How to Install and Use Discord on Steam Deck

Steam Deck is a handheld console that enables you to game anywhere you like. Now, whether you’re gaming from your couch or even from a different country, there’s a good chance you wish to connect with your friends, discuss strategies, and take down enemies in the new RPG game you are playing. Well, there is where the popular communication app Discord steps into the picture. The app is not natively available on Steam Deck, andDiscord only recently reached PS5and Xbox. However, there is an easy workaround to install Discord on Steam Deck, and that’s what we will explain in this article. That way, you can stay connected with friends and enjoy multiplayer games on the move.

In this article, we will not only detail how to download and install Discord on Steam Deck. We will also talk about how you can access the app from Game Mode, change voice input/output devices, and remap buttons to easily use the app on your handheld. That said, let’s not waste any more time and get you in touch with your friends.

How to Install Discord on Your Steam Deck

Getting Discord on your handheld console is as simple as going to the software center and installing the software on your Steam Deck. Like weinstalled Chrome on Steam Deck, we need to follow certain steps to use the voice chat software here. As Steam Deck runs a fork of Arch Linux, we will install the Discord Linux app here. To download Discord on your Deck, follow the steps below.

How to Add and Use Discord in Game Mode

You wouldn’t want to navigate to desktop mode each time you wish to use Discord. So, in this section, we include step-by-step instructions for how you can add Discord to game mode:

How to Remap Buttons to Use Discord

Now, upon launching Discrord in game mode on the Steam Deck for the first time, you might notice that you can’t navigate the software at all. For that, we have to assign commands to the buttons of the Steam Deck. Since Discord is not natively available on Steam Deck, it does not come with any navigation controls. So here’s what you need to do:

Following these steps will allow you to use Discord in game mode. To use Discord while gaming, open the app and join a voice channel. Then, press the “Steam” button, go to library, and launch any game of your choice. Steam Deck then minimizes and runs Discord in the background, while the game is playable. This way, you can easily talk with your friends while gaming.

Discord on Steam Deck: First Impressions

As previously mentioned, we have installed the Discord Linux app as it’s natively not available on the Steam Deck. The developers have not optimized it to run flawlessly on a Steam Deck. As such, while it does run as intended, there are certain issues that users might face. In our testing, the biggest issue with Discord on Steam Deck wasnoise leaks through the microphone. When navigating or pressing buttons, the mic picked up the button sounds on Discord. This does not happen when you play the game audio via the speaker onboard.

Fortunately, voice chat functionality works as intended, without any issues, even during gaming sessions. You can also use TWS earbuds or Bluetooth headphones to talk in voice channels. However, in our testing, Discord did not detect the mic on my Sony WF-C500, so we had to use the Steam Deck mic. Typing requires users tobring up the on-screen keyboard, so read our article on how to do that.

As for joining Discord servers via browser links, you can only do that via desktop mode. We tried it throughGoogle Chrome in game mode, but to no success. Overall, the Discord experience on Steam Deck is surprisingly pleasant, albeit, cumbersome.

So yeah, you are now armed with all the knowledge to install and use Discord on Valve’s handheld. Steam Deck is a portable gaming system that lets you easily access both Discord voice and text channels. This is great, unlike Xbox and PS5’s implementation, which only offers you access to Discord’s VoIP functionality. Steam Deck users have an upper hand in this case, making me a proud owner. So, have you installed Discord on your Steam Deck? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.

Sampad Banerjee

Meet Sampad, Beebom’s in-house video game enthusiast and writer. With two years of freelance experience, he has passionately crafted articles about the games he loves. You can find his writings on Sportskeeda, Gamingbolt, and GGTalks.

During work hours, he covers the latest gaming news, creates how-to guides, and occasionally shares video game reviews. In his free time, he enjoys building Gundam model kits, planning his next cosplay, and play his favorite RPG games.

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