The Steam Deck is by far the best handheld gaming console available, especially since it offers incredible value compared with the Lenovo Legion GO or the Asus Ally ROG. However, certain aspects could frighten new users. For instance, many Steam Deck owners hesitate to upgrade the internal storage because they assume it is complicated.

Amiga logo on the Steam Deck
Steam Deck: How To Play Amiga Games

Learn how to run Commodore Amiga games from the Steam Deck with the EmuDeck program.

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Believe it or not, buying a new SSD and installing it on your Steam Deck is an easy process. Of course, you will need to install SteamOS, but there is a way to make this process even simpler than it already is. If you want to install SteamOS on your new SSD along with your game data, you have the option to clone your Steam Deck SSD. Keeping this in mind, this guide will cover everything there is to know about cloning your Steam SSD, along with other useful information.

Steps for Cloning a Steam Deck SSD

Cloning SSDs via Steam Deck Terminal

To clone your Steam Deck SSD, you will need a new SSD and an external NVME enclosure. Once you have everything you need, follow these steps to clone your Steam Deck SSD.

  1. Turn on your Steam Deck.
  2. Press the Steam button and select Power.
  3. In the Power menu, select Switch to Desktop.
  4. Access the Konsole and type passwd to set a password.
  5. After setting a password, connect your Steam Deck to the external NVME enclosure with your new SSD.
  6. Type sudo Isblock in the Konsole and enter your password.
  7. Note your Steam Deck’s SSD and the external NVME enclosure names and type the following command: sudo dd if=/dev/nvme0n1 of=/dev/sda conv=sync status=progress.
  8. Wait for the process to complete, which could take some time, depending on the size of the internal SSD.
  9. Once your new SSD is ready, simply swap it out with the old one.

If your new SSD does not pop up after installing it on your Steam Deck, access the BIOS by pressing and holding the power button and the volume up button until you get in. Now make the following selection:

  1. Boot from file.
  2. Eps.
  3. Efi.
  4. Steamos.
  5. Steamcl.efi.

After following these steps, your Steam Deck will boot into SteamOS. It is worth noting you will not have to repeat this process every time you power on your Steam Deck.

This option is perfect for Steam Deck owners who are using custom settings and different ROMs. It allows you to quickly set up your Steam Deck without starting from scratch.

As long as you follow the instructions provided above, you will have a perfect copy of your old SSD, thus allowing you to start playing your favorite games where you left off without wasting any more time than you already have.

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Steam Deck Console
Steam Deck
Display card main info widget
Dimensions
298mm x 117mm x 49mm
Weight
Approx. 669 grams
Screen
7" diagonal 1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio) 60Hz
Storage
64 GB - 512 GB
CPU
AMD APU Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz
Battery
40Whr battery. 2 - 8 hours of gameplay
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Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
4K Capabilities
Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0 and Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Ports
1x USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 Alt-mode support; up to 8K @60Hz or 4K @120Hz, 1x USB 3.2,1x Micro SD slot, 1x 3.5 audio jack
Audio
Stereo with embedded DSP for an immersive listening experience and Dual Microphone Array