How to Install and Play Minecraft on Steam Deck

To get Minecraft on Steam Deck, install Prism Launcher through Discover in Desktop Mode, sign in with the Microsoft account that owns Java Edition, create a Minecraft instance, and add Prism to Steam. Set up a compatible controller mod to play with the Deck’s controls, then return to Gaming Mode. These steps apply to both LCD and OLED Decks running SteamOS.

Java Edition is the most straightforward starting point on SteamOS. If you need Bedrock, you can use a community compatibility project or install the official Windows version on a Deck already running Windows.

Choose your edition and account

For the Prism setup, you need Minecraft Java Edition. If you need to buy it, the Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition for PC bundle includes both PC editions. If you already own it, sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your purchase.

A console or mobile purchase is a separate platform entitlement. The PC bundle also does not make Bedrock a native Linux application: Java supports Linux, while the official Bedrock PC client requires Windows. Choose Java for the Prism steps, or use the Bedrock options if that is the edition you need.

Switch your Deck to Desktop Mode

Press STEAM, select Power, then choose Switch to Desktop. Alternatively, hold the Power button and select Switch to Desktop. Keep Steam running while you work through the installation.

Use the trackpad to move the pointer, press the right trackpad for a primary click, and press the left trackpad for a secondary click. Whenever you need to type, press STEAM + X to display the on-screen keyboard. A physical keyboard and mouse are another option for setup and play.

Install Prism Launcher through Discover

Open Discover, search for Prism Launcher, and open its listing. Select Install, then open the installed launcher. Prism is a third-party Java launcher, not a Mojang product.

If you cannot install Prism through Discover, you can use Prism’s terminal installation route for the same Flatpak package. Open a terminal in Desktop Mode and run this command:

flatpak install flathub org.prismlauncher.PrismLauncher

Create your Minecraft installation

Sign in to Prism with the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft Java Edition. Select Add Instance, then choose the Minecraft version you want to play. An instance is a separate game installation with its selected version and any compatible mods.

Choose a compatible mod loader during instance creation if you plan to add controller support yourself. The loader, controller mod, and Minecraft version must match. A mod’s minimum supported version does not mean that every newer game release works with it.

For a modpack with controller setup instructions, select Add Instance > Modrinth, choose Fabulously Optimized, then select OK. Use a Minecraft version for which the pack publishes a compatible release. Double-click the installed instance to start it.

Prism says its Flatpak bundles Java, so you can start with the included runtime. In Prism 9.0 and later, open Settings > Java, enable Autodetect Java version, and enable Auto-download Mojang Java. If you need to select a runtime manually, open Settings > Java > Java Runtime and select Auto-Detect….

Set up the Deck controls

Java Edition has no native controller support, so use a compatible controller mod or play with a keyboard and mouse. With Fabulously Optimized, open Options... > Controls... > Controller Settings.... Choose your controller, then select Done three times to return through the menus.

For an instance you configured yourself, install Controlify and its required dependencies through Prism’s mod downloader using Modrinth or CurseForge. Controlify supports compatible Fabric or Quilt instances starting at Minecraft 1.19.4, or compatible NeoForge instances starting at 1.20.3. Launch the instance and open Options > Controls > Controller Settings to calibrate the controller.

MidnightControls is another choice for compatible Fabric or Quilt instances starting at 1.18, or NeoForge instances starting at 1.21. Install it and its dependencies through Prism’s mod downloader; if gamepad input is not detected, open the game’s controls menu and set Mode to Controller. Prism identifies the older LambdaControls mod as unmaintained and recommends MidnightControls instead.

For a compatible Forge instance starting at 1.12.2, or NeoForge instance starting at 1.20.4, you can use Controllable. Install a matching build through Prism’s CurseForge mod downloader, then launch the instance. Prism says controller support should work immediately with a compatible build. Check the specific mod release against your game version and loader before installing it.

Add Minecraft to Gaming Mode

Open desktop Steam, open Games, then select Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.... Select Prism Launcher, then select ADD SELECTED PROGRAMS. Alternatively, right-click Prism Launcher’s entry in the desktop application menu and select Add to Steam.

Select Return to Gaming Mode on the desktop. Open Prism from your Steam library, then launch the Minecraft instance you created. That instance uses the game version, modpack, and controller support you configured.

If Prism reopens after you close Minecraft, open the launcher’s Settings > Minecraft. Uncheck Close Prism Launcher after game window opens, or check Quit the launcher after game window closes.

Use Bedrock on SteamOS

BedrockOnLinux runs Windows Bedrock through a Wine-based compatibility engine on LCD and OLED Decks. You need ownership of Minecraft Bedrock Edition for Windows, and the project is explicitly unsupported by Mojang and Microsoft. In Desktop Mode, open the BedrockOnLinux project page, find its Steam Deck instructions, and select Download AppImage.

Open a terminal in the directory containing the download. Make the AppImage executable with this command:

chmod +x BedrockOnLinux-*-x86_64.AppImage

You can now launch the downloaded AppImage from that directory. Run this command to start it:

./BedrockOnLinux-*-x86_64.AppImage

Complete Microsoft sign-in and select PLAY. To prepare it for Gaming Mode, select Tools > Create direct launch shortcut. In desktop Steam, open Games, select Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library..., and add Minecraft Bedrock.

The separate minecraft-linux launcher runs Android Bedrock and requires a Google Play account that owns Minecraft. A Windows purchase does not supply that entitlement, and you need an Android game build the launcher supports. To install its Flatpak in Desktop Mode, run:

flatpak install --user flathub io.mrarm.mcpelauncher

The project’s older Android Bedrock AppImages are deprecated, so use its Flatpak package for these steps. Start the installed launcher with this command:

flatpak run io.mrarm.mcpelauncher

Use the Google Play account that owns Minecraft to obtain a compatible Android build. Check the launcher’s supported versions before choosing a build, particularly if you need the newest release for multiplayer.

Install Minecraft on a Deck running Windows

On a Deck already running a supported Windows installation, open the Minecraft Launcher listing in Microsoft Store. Choose the edition and select Get or Install, as displayed. You can also obtain the Windows launcher from the official Minecraft download page, then sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the game.

Switching a SteamOS Deck to Windows requires a separate operating system installation. Valve says installing Windows requires wiping the device, supplies Windows resources as-is without offering Windows support, and does not currently provide a SteamOS dual-boot wizard. LCD and OLED Decks require different driver downloads, so use Valve’s resources for your exact model.

If you choose to install Windows, update SteamOS and the BIOS first, then obtain Windows installation media and the drivers for your Deck model. Windows 11 requires a BIOS with fTPM support. Power off the Deck, hold Volume Down, and press the Power button to reach the boot menu. Install Windows and the model-specific drivers before installing Minecraft.

Fix launcher and version problems

For Flatpak installations such as Prism or the Android Bedrock launcher, update installed applications and runtimes from Desktop Mode. Open a terminal and run:

flatpak update

Updating a launcher does not necessarily change the Minecraft version selected inside it. Before changing a Java instance’s version, check that its mod loader, controller mod, dependencies, and modpack support that version. For the Android Bedrock launcher, choose a game build the community launcher supports rather than assuming the newest release will work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you try Minecraft on Steam Deck before buying it?

Yes, the official Java trial offers approximately 100 minutes of gameplay, with restrictions on online multiplayer. Open Minecraft’s official free-trial page, select the Linux option under Minecraft Java Edition, and download the launcher. Sign in or create a Microsoft account, then launch the trial. You still need suitable installation and input setup on the Deck.

How do you set up Minecraft streaming from another computer?

Install Moonlight’s Linux client on the Deck, then install Sunshine on the host PC and create its configuration account. With both devices on the same network, open Moonlight and select the host. Enter Moonlight’s PIN on Sunshine’s Pin page. Start the desktop stream and launch the host’s Minecraft installation, using an edition supported by the host operating system.

Why is multiplayer blocked on a child account?

Microsoft account permissions can restrict Minecraft multiplayer and Realms even when you do not own an Xbox console. A parent can sign in to Xbox’s Privacy & online safety settings, select the child, open Xbox and Windows 10 devices Online Safety, set You can join multiplayer games to Allow, and select Submit. Sign out of Minecraft and restart it after the change.

How do you install PolyMC as an alternative to Prism?

In Desktop Mode, open Discover, search for PolyMC, and install it. After configuring the launcher, open desktop Steam, open Games, then select Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.... Select PolyMC, then select ADD SELECTED PROGRAMS. PolyMC maintains this third-party Java launcher independently of Mojang.