Updated by

Sherly

Updated on April 22, 2024

Complexity Level: Simple, Beginners

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes

Applies to: Upgrading 1TB, 2TB, and 64GB Steam Deck SSDs

Goal: Update the Steam Deck SSD Without Reinstalling the Operating System

Upgrading the SSD in your Steam Deck might appear daunting, but it doesn't need to cause anxiety or consume much of your time. On this page, you'll find a comprehensive guide on how to perform a Steam Deck SSD upgrade:

What You Need to Upgrade the Steam Deck SSD

Is your Steam Deck SSD filling up rapidly? Here's how to upgrade your Steam Deck's SSD to accommodate more games and enhance your gaming experience. The process involves three steps: 1. Preparation: Before beginning, ensure you have the following: - A new M.2 NVMe SSD compatible with the Steam Deck (2230 form factor, Gen 3.x or Gen 4.x, with a PCIe interface). - A T5 screwdriver (necessary for opening the Steam Deck). - A USB-C to USB-A cable for data transfer. - Optional: A USB-C hub with an Ethernet port for faster data transfer. 2. Backup and Transfer: - Backup important data from your existing SSD to an external storage device. - Connect the external storage to your Steam Deck using the USB-C to USB-A cable. - Use a file manager like 'Files' on the Steam Deck to copy your game libraries and other essential files to the external storage. 3. SSD Replacement: - Power off and unplug your Steam Deck. - Carefully remove the bottom cover using the T5 screwdriver. - Locate the M.2 NVMe SSD slot and gently remove the old SSD. - Insert the new SSD into the slot, ensuring it clicks securely into place. - Replace the bottom cover with the T5 screws. - Reboot your Steam Deck. 4. Formatting and Restoring: - Upon booting, follow the on-screen instructions to format the new SSD. - Connect the external storage back to your Steam Deck. - Transfer your backed-up game libraries and files back to the new SSD. - Install any necessary drivers or updates for the new SSD. Now, your Steam Deck is ready with a larger and potentially faster SSD, providing more storage space and potentially improved gaming performance. Enjoy!

Preparation:

    • A Steam Deck with less than 25% battery remaining
    • A 2230 form factor NVMe SSD
    • A pair of tweezers and a pick
    • A PH1 or PH0 screwdriver
    • A Windows PC
    • A reliable cloning utility (tools Partition Master)

Cloning the used sectors is a quicker and more straightforward method than reimaging, which could take several hours. Therefore, for this tutorial, we'll be using the tool Partition Master to clone the SteamOS and other game data to the new SSD. It's advised that you download this tool beforehand on your Windows PC. Alternatively, you can also expand your Steam Deck's storage in other ways; feel free to click the link below to explore those options.

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How to Add Storage to Steam Deck [2023 Full Guide]

You can enhance the Steam Deck's storage capacity using a micro SD card, a USB drive, or a larger SSD drive. Below, we will provide a detailed guide on how to do this, from simplest to more complex methods.

format sd card on steam deck

Alright, with everything prepared, it's time to head to Stage 1.

Stage 1: Remove the Original SSD

Due to the risk of accidentally puncturing a Li-Ion battery, it is advised to discharge your Steam Deck battery below 25% before opening it. Additionally, it's recommended to place your Steam Deck in battery storage mode before attempting any modifications. Alright, let's begin.

Step 1. Remove the back cover screws, unclip the back cover, and take it off.

remove screws

Step 2. Uncover the hidden shield screw and remove the shield.

Step 3. Disconnect the battery.

Step 4. Remove the SSD screw, and then remove the SSD.

Step 5. Remove the SSD shield and take out the original SSD.

take off shields

Further Reading: Install Windows on Steam Deck

Stage 2: Clone the Steam Deck Without Missing a Single Detail

At this stage, you'll need to insert both the original SSD and the new SSD into a Windows PC. Then, clone and transfer all game data from the old SSD to the new SSD. However, if your new SSD has never been used, you might encounter an "SSD not initialized" error. In this case, you'll need to initialize the new SSD before proceeding with data transfer. The tool Partition Master enables you to initialize a new SSD and clone the used sectors from the old SSD to the freshly initialized one.

Guide 1. Initialize the New SSD Translation: Step 1: Format and Prepare the New SSD Before using your new Solid State Drive (SSD), you need to initialize it to ensure it's ready for installation and data storage. Here's how to do it: 1. Connect the SSD to your computer: Ensure that the SSD is properly connected to your computer via an appropriate interface, like SATA or NVMe. 2. Access Disk Management: On Windows, right-click the Start button, select "Disk Management" from the menu. On macOS, open "Disk Utility" which can be found in the Utilities folder within Applications. 3. Identify the new SSD: In Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS), locate the unallocated space representing your new SSD. 4. Initialize the SSD: Right-click on the unallocated space and choose "New Simple Volume" on Windows, or click "Plus" sign to create a new partition in macOS. 5. Follow the wizard: In Windows, a New Simple Volume Wizard will guide you through the process of formatting the drive. Choose the file system (NTFS for general use) and allocation unit size (default is usually fine). For macOS, select a format type (usually APFS for newer systems or HFS+ for older ones), give the volume a name, and click "Erase". 6. Finish initialization: Complete the wizard by clicking "Finish" on Windows or "Erase" on macOS. Your SSD is now formatted and ready to use. 7. Install the operating system or transfer data: You can now install your operating system onto the new SSD or migrate your existing data and applications. Remember to back up any important data before initializing the SSD, as this process will erase all data present on the drive.

Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master and go to Partition Manager.

Step 2. Right-click on the target disk, either HDD or SSD, and choose "Initialize to MBR" or "Initialize to GPT." Click "Execute Task" and then "Apply" to save the changes.

0:00-0:18 Initialize to MBR; 0:19-0:44 Initialize to GPT;

Now that your new SSD is functional, it's time to clone the game data and the SteamOS onto the new SSD. Incidentally, the tool Partition Master can also be quite helpful in managing your Steam Deck:

Alright, let's proceed to utilize this tool to clone the old SSD to the new SSD.

Guide 2: Clone the Steam Deck SSD to the New One

Cloning the original SSD of the Steam Deck to the new one with Partition Master can save time, as it only clones the used sectors. Let's explore how to utilize this tool.

Step 1. Select the source disk.

    1. Click "Clone" from the left-hand menu. Select "Clone OS Disk" or "Clone Data Disk" and click "Next".
    2. Select the source disk and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the target disk.

  • Select the desired HDD/SSD as your destination and click "Next" to proceed.
  • Read the warning message and confirm by clicking the "Yes" button.

Step 3. View the disk layout and edit the target disk partition size.

Then click "Continue" when the program warns it will erase all data on the target disk. (If you have valuable data on the target disk, back it up beforehand.)

You can choose to "Autofit the disk," "Clone as source," or "Edit disk layout" to customize your disk arrangement. (Select the last option if you want to allocate more space to the C drive.)

Step 4. Click "Start" to begin the disk cloning process.

As a Steam Deck user, you might also be interested in the following topics:

Now, it's time to insert the new SSD with the cloned data back into the Steam Deck.

Stage 3: Install the New SSD in the Steam Deck

In this section, we will guide you on how to insert the new SSD into the Steam Deck and ensure it functions seamlessly just like the original SSD. Follow these steps:

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> Place the foil shielding that we just removed from the old SSD onto the new SSD.

< strong > Step 2. < /strong> Insert the new SSD and screw it into the slot.

Step 3. Reconnect the battery; grab the fabric strip and carefully push the connector back into the battery port. When it's connected, the power light will flash white for a second, letting you know you've done it right.

Step 4. Reattach the shielding by sliding it back into position. Align it with the screw holes underneath. Ensure that everything is in place, and confirm that the fan wires are positioned above the shield.

Step 5. Reattach and secure the back plate. Pick up the backplate and align it on top of the Steam Deck. Proceed to screw it back into place.

You can refer to the video by Loaded0 on YouTube for a detailed guide:

Everything has been completed. Now, you can power on your Steam Deck to check if the operating system can boot correctly on the new SSD.

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If you encounter an issue where your Steam Deck fails to boot, don't worry. It's probable that something wasn't reassembled correctly. To resolve this, dismantle the Steam Deck once more and disconnect both the battery connector and the SSD. These two components are often the root cause of such problems. The Steam Deck is designed not to start up when these are not properly in place to prevent damage to the device.

By removing and reinserting them securely, you can ensure they are plugged in correctly, which should resolve any boot issues.

Conclusion

We also advise restarting the guide from the beginning when disassembling the Steam Deck to ensure that you perform each step correctly. This tutorial enables you to upgrade the Steam Deck's SSD without downloading Rufus or creating any bootable images. Cloning the Steam Deck's SSD spares you from the inconvenience of redownloading, changing settings, and maneuvering through the Linux-based SteamOS. The tool Partition Master can initialize the fresh SSD and assist in cloning the SteamOS and game data from the old SSD to the new one.

Update the Steam Deck SSD FAQs

There's no need to feel nervous when following the tutorial above. Here, we've compiled some additional questions related to updating the SSD on the Steam Deck. Browse through them if you require assistance:

< strong >1. Can you upgrade the Steam Deck's SSD?

Indeed, updating the Steam Deck's SSD is a straightforward process. Remove the old SSD, clone its contents to the new SSD, and then reinstall the new one. Incidentally, if you have just a few games on your device and aren't using a metered internet connection, it might be more advisable to reimage your Steam Deck with the latest version of SteamOS. However, cloning the Steam Deck's SSD is recommended to avoid the inconvenience of redownloading games, adjusting settings, and, quite frankly, navigating the labyrinth of the Linux-based SteamOS.

2. What are the best Steam Deck SSDs?

When selecting an ideal SSD for your Steam Deck, factors such as compatibility, budget, and safety should be considered. Currently, the Sabrent 2230 NVMe drive is the best Steam Deck SSD available for a balance of affordability and security. Additionally, the XPC Technologies 2TB, WD SN740 2TB, WD SN530 1TB, and Toshiba BG4 256GB are all excellent alternatives.

3. How do I add an SSD to the 64GB Steam Deck?

Regardless of the SSD capacity, the tutorial remains the same.

Step 1. Prepare your Steam Deck and remove the back cover screws.

Step 2. Remove the back cover and uncover the hidden shield screw.

Step 3. Remove the shield screws and the shield. Next, disconnect the battery and take out the old SSD.

Step 4. Prepare your 64GB SSD: Ensure it is initialized, and then clone the data from the old SSD to the new SSD.

Step 5. Install the new SSD into the Steam Deck and reassemble everything.

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