Decky Loader is a free, open-source homebrew plugin launcher for the Steam Deck, from the Steam Deck Homebrew team. It adds a plugin menu to the Quick Access Menu and a plugin store whose entries are reviewed by the project’s staff. It is licensed under the GPL-2.0. Version 3.2.9 was released on September 15, 2026.
When to use Decky Loader
- You want plugins for themes, sounds, screen saturation or system settings in Gaming Mode.
- You run SteamOS on a Steam Deck, or Bazzite.
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When not to use it
- With plugins from unknown URLs. The project warns a plugin can request root access and have “access to your entire system with no limitations.”
- On Windows. The project has no plans for Windows support.
- If you need it to survive every update. Decky can disappear after SteamOS updates and needs reinstalling.
Install
On a Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode, download decky_installer.desktop from the project’s GitHub, run it and choose Latest Release. On Bazzite, run ujust setup-decky. Our Decky Loader install guide covers each step and the fixes after updates.
Questions
Is Decky Loader free?
Yes. It is open source under the GPL-2.0.
Why did Decky disappear after an update?
The project says SteamOS updates sometimes remove it. Re-run the installer and install the stable version.
