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You can play Xbox Cloud Gaming on a Steam Deck by installing the Microsoft Edge Flatpak in Desktop Mode, adding Edge to Steam as a non-Steam shortcut, and configuring that shortcut to open xbox.com/play. After setup, the shortcut appears in Gaming Mode and streams games through the browser; it does not install Xbox games on the Deck.
This is Microsoft’s documented browser workaround, not a native Xbox Cloud Gaming SteamOS application. Microsoft describes the Edge package as community-maintained and says Edge on SteamOS is not officially supported. Xbox also describes Steam Deck cloud play as a beta, browser-based experience.
What do I need before setting up Xbox Cloud Gaming?
The installation requires a Steam Deck, access to Desktop Mode, an internet connection suitable for cloud streaming, and an account that can use Xbox Cloud Gaming. The official procedure uses Microsoft Edge installed from the Discover Software Center, then launches the service through a Steam shortcut.
- Steam Deck: You must be able to switch from Gaming Mode to Desktop Mode.
- Microsoft Edge: Install the Edge Flatpak from Discover under the web-browser category.
- Steam access: The shortcut is created in Desktop Mode and launched later from Gaming Mode.
- Input: Microsoft recommends a mouse and keyboard for setup, but the Deck’s touchscreen, trackpads, and touch keyboard can perform the same basic work.
- Xbox access: Game catalog, plan eligibility, and regional availability depend on your account and can change. Xbox Cloud Gaming does not make every Xbox title available to every account.
A small USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse can make right-clicking, typing commands, and editing launch options easier. They are optional: press STEAM+X to open the touch keyboard, then use the touchscreen or trackpads when an external keyboard is unavailable.
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| Setup input | Best use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| External keyboard and mouse | Fastest way to type the terminal command, edit launch options, and navigate menus | Requires peripherals and, for USB devices, an appropriate adapter or dock |
| Touchscreen and trackpads | Complete the procedure with the hardware already on the Deck | Text entry and precise right-click actions take longer |
| STEAM+X touch keyboard | Enter names, URLs, and commands without a physical keyboard | On-screen typing occupies part of the display while open |
How do I switch to Desktop Mode and install Microsoft Edge?
Microsoft’s setup starts in Desktop Mode because Discover and the application menus used to create the shortcut are desktop tools.
- Press the Steam button.
- Choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop. Wait for the desktop to load.
- Open Discover Software Center.
- Browse to Applications > Internet > Web Browsers.
- Find Microsoft Edge and select Install.
The package shown in Discover is a community-maintained Microsoft Edge Flatpak. Microsoft says it does not actively maintain that package and does not officially support Microsoft Edge on SteamOS, so treat this as a browser-based setup path rather than an officially supported native application. The installation guidance is documented by Microsoft Support.
How do I add Edge to Steam as a non-Steam game?
Adding the browser to Steam creates the library entry that you will later launch from Gaming Mode.
- Open the Application Launcher on the desktop.
- Right-click Microsoft Edge.
- Select Add to Steam. If a confirmation or selection window appears, choose Edge in the Add a Game window.
- Leave Steam open after the shortcut is created so you can edit its properties in the next steps.
The shortcut is only a Steam launch entry; it does not copy the Xbox catalog or install individual games. Its purpose is to start Edge with the settings needed for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Why does Microsoft require a Flatpak override, and how do I apply it?
The documented setup gives Edge read-only access to /run/udev. Microsoft includes this permission so Steam Deck control information can be exposed to the browser shortcut.
- Open Konsole from the desktop application menu.
- Type or paste this command exactly, then press Enter:
flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge
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The --user flag applies the change to your user installation, --filesystem=/run/udev:ro grants read-only access rather than write access, and com.microsoft.Edge identifies the Edge Flatpak. Do not remove the :ro suffix or change the application identifier when following Microsoft’s procedure.
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Edit the shortcut’s name and launch options in Steam. The launch options tell Edge to use a window size, scaling values, and kiosk mode for the Xbox play page.
- In Steam, open Library and select the Microsoft Edge shortcut.
- Open its Properties.
- Rename the shortcut to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
- Find the launch-options field. Keep the existing text and append the following options after
@@u @@:
--window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"
There are two scale-factor options in Microsoft’s command. Keep both, including their decimal values, and keep the URL in quotation marks. Kiosk mode opens the play page as the focused browser experience instead of presenting a normal Edge window with tabs and address controls.
What should the finished launch line contain?
The original Flatpak launch text should remain at the beginning, followed by the new options. A useful check is that the line still contains @@u @@ before the first --window-size option and ends with the quoted https://www.xbox.com/play address.
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How do I set the controller layout for cloud play?
Steam’s controller configuration supplies the gamepad-style input for the browser shortcut. Microsoft specifies the Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad template.
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- With the shortcut selected in Steam Library, open Controller layout.
- Choose Browse templates.
- Select Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad.
- Apply the configuration.
The template is applied to this shortcut, so the same controls are available when the entry is launched from Gaming Mode. If you used the touch keyboard or a mouse during installation, you can disconnect those peripherals after the controller layout is applied.
How do I launch Xbox Cloud Gaming from Gaming Mode?
Return to the normal Steam Deck interface and start the shortcut from the non-Steam section of your library.
- On the desktop, open the application menu and choose the option to return to Gaming Mode.
- In Gaming Mode, open Library.
- Go to the Non-Steam section.
- Select Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
- Press Play. Edge should open directly to
https://www.xbox.com/play.
Sign in when the Xbox page requests your account details. The games you can launch are determined by the account, plan, region, and current catalog rather than by the Steam shortcut itself.
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What exactly is installed on the Steam Deck?
This procedure installs a browser and a Steam launch configuration. It does not download Xbox games, convert them into Steam titles, or create an offline copy. Each play session remains browser-based cloud streaming through the Xbox website.
That distinction affects storage and connectivity: the shortcut consumes space for the browser and its configuration, while the game content is delivered by the cloud service during play. Xbox’s overview describes Steam Deck access as beta and browser-based; see Xbox Wire’s Getting Started with Xbox Cloud Gaming for that service context.
What should I check if the shortcut does not work?
Work through the setup in order. Most failures come from a missing shortcut, an incomplete launch line, an unapplied controller template, or the browser package not being the Edge Flatpak that the command targets.
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The Edge entry is missing from Steam
- Return to Desktop Mode and open the Application Launcher.
- Right-click Microsoft Edge and select Add to Steam again.
- In the Add a Game window, confirm that Edge is selected before closing it.
- Reopen Steam Library and look under the non-Steam entries.
The shortcut opens Edge but not the Xbox page
- Open the shortcut’s Properties and check that the options were appended after
@@u @@. - Check the spelling and punctuation of
--kioskand the quoted URL. - Make sure the address is exactly
https://www.xbox.com/play, includinghttps://. - Save the properties, then launch the shortcut again from Gaming Mode.
Controls do not respond as expected
- Run the Flatpak override command again in Konsole exactly as shown.
- In the shortcut’s controller settings, browse templates and apply Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad.
- Launch the shortcut after applying the template rather than testing an older running browser window.
I cannot type comfortably during setup
Connect a keyboard and mouse if available. Otherwise press STEAM+X for the touch keyboard and use the touchscreen or trackpads to select text fields, menus, and the Konsole window.
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The shortcut does not determine catalog access. Xbox says availability can depend on the account, plan, region, and circumstances, so compare what is shown after signing in with the access attached to that account rather than reinstalling Edge.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this an officially supported Xbox app for Steam Deck?
No. Microsoft documents the Edge-and-Steam-shortcut procedure, but explicitly describes the Edge Flatpak as community-maintained and says Microsoft does not officially support Edge on SteamOS at this time. Xbox calls Steam Deck cloud play beta and browser-based.
That status explains why the setup uses Desktop Mode, a non-Steam shortcut, and a Flatpak permission override instead of a SteamOS-native Xbox application. It also means behavior can change if SteamOS, the Edge Flatpak, or the Xbox web experience changes. Keep the original command and launch options available if you need to recreate the shortcut later.
Can I add artwork to the library entry?
Yes. Microsoft documents optional custom artwork for the Steam library entry. Artwork changes the appearance of the shortcut in Library and Gaming Mode but has no effect on streaming, permissions, launch options, or controller input, so it can be skipped until the installation works.
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How should I think about account and game availability?
Installing the shortcut only provides a route to the Xbox Cloud Gaming website. It does not grant a subscription, alter account permissions, or guarantee access to a particular title. Xbox’s service overview cautions that catalog and eligibility can change, so check the games and access shown after signing in rather than relying on a fixed list.
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If your account is eligible, the same shortcut can be used each time you return to Gaming Mode. If a title is unavailable, changing the Steam shortcut will not change that account-level decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xbox Cloud Gaming available in every country?
Availability is not universal. Xbox states that catalog and access depend on circumstances such as region and account eligibility, so the games page shown after you sign in is the authoritative check for your location.
Can I complete the installation without a physical keyboard?
Yes. Microsoft says to use STEAM+X for the touch keyboard, with the touchscreen or trackpads for navigation. A physical keyboard and mouse are recommended for convenience, not required.
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No. Desktop Mode is needed for the installation and configuration. Once the non-Steam shortcut is ready, launch it from the Non-Steam section in Gaming Mode.
Will this setup let me play Xbox games offline?
No. The shortcut opens the browser-based cloud service, so gameplay is delivered through the Xbox website rather than stored as local game files on the Deck.
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