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This article is for Steam Deck device owners interested in getting Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) and Microsoft Edge installed and set up on your device. It provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for the entire process and includes official art from Microsoft Edge and Xbox to make your new shortcuts stand out.

Note: This article uses Microsoft Edge via a community maintained Flatpak package. We are grateful to the community of contributors who have maintained and improved this Flatpak package and made this experience possible.

These instructions are intended for enthusiasts who are comfortable making system modifications on your Steam Deck device. Microsoft does not actively maintain the Microsoft Edge Flatpak package and does not provide official support Microsoft Edge on SteamOS at this time.

Before you begin

We recommended you have a mouse and keyboard connected to your Steam Deck when following this article for setup. Alternatively, you can use STEAM+X to bring up the touch keyboard along with the touch display or trackpads.

  1. Press the Steam button to bring up the Steam Menu, then select Power > Switch to Desktop.

  2. Select the Discover Software Center icon on the taskbar.

    Finding the Discover Software Center icon on the Steam Desktop taskbar.

  3. In Discover Software Center, select Applications > Internet > Web Browsers.

  4. Find Microsoft Edge in the list of apps and select Install.

  5. Once it's installed, close Discover Software Center, return to the Desktop, and select Application Launcher.

    Finding the Application Launcher icon on the Steam Desktop taskbar.

  6. Select Internet, then right-click on Microsoft Edge and select Add to Steam.

  7. In the Add a Game window, scroll to find Microsoft Edge, check the box next to it, and select Add Selected Programs.
    Finding and checking Microsoft Edge in the Steam Add A Game list.

  8. Back on the Desktop, select Application Launcher > System > Konsole (terminal window).

  9. Edge will need to be able to access your Steam Deck controls with udev, so we need to give it override access. Set it by entering this command and pressing Enter:

    flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge

    Then enter exit and press Enter to close Konsole.

  10. Open Steam by selecting the Steam icon on the desktop.

    Finding the Steam Desktop client icon.

  11. Select the Library tab, navigate to Microsoft Edge in the list, and then right-click it and select Properties.

  12. Make the following changes to the Microsoft Edge shortcut:

    1. Change the name (next to the icon) to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

    2. Scroll down to LAUNCH OPTIONS and append the following (after @@u @@):

      --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"

      Where to add the additional arguments to the Launch Options on the Microsoft Edge Beta shortcut in Steam.

    Close this window when you are done.

  13. Now, navigate to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) in the Steam Library, right-click it, and select Manage > Controller layout.

  14. In the Steam Controller Configurator, select BROWSE CONFIGS. Under Templates, select Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad. Select APPLY CONFIGURATION, then select DONE.

Adding custom artwork to your shortcut

At this point your shortcut will work; you can close the Steam window, select the Return to Gaming Mode icon on the desktop and find your shortcut in your game library in the NON-STEAM section. However, we've got some artwork for you that will make look it a little nicer. Here's how to add that:

  1. Download the supplied artwork from here. There is art here for Xbox Cloud Gaming and the Microsoft Edge browser. We are going to be using the Xbox Cloud Gaming files here:

    • Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Banner.jpg

    • Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Capsule.jpg

    • Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Icon.jpg

    Note: You can use a USB thumb drive to copy the files on to your Steam Deck, via Desktop mode.  One place to store the files is in the “Documents” folder. 

  2. In Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck, launch Steam, navigate to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) in your Library, right-click it, and select Properties.

  3. Add the icon: Select the blank square to the left of the name of the shortcut, navigate to the location you saved the artwork, and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Icon.jpg. Close this when you are done.

  4. Add the banner: Select the game in the Library, right click the blank area behind the title above the PLAY button, and select Set Custom Background. Navigate to your artwork and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Banner.jpg.

  5. Apply the capsule: In several of the Steam Library views you will see a “blank” Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) rectangle like the following:

    The Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) blank capsule in the Steam Library.

    Right-click it, and select Manage > Set custom artwork. Navigate to your artwork and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Capsule.jpg.

  6. Update RECENT GAMES: Once you have used the shortcut and launched Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) at least once, it will appear in the RECENT GAMES section (again, within the desktop Steam client) with a blank background. Just as before, right-click, select Manage > Set custom artwork, navigate to your artwork and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Capsule.jpg.

    Tip: An easy way to make this happen is to launch it within the Steam desktop client, move your mouse cursor to the upper left corner to present your windows, and close the Xbox Cloud Gaming window from there. At that point it should be in RECENT GAMES.

At this point your Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) shortcut is ready to go! You can return to Gaming Mode via the icon on the desktop.

If you just want to set up Microsoft Edge as a browser to use on your Steam Deck without setting up Xbox Cloud Gaming, you're in the right place. Here's what you do:

  1. Press the Steam button to bring up the Steam Menu, then select Power > Switch to Desktop.

  2. Select the Discover Software Center icon on the taskbar.

    Finding the Discover Software Center icon on the Steam Desktop taskbar.

  3. In Discover Software Center, select Applications > Internet > Web Browsers.

  4. Find Microsoft Edge in the list of apps and select Install.

  5. Once it's installed, close Discover Software Center, return to the Desktop, and select Application Launcher.

    Finding the Application Launcher icon on the Steam Desktop taskbar.

  6. Select Internet, then right-click on Microsoft Edge and select Add to Steam.

  7. In the Add a Game window, scroll to find Microsoft Edge, check the box next to it, and select Add Selected Programs.
    Finding and checking Microsoft Edge in the Steam Add A Game list.

  8. Back on the Desktop, select Application Launcher > System > Konsole (terminal window).

  9. Edge will need to be able to access your Steam Deck controls with udev, so we need to give it override access. Set it by entering this command and pressing Enter:

    flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge

    Then enter exit and press Enter to close Konsole.

  10. Open Steam by selecting the Steam icon on the desktop.

    Finding the Steam Desktop client icon.

  11. Select the Library tab, navigate to Microsoft Edge in the list, and then right-click it and select Properties.

  12. Scroll down to LAUNCH OPTIONS and append the following (after @@u @@):

    --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25

    Where to add the additional arguments to the Launch Options on the Microsoft Edge Beta shortcut in Steam.

    Close this window when you are done.

Adding custom artwork to your shortcut

At this point your shortcut will work; you can close the Steam window, select the Return to Gaming Mode icon on the desktop and find your shortcut in your game library in the NON-STEAM section. However, we've got some artwork for you that will make look it a little nicer. Here's how to add that:

  1. Download the supplied artwork from here. There is art here for Xbox Cloud Gaming and the Microsoft Edge browser. We are going to be using the Microsoft Edge Beta files here:

    • Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Banner_Animated.png

    • Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Capsule.png

    • Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Icon.png

    Note: You can use a USB thumb drive to copy the files on to your Steam Deck, via Desktop mode.  One place to store the files is in the “Documents” folder. 

  2. In Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck, launch Steam, navigate to Microsoft Edge in your Library, right-click it, and select Properties.

  3. Add the icon: Select the blank square to the left of the name of the shortcut, navigate to the location you saved the artwork, and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Icon.png. Close this when you are done.

  4. Add the banner: Select the game in the Library, right click the blank area behind the title above the PLAY button, and select Set Custom Background. Navigate to your artwork and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Banner_Animated.png.

  5. Apply the capsule: In several of the Steam Library views you will see a “blank” Microsoft Edge rectangle like the following:

    The Microsoft Edge blank capsule in the Steam Library.

    Right-click it, and select Manage > Set custom artwork. Navigate to your artwork and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Capsule.png.

  6. Update RECENT GAMES: Once you have used the shortcut and launched Microsoft Edge at least once, it will appear in the RECENT GAMES section (again, within the desktop Steam client) with a blank background. Just as before, right-click, select Manage > Set custom artwork, navigate to your artwork and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Capsule.png.

    Tip: An easy way to make this happen is to launch it within the Steam desktop client, move your mouse cursor to the upper left corner to present your windows, and close the Microsoft Edge window from there. At that point it should be in RECENT GAMES.

At this point your Microsoft Edge shortcut is ready to go! You can return to Gaming Mode via the icon on the desktop.

If you've already set up Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) and would like to add the Microsoft Edge browser to Gaming Mode, good news: you've already done most of the work, and what you do need to do will look very familiar! Here it is:

  1. On the Steam Desktop, select Application Launcher > Internet, then right-click on Microsoft Edge and select Add to Steam.

  2. In the Add a Game window, scroll to find Microsoft Edge, check the box next to it, and select Add Selected Programs.

  3. Open Steam by selecting the Steam icon on the desktop.

  4. Select the Library tab, navigate to Microsoft Edge in the list, and then right-click it and select Properties.

  5. Scroll down to LAUNCH OPTIONS and append the following (after @@u @@):

    --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25

    Close this window when you are done.

Adding custom artwork to your shortcut

Adding custom artwork is the same process as before. Just in case you didn't do it with your Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) setup, though, we'll give you the whole walkthrough here:

  1. Download the supplied artwork from here. There is art here for Xbox Cloud Gaming and the Microsoft Edge browser. We are going to be using the Microsoft Edge Beta files here:

    • Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Banner_Animated.png

    • Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Capsule.png

    • Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Icon.png

    Note: You can use a USB thumb drive to copy the files on to your Steam Deck, via Desktop mode.  One place to store the files is in the “Documents” folder. 

  2. In Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck, launch Steam, navigate to Microsoft Edge in your Library, right-click it, and select Properties.

  3. Add the icon: Select the blank square to the left of the name of the shortcut, navigate to the location you saved the artwork, and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Icon.png. Close this when you are done.

  4. Add the banner: Select the game in the Library, right click the blank area behind the title above the PLAY button, and select Set Custom Background. Navigate to your artwork and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Banner_Animated.png.

  5. Apply the capsule: In several of the Steam Library views you will see a “blank” Microsoft Edge rectangle like the following:

    The Microsoft Edge blank capsule in the Steam Library.

    Right-click it, and select Manage > Set custom artwork. Navigate to your artwork and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Capsule.png.

  6. Update RECENT GAMES: Once you have used the shortcut and launched Microsoft Edge at least once, it will appear in the RECENT GAMES section (again, within the desktop Steam client) with a blank background. Just as before, right-click, select Manage > Set custom artwork, navigate to your artwork and select Microsoft_Edge_Beta_Capsule.png.

    Tip: An easy way to make this happen is to launch it within the Steam desktop client, move your mouse cursor to the upper left corner to present your windows, and close the Microsoft Edge window from there. At that point it should be in RECENT GAMES.

At this point your Microsoft Edge shortcut is ready to go! You can return to Gaming Mode via the icon on the desktop.

Would you like to know more?

For the latest updates and troubleshooting on using Microsoft Edge and Xbox Cloud Gaming with your Steam Deck, be sure to follow the ongoing discussions on the official Microsoft social media channels.

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