How do I install RetroDECK on the Steam Deck?

Quickstart guide

Put the Steam Deck into Desktop Mode Steam button > Power > Switch to Desktop
Install RetroDECK from Discover
Start RetroDECK first time in Desktop Mode
Choose where RetroDECK should create the roms folders Internal or SDCard.
Put the BIOS inside ~/retrodeck/bios/.
Put the ROMS inside ~/retrodeck/roms/ or <sdcard>/retrodeck/roms/ or a custom location.
Choose to install Steam Controller Layouts for RetroDECK, it should be checked from the start.
In Steam desktop go to the tab Games press Add non-Steam game to My library and select RetroDECK to add it into your library. If that is not working, you can Right Click on the RetroDECK desktop icon and press Add to Steam in the menu.
Optional way: Get RetroDECK Steam Grid art and add it to your Steam library with BoilR. Or add the art manually from SteamgridDB for the Steam Grid.
Switch over to game mode and go to RetroDECK on the Steam Grid under Library > Non-Steam
Add any of the the Official Layouts under Controller Settings -> Controller Layouts -> Templates in the Steam Deck called RetroDECK: Steam Deck - Neptune SIMPLE or FULL with a version number. and apply
Launch RetroDECK and enjoy

Other quick tips

Read up on the Steam Deck - Controller to ease your navigation (controller layout required).
Read up on the EmulationStation DE: User Guide.
Check out our other software recommendations for the Steam Deck Steam Deck - Software Recommendations.
Check various optional optimizations that can make some emulators run even better Steam Deck - Optimizations.

Full step by step guide

Step 1: Go to Desktop Mode

Put the Steam Deck into Desktop Mode Steam button > Power > Switch to Desktop

Step 2: Install from Discover

Open the Discover application.
NOTE: Depending on what language you have set in Desktop mode your Discover application can be named differently.
Inside Discover search for RetroDECK and press the install button.
After the installation is finished, launch RetroDECK from Discover or in the program menu under Games > RetroDECK.
Follow the first-time setup instructions and choose where RetroDECK should create the roms folders Internal or SDCard.
You will get a choice during the Setup to Install The Official RetroDECK Steam Deck Controller Layout this is highly recommended.
Open Steam while still in desktop mode.
Inside Steam go to the tab Games press Add non Steam game to My library and select RetroDECK to add it into your library.
After this is done you can now see RetroDECK in Steam Deck's gamemode after you return to it from desktop mode.

Step 3: Configure the official controller layouts

This step is only needed if you installed the layouts. If you missed installed the layout you can always reinstall it from the RetroDECK Configurator in Desktop Mode or within Game Mode from within RetroDECK from the Main Menu - RetroDECK Configurator
Then Tools - Install: RetroDECK Controller Layouts.

Go back into gamemode by pressing the return to gamemode icon on the desktop.
Go to RetroDECK on the Steam Grid under Library > Non-Steam
Press the Controller Icon
Go into Controller Layouts and press Templates
Add one of the layouts for RetroDECK called RetroDECK: Steam Deck - Neptune SIMPLE or FULL with a version number.
You can now use RetroDECK and it's ready to populate with ROMS.
If you are unsure on how to add ROMS and BIOS to RetroDECK follow the Start using RetroDECK

Step 4 (Optional): Extras

Get RetroDECK Steam Grid art with BoilR or add it manually from SteamgridDB for the Steam Grid.
Read up on the Steam Deck - Controller to ease your navigation.
Read up on the ES DE: User Guide
Check out our other software recommendations for the Steam Deck Steam Deck - Software Recommendations.
Check various optional optimizations that can make some emulators run even better Steam Deck - Optimizations.

How do I update RetroDECK on the Steam Deck?

From Desktop Mode

Put the Steam Deck into Desktop Mode Steam button > Power > Switch to Desktop
Open the Discover application.
Click on the updates tab.
If there are any updates available it will be shown here.
Click on the Update or Update all buttons.

Decky: AutoFlatpaks

If you have Decky installed and the AutoFlatpaks plugin. You can update RetroDECK from gamemode.
Read more here: Steam Deck - Software Recommendations.

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