How to Add Servers on Steam Deck: A Complete Guide

The Steam Deck is a remarkably flexible handheld PC, and one of its less-discussed capabilities is connecting to game servers — whether that's a custom multiplayer server, a private Minecraft instance, or a network game server you're running at home. But "adding a server" on Steam Deck isn't a single process. It varies depending on the game, the type of server, and how your network is set up.

Here's a clear breakdown of how it actually works.

What "Adding a Server" Means on Steam Deck

The phrase covers a few different scenarios:

• In-game server browsers — manually entering an IP address to connect to a specific game server
• Steam's server browser — using the built-in Steam interface to find and favorite servers for supported titles
• Network/LAN servers — connecting to a locally hosted server on your home network
• Remote server access — SSH, file servers, or self-hosted game backends accessed via Desktop Mode

Each requires a slightly different approach, so identifying which type you need is the first step.

Using Steam's Built-In Server Browser

Steam has a native server browser that works on the Steam Deck, though it's easier to access in Desktop Mode.

To reach it:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode (hold the Power button → Switch to Desktop)
2. Open Steam from the taskbar
3. Go to View → Servers from the top menu
4. Use the Favorites tab to manually add a server by IP address

In the Favorites tab, click Add a Server, enter the server's IP address and port (formatted as 192.168.x.x:PORT or a public IP with the appropriate port), and Steam will attempt to connect and verify the server.

This method works well for games that support Steam's server browser natively — titles like Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, and older Source engine games.

Adding Servers Directly In-Game 🎮

Many multiplayer games include their own server browser or direct connect option inside the game itself. This is often the most straightforward path.

Common in-game steps:

• Look for a "Direct Connect" or "Add Server" option in the multiplayer menu
• Enter the full server address, including the port number if required
• Some games let you bookmark or favorite that server for future sessions

Games like Minecraft, ARK: Survival Evolved, Rust, and Valheim all support direct server entry this way. The exact menu path differs per title, but the underlying idea is the same: you're providing a specific IP and port rather than relying on a matchmaking system.

Connecting to a LAN or Home Network Server

If you're running a game server locally — on a PC, NAS, or home server — the Steam Deck can connect to it over your Wi-Fi network.

Key factors that affect this:

The Steam Deck connects to local servers the same way a desktop would — via IP address. If your server has a static local IP (assigned through your router's DHCP settings), you won't need to update the address every time the server restarts.

Desktop Mode for Advanced Server Access

For anything beyond a standard game server — like SSH connections, Plex servers, remote desktops, or self-hosted backends — Desktop Mode opens up the full Linux environment on the Steam Deck.

From Desktop Mode, you can:

• Install apps like Remmina (remote desktop) or use the built-in terminal for SSH
• Access KDE's network settings to manage connections
• Use a browser to reach web-based server dashboards
• Install tools like FileZilla for FTP access to a remote server

The Steam Deck runs Arch Linux under the hood with a read-only filesystem by default, but the Flatpak app ecosystem and Discover software center make installing server-compatible tools relatively straightforward without needing to unlock the system partition.

Variables That Change the Process

How smooth this goes depends heavily on a few things: ⚙️

• The game itself — not every game exposes a direct connect option or supports custom servers
• Server type — official game servers, community servers, and self-hosted servers each behave differently
• Network setup — connecting to a server on a local network vs. a public server vs. a VPN-tunneled server each adds complexity
• Technical comfort level — Desktop Mode tasks like configuring SSH or editing config files require more Linux familiarity
• Port forwarding knowledge — if you're hosting or connecting to a server outside your local network, understanding how your router handles port forwarding matters

Some users will add a server in under two minutes through an in-game menu. Others working with a privately hosted server, a non-standard port, or a game without native server browsing will need to dig into network settings or Desktop Mode tools.

When Things Don't Connect

If a server isn't appearing or connecting, the most common causes are:

• Wrong port number — double-check the port alongside the IP
• Server firewall blocking the connection — the host may need to whitelist external IPs
• Router AP isolation — some routers prevent devices on the same network from communicating directly
• Outdated server version — the server's game version may not match the client version on your Steam Deck

Checking these four areas resolves the majority of connection failures.

The right approach for your situation depends on the specific game you're playing, where your server lives, and how your home network is structured — those variables shape everything from the tools you'll use to how much setup is actually involved.