How to install Epic Games Store on Steam Deck

Expand your Steam Deck library with access to the Epic Games Store.

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Epic Games Store demonstrates platform exclusivity as a modern practice in video game publishing, with specific titles being moved away from Steam, but that hasn’t stopped me from playing them on my Steam Deck. Unfortunately, Epic still doesn’t offer an official Linux installer for its platform, making it a little tricky. Still, my guide offers twofully-testedmethods of installing Epic games on Steam Deck, so take your pick.

Before we get started, know that any apps or games installed outside the official Steam Deck store will default to the console’s internal storage,not your microSD cardor other external drives, but you can change to the proper directory. Check that you have enough free space on the Steam Deck solid-state drive if you prefer the first option, the size of which depends on which Steam Deck model you chose (64GB, 256GB, or 512GB.)

Samsung’s microSDXC cards are ideal for your Steam Deck since their read and write speeds are aligned with the console’s maximum capability. Available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

Installing Epic Games with Heroic Games Launcher

The fastest way to access the Epic Games Store is by using the community-made open-sourceHeroic Games Launcherapp. Designed for Linux, it’s compatible with Steam Deck and includes support forGOG Galaxy gamestoo. For now, we’ll focus on using it to install titles from the Epic Games Store with some super-simple steps.

How to install Heroic Games Launcher

Heroic can be manually downloaded as a ‘Flatpak’ archive viaFlathubfrom any Linux PC. Luckily, it’s easier to find and install using the Steam Deck, skipping a lot of manual work and getting you to the games much faster.

Alternatively, you can briefly hold down the power button to access the power menu a little faster. ASwitching to Desktop …notification will appear whichever method you choose. After a short wait, the Steam Deck will boot into its Linux desktop environment, just like you would expect on any regular PC.

Heroic Games Launcher is the perfect replacement for the official Epic Games Store, but booting into the desktop mode whenever you want to play them isn’t too efficient. You can take a few additional steps to have them appear in the library of your Steam Deck alongside regular purchases as anon-Steam game.

Back in the SteamOS Deck UI, you can find Heroic Games Launcher in thenon-Steam game categoryand use it to install any Epic Games Store title from your account as usual. The downside to using Heroic is you won’t have any information on compatibility, such as thelist of Steam Deck verified games, so be prepared to troubleshoot any problems yourself. It’s undoubtedly the easiest way to access your Epic Games Store library on Steam Deck until a possible return to the Steam store.

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Manually install the official Epic Games Store

For the user who prefers complete control over everything happening on their Steam Deck, you can manually install the Epic Games Store for Windows by using theProton compatibility layerand treating it like a non-Steam game. It’s easier than it sounds, and I’ll break everything down for you in easy-to-follow steps.

How to install the official Epic Games Store

Alternatively, you can briefly hold down the power button to access the power menu a little faster. ASwitching to Desktop …notification will appear whichever method you choose. After a short wait, the Steam Deck will boot into its Linux desktop environment, just like you would expect on any regular PC.

Alternatively, you can download theEpicInstalleron a separate desktop computer and transfer the file to your Steam Deck via microSD or other methods. Note where the .msi file is located, usually in the defaultDownloadsfolder if you used Firefox.

If you cannot see theEpicInstaller.msi file in its folder, make sure you have changed theFile typefilter toAll Files. Steam Deck defaults to*.desktopextensions, so SteamOS will not recognize Windows installers unless you change this filter.

Finalizing the installation

So far, you’ve successfully installed the Epic Games Store into the filesystem of your Steam Deck. However, it won’t open without one extra step to locate and launch it with the Proton compatibility layer. The file we just ran is designed for Windows, and the brains behind your console run on Linux, so we need to tell Steam where to find the installation directory.

Open theDolphinfile manager from the  taskbar or applications menu and navigate to the following directory:home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata

Here, you’ll see a collection of folders named as strings of numbers. These folders are the applications and games installed on your Steam Deck, so you need to figure out which one is the Epic Games Store we just installed. Thankfully, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find since non-Steam apps have amuch higher numberthan official games, so start at the folder with the longest number and search for the following directory:

…/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Epic Games/Launcher/Portal/Binaries/Win32

Once you’ve found it, you should see it contains theEpicGamesLauncher.exefile we need to complete our installation.

These last steps might seem picky, but they explain to Proton where the Windows installation of Epic Games Store is located within your Steam Deck. Thankfully, you’re all done with the hard part. If you’d like to make things look a little nicer, you can rename theEpicInstallerto something cleaner likeEpic Games Storewithin the same right-clickPropertiesmenu you used on the Steam desktop version.

Installing games and customize artwork

Once you’ve decided on your method for installing the Epic Games Store, it’s time to install some games. Return to Gaming Mode on your Steam Deck via its shortcut on the desktop and navigate to thenon-Steamcategory, where you’ll find your Epic Games Store shortcut.

Some pop-up notifications mentioning free games and special offers can cause issues with the screen resolution when running the official software, so consider disabling those under theDesktop notificationssection in the Epic Games Store settings menu.

I preferHeroic Games Launchersince it combines Epic Games Store and GOG Galaxy games into one place, but the Steam Deck offers freedom for its user to choose thanks to the Desktop Mode opening up the Linux backend. If you need artwork for your non-Steam shortcuts, check the community-led websiteSteamGridDBto make everything look more official in the SteamOS carousel.

Select a non-Steam shortcut while runningDesktop Modeto view its page and right-click in the empty space for options to set custom backgrounds, logos, and artwork in portrait and landscape. You’ll need to launch an app or gameat least oncefor it to appear in the recently played list and apply landscape art.

Unfortunately, running Epic Games Store through Proton does not circumvent theanti-cheatblock of games running on Steam Deck, so you won’t be able to play multiplayer games without official support on Linux.

It’s still a fantastic method of accessing more single-player games on your Steam Deck, even if some might need some of thebest Steam Deck accessories, such as mice and keyboards, due to a lack of official virtual joypad profiles.

If you’re reading this to help you decide if Valve’s portable PC is worth a purchase, check our fullSteam Deck reviewto see why we love it. Remember: installing even more games and apps outside of SteamOS will take up extra space, so consider external storage such as a microSD card.

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.