How to format SD cards on Steam Deck: Unlock extra space with external storage
Formatting a new microSD card on your Steam Deck is easy.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
You can save a chunk of money on Valve’s portable console by springing for the cheaper models, like theentry-level 64GB option. Still, many blockbuster games aren’t exactly known for their small file sizes, so you’ll likely run out of storage space pretty quickly and need to expand with a microSD card.
Some brands might be readable by theSteam Deckout of the box, but it’s never guaranteed. Besides, the handheld uses a particular file system called ext4, which isn’t used on Windows PCs and laptops. Don’t worry if any of this sounds super confusing because we’re here to help explain the terms and walk you through the process of how to format an SD card on your Steam Deck.
Should I use the NTFS or ext4 file format?
The Steam Deck uses a different file-storing system than what you might be used to, called ext4. It’s designed forLinux, an open-source OS similar to Apple’s UNIX-based Mac. Still, it lacks cross-compatibility, and it’s unlikely any popular SD cards will be readily formatted to use it. Valve’sFAQ pagefor the console confirms their preference for ext4 with case folding, which is just a fancy name for formatting file names and strings.
On the other hand, NTFS is a file system designed by Microsoft and enjoys cross-compatibility almost everywhere. Devices using Linux as their OS, like Steam Deck, can natively read and write to internal and external storage using NTFS. Apple’s macOS can officially only read from NTFS, lacking write permissions by default.
NTFS is an excellent option for compatibility, whereas Steam Deck prefers ext4. If you plan to use a microSD card primarily with Valve’s handheld or are a seasoned Linux user, stick with the latter.
How to format SD cards on Steam Deck
Thankfully, Valve includes tools to format microSD cards directly within your Steam Deck, and it’s super simple. It’s not too tricky toreformat an ext4 drive in Windows, but it’s even easier to do it directly on the console.
Place your new microSD card into the console and follow the steps below. Afterward, you’ll be ready to expand your storage for more games and apps.
You will see a progress bar in place of the selection as the Steam Deck formats your card to the ext4 file system. Depending on the size of your microSD card, this process can take quite a while. Don’t worry if it seems a bit slow to start; you should soon see a countdown with the estimated time before finalizing.
You’re all done; it’s that easy. You can use an SD card toinstall non-Steam games, check out some of thebest emulators, or keepapps like Spotifyseparate from your internal storage. Part of the attraction of Valve’s handheld is its versatility outside of portable gaming, so pick up a high-quality microSD card like theSamsung Evo Plus microSDXCand expand your library.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Ben is a Senior Editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to technology hardware and software. He regularly goes hands-on with the latest Windows laptops, components inside custom gaming desktops, and any accessory compatible with PC and Xbox. His lifelong obsession with dismantling gadgets to see how they work led him to pursue a career in tech-centric journalism after a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support.
