Waydroid on Steam Deck: Run Android Games in Game Mode

Before you start

• A Steam Deck (LCD or OLED) on SteamOS
• A sudo password. If you've never set one, run passwd in Konsole
• Free storage for the Android image, apps and games
• An internet connection and some patience: the script downloads a full Android system

The installer used below is a community project (SteamOS Waydroid Installer by ryanrudolfoba, also known as 10-minute Steam Deck Gamer). It isn't made by Valve or the Waydroid team.

Step 1: Run the installer in Desktop Mode

Switch to Desktop Mode, open Konsole and run:

cd ~/
git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/ryanrudolfoba/steamos-waydroid-installer
cd ~/steamos-waydroid-installer
chmod +x steamos-waydroid-installer.sh
./steamos-waydroid-installer.sh

Enter your sudo password when asked. Recent versions of the script offer Android 13 with or without Google apps, plus an Android TV 13 option. Installation typically takes a few minutes.

Step 2: Launch from Game Mode

Return to Game Mode. The script adds Waydroid to your library as a non-Steam game, so open Library → Non-Steam and start it. The Android interface opens full-screen, and you can map the Deck's controls through Steam Input like any other title.

ARM games and controllers

Most Android games are built for ARM chips, while the Steam Deck uses an x86_64 AMD APU. Community setups add an ARM translation layer (often libndk) so these games can install and run. The installer's recent versions also include fixes aimed at controller support in specific games. Performance and compatibility still vary from game to game, and titles with strict anti-cheat may refuse to start.

After a SteamOS update

SteamOS updates replace the system partition, which can remove Waydroid. Your Android data in your home folder usually survives, but the installed packages don't. If Waydroid stops launching after an update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Pull the latest script (git pull in its folder, or clone again).
3. Run the installer again.

Other handheld and gaming distros

Tips for a better experience

• Controls: set up a Steam Input layout for the Waydroid shortcut. Mouse-as-touch on the trackpads works well for menus.
• Storage: Android data lives in your home folder, so keep space free on the internal drive or wherever your home directory is.
• Performance: lighter games run comfortably. Heavy 3D titles depend on ARM translation and may stutter.
• Testing games: the installer's maintainers link to a community sheet of games tested by other users. Check it before buying in-app content.

What can go wrong

• Script fails from SSH: run it in Desktop Mode in Konsole, not over SSH or a virtual console.
• Waydroid vanished after an update: rerun the installer (see above).
• Game refuses to start: its anti-cheat or integrity check may block containers. There's usually no workaround.

Uninstalling

Run the installer again from Desktop Mode and choose its uninstall option. Then remove the non-Steam shortcut if it remains. For desktop setups, see our Ubuntu guide for manual removal commands.