Tired of playing the same old games on your Steam Deck and want to enjoy console-quality graphics on the go? GeForce Now could be the answer, and here we’ll show you how to install GeForce Now on Steam Deck.
Having all your Steam games easily accessible on the go is one of the many things that sets the Steam Deck apart from other portable consoles.
With a few tricks, you can expand the Steam Deck’s game library even further, streaming gaming services and apps that aren’t natively supported by the device. This includes streaming games from Nvidia’s cloud streaming service, GeForce Now.
With GeForce Now on Steam Deck, you can access over 1,500 games, including titles like Fortnite that aren’t natively supported on the handheld console. Nvidia has released a new beta installation method for Steam Deck, and we’ve got you covered with all the steps you need to play GeForce Now games on your handheld console.
Install GeForce Now
- Turn on Steam Deck
- Switch to desktop mode
- Open Google Chrome
- Jump to: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/download/
- Go to “Steam Deck (BETA)”
- Select “Start”
- Select “Download”
- Double-click the GeForceNOW_Setup.zip file
- Extract to Desktop
- Open the folder
- Double-click on GeForceNow_Setup
- Select “Run”
- Select “Yes”
- Return to game mode
- Launch Nvidia GeForce Now
To play Nvidia GeForce Now games on your Steam Deck, navigate to the Nvidia download page by switching to desktop mode and opening the Google Chrome web browser.
With Google Chrome open, copy and paste the following link or type it into the web browser’s search bar:
On the Nvidia GeForce Now download page, scroll down until you find the “Gaming Handhelds” subheading. Under the new “Steam Deck (BETA),” select “Get Started” and a text prompt will appear on your device.
The text prompt will ask if you are using the correct device. If you are using the Steam Deck, select the green “Download” button and a .zip file will download to your handheld. Then, open the zip file by going to your Chrome downloads and double-clicking on the file named “GeForceNOW_Setup”.
If you’re having trouble finding your Chrome downloads, click the three-dot button in the top-right corner of your browser. Scroll down until you see the word “downloads,” and it’ll list everything you’ve downloaded from Google Chrome.
After double-clicking the installation file, select ARK to open the zip folder. ARK is a graphics file compression program for Linux, similar to Windows WinRar. In Ark, select “Extract” and extract the entire installation folder to your desktop for easy access.
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Close ARK and double-click the GeForceNOW_Setup folder on your Steam Deck’s desktop. From there, double-click the file named “GeForceNOW_Setup” and select “Run,” then “Yes” when prompted. This will download the new GeForce Now beta installation to your handheld.
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Your Steam Deck will now reboot. Upon startup, your Steam Deck will automatically return to desktop mode and a small dialog box will appear. This dialog box will proudly state that Nvidia GeForce Now is now configured on your Steam Deck and ready to go.
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To get started with GeForce Now, head back into Game Mode and launch the newly listed app from your non-Steam game library. Unlike previous methods, this version of GeForce Now will automatically have its own custom tile, making it look just like the rest of your Steam library.
Install Google Chrome
- Turn on Steam Deck
- Switch to desktop mode
- Open the Discover app
- Search for “Google Chrome”
- Select “Install” to download Google Chrome
To install GeForce Now on the Steam Deck, you will first need to install Google Chrome. Installing Google Chrome on the device will allow us to bypass the lack of an official GeForce Now app for Steam Deck, allowing us to stream games in Game Mode. To get started, turn on the Steam Deck and switch to desktop mode to access the Discover app.
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Open the Discover app in desktop mode by clicking the blue bag icon in the bottom toolbar of the screen. From there, click in the search bar and type “Google Chrome” to see a list of related apps.
Click on “Google Chrome,” which should be the first result, and then once on the next page, click on the “Install” option in the upper right corner of the Discover window. It may take a few seconds for Google Chrome to download to your device.
How to Stream GeForce Now via Web Browser
- Turn on Steam Deck
- Open Google Chrome
- Jump to: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce-now/download/
- Select “Launch on Browser”
- Select “Enter”
- Connection with QR reader
You can also stream GeForce Now games directly to your handheld console’s web browser. To get started, you’ll need to make sure you’re using Google Chrome. Other web browsers available on Steam Deck, such as Chromium, aren’t supported for streaming Nvidia GeForce Now games.
With Google Chrome open, copy and paste the following link or type it into the web browser’s search bar:
Once on the Nvidia website, select the green “Launch to Browser” button, then select the “Log in” button on the next screen. From there, log in to your GeForce Now account by scanning the available QR code or entering the on-screen PIN on your smartphone or tablet.
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Once the connection is complete, a screen on your smartphone or tablet will indicate that it is connecting to SteamOS Console STEAMDECK. By clicking Continue, your Steam Deck screen will update and connect you to Nvidia GeForce Now.
Looking for more Steam Deck guides? We’ve got you covered with our ultimate getting started guide. Check out our How to Add Xbox and PC Game Pass Games to Steam Deck article if you’re looking for even more Steam Deck games to play on the go.
