Animation Changer breaks in clear patterns: Decky disappears, a downloaded movie never plays, custom files stay missing, or wake animations get stuck after sleep. Start with SteamOS and Decky, then fix the Animation Changer setting that controls the actual boot or suspend movie. These fixes apply to Steam Deck LCD and OLED models on Valve-provided SteamOS.
Refresh SteamOS and Animation Changer first
Begin here when Decky opens and Animation Changer appears in the plugin menu.
- 1.Press the Steam button, open Settings, choose System, then open Software Updates.
- 2.Install available SteamOS and Steam Client updates.
- 3.Restart from Software Updates, or press Steam, choose Power, then select Restart.
- 4.Press the Quick Access Menu button, open the Decky tab, select the settings/management icon, then reload or update Animation Changer.
- 5.When it still fails, uninstall Animation Changer from plugin management, open the Plugin Store, search for Animation Changer, and select Install.
Point SteamOS to the override movie
This fixes installed animations that never replace the default startup movie.
Press the Steam button, open Settings, choose Customization, then open Startup Movie.
Select deck_startup.webm or deck_startup.web, using the exact override label shown on your Steam Deck.
Open the Quick Access Menu, go to the Decky tab, open Animation Changer, and choose the startup animation you want.
Repair Decky from Desktop Mode
Use this when the Decky tab is gone, Animation Changer will not open, or reinstalling only the plugin did not fix it. Decky Loader is for Steam Deck on Valve-provided SteamOS; Decky says it is not intended for Windows, macOS, HoloISO, or other third-party SteamOS distributions.
Press the Steam button, choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop.
Open a browser, go to decky.xyz, and select Download.
If the browser does not run the installer, open the downloaded file from Dolphin.
If Firefox names the file decky_installer.desktop.download, rename it to decky_installer.desktop.
Drag decky_installer.desktop to the desktop and double-click it.
Enter the admin password. If none is set, allow the installer to temporarily set it to Decky!.
Choose Latest Release, finish the installer, then return to Gaming Mode.
If stable Decky still disappears or breaks after a SteamOS update, run decky_installer.desktop again and choose Latest Pre-Release only after Latest Release fails. Decky describes prerelease builds as less stable and intended for plugin developers.
Reload custom animation folders
Switch to Desktop Mode.
Place each animation folder under $DECKY_HOME/homebrew/data/Animation Changer/animations.
Put compatible files inside each folder. The boot file is deck_startup.webm. The default suspend names depend on your plugin version: the current store build (1.3.2) looks for steam_os_suspend.webm and steam_os_suspend_from_throbber.webm, while the plugin's README and older installs use deck-suspend-animation.webm and deck-suspend-animation-from-throbber.webm. If a suspend file never shows up, rename it to the pair your build expects, or map whatever names you have with config.json.
Add config.json only to folders that use that optional config file.
Return to Gaming Mode.
Open the Quick Access Menu, go to the Decky tab, open Animation Changer, then press the reload button.
If the folder stays out of the Installed list, use the file checks next.
Inspect Animation Changer files
Use these checks when Animation Changer says a movie downloaded, but the selected animation still does not apply.
- 1.In Desktop Mode, open $DECKY_HOME/homebrew/logs/Animation Changer/ and review the plugin log.
- 2.Open $DECKY_HOME/homebrew/settings/Animation Changer/ and check config.json, which the plugin documents as holding the main config and the downloaded animations. The current build also writes the downloaded .webm files themselves to $DECKY_HOME/homebrew/data/Animation Changer/downloads/, so check both locations before assuming a download failed.
- 3.Open ~/.steam/root/config/uioverrides/movies and check for the override symlinks that Animation Changer creates.
Solve wake movie problems after sleep
When games remain stuck behind the Steam logo or loading animation after wake, turn off the wake movie. Press Steam, open Settings > Customization, set Use as Wake Movie to Off, then restart from Steam > Power > Restart.
When the wake movie plays only after PIN unlock, change the lock screen behavior. Press Steam, open Settings > Security, and set On system wake and power up to Off.
Return to Settings > Customization and set Use as Wake Movie to On. Test by pressing the power button to sleep, pressing it again to wake, and checking that the startup movie plays immediately.
Make suspend animations fullscreen
This fixes suspend animations that play small instead of fullscreen.
Open the Quick Access Menu, go to the Decky tab, and select the Store icon.
Search for CSS Loader and select Install.
Leave the store and open CSS Loader from the plugin menu.
Open Download Themes.
Install and enable Full Suspend.
Use Animation Changer for the suspend animation selection after Full Suspend is enabled.
Avoid old file replacement tricks
The most common cause is an old Steam Deck animation tutorial that replaces Steam's bundled movie files instead of using SteamOS customization or Animation Changer's override path.
Do not replace Steam's bundled UI movie files, and do not follow instructions that require matching Valve's original file size.
Use Steam > Settings > Customization > Startup Movie, the Steam Points Shop, or Animation Changer's override path at ~/.steam/root/config/uioverrides/movies.
For a Valve-supported startup movie, open the Steam Points Shop startup movie page in a browser or the Steam client and redeem a Startup Movie.
On Steam Deck, press Steam, open Settings > Customization > Startup Movie, and select the redeemed movie. Enable Use as Wake Movie when you want that same movie after wake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Animation Changer made by Valve?
No. Decky Loader and Animation Changer are third-party open-source tools. Valve's supported path is Settings > Customization and Steam Points Shop startup movies.
Is there a Steam web setting that repairs Animation Changer?
No. Animation Changer repair happens on the Steam Deck through Decky, Settings > Customization, or the Steam Points Shop for official startup movies.
Does Animation Changer install SteamDeckRepo suspend animations automatically?
That depends on your build. The plugin's README says only boot animations are available automatically, but the current store build also pulls SteamDeckRepo suspend entries and offers them as suspend animations, so browsing and installing both usually works. If your browser lists boot animations only, place compatible .webm files in the documented Animation Changer animations folder and press the reload button.
Can I remove Decky Loader completely?
Yes. In Desktop Mode, run decky_installer.desktop again and select uninstall decky loader. In Konsole, Decky also documents curl -L https://github.com/SteamDeckHomebrew/decky-installer/releases/latest/download/uninstall.sh | sh, then entering the password when prompted.
Can I use these fixes on Windows or HoloISO?
No. Decky says Decky Loader is not intended for Windows, macOS, HoloISO, or other third-party SteamOS distributions.