local copy of a save or mod setup.
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