Secure your Deck with PIN protection
Not that the added security isn’t appreciated, but Valve never actually explained how to set the Steam Deck lock screen in theirLock Screen Updatepatch notes. Good thing, then, that adding PIN protection to your handheld PC is quick and easy, as this step-by-step guide will show.
Image credit:Rock Paper ShotgunSteam Deck Academybrings together all our guides and explainers on getting the most out of your Steam Deck, no student loans or sweaty dormitories required.
Steam Deck Academybrings together all our guides and explainers on getting the most out of your Steam Deck, no student loans or sweaty dormitories required.
Yes, the Steam Deck now has a lock screen, ready to thwart potential troublemakers who might otherwise take advantage of an unattended Deck to mess with your settings, delete saves or, or just straight-up commit theft. A PIN won’t stop the crim from running off with the whole device, of course, but itwillstop them from accessing your Steam account. Suck it, evildoer – no ill-gottenSteam Deck Verified gamesfor you.
This guide will show you how to enable the Steam Deck’s lock screen, including setting a PIN, through the default Gaming Mode. This is something of a necessity, as Valve have acknowledged aserious technical issuewith trying to apply the requisite software update while in the Deck’s Desktop Mode: it can cause an infinite boot loop, needing a full OS recovery to fix. Nasty stuff, so do stick to Gaming Mode for the following steps.
How to set the Steam Deck lock screen
Step 2:Wait a few minutes for the update to apply, and when it’s finished, restart your Steam Deck. This will also take a few minutes, maybe just enough time to read ourbest microSD cards for the Steam Deckguide.
Step 3:Once the update/restart is complete, sign in and hit the Steam button again. Open up Settings and you’ll notice a new Security tab, so select this and toggle one of the three options for when you want the lock screen to appear. Select the first toggle if you want it up every time you boot the Deck, or wake it from sleep mode.
Step 4:This is where you can choose a six-digit PIN, using either the Deck’s buttons or touchscreen to punch it in. Standard digi-security best practices apply here: nothing easily guessable, or ha-ha ironic like 123456. After entering your shiny new PIN, enter it again to confirm.
Step 5:You selected toggle will now be blue, showing that PIN protection is in place and that the lock screen will start appearing. At this point you can also set the other two toggles without needing to input the PIN again.
Step 6:To reset your PIN, you can return to this menu any time and select – yes! – “Reset PIN”. You’ll just need to tap in your existing PIN once and enter a new PIN twice.
If you ever forget your PIN, you can begin the process of resetting it by pressing the Steam Deck’s options button (the one with three horizontal lines, next to the right thumbstick) while on the lock screen. You’ll need to enter the username and password of the account you’re resetting the PIN for, and that won’t be a problem because it’s your own account. Right?
For more on getting the most from Valve’s go-anywhere PC, you can check out ourSteam Deck battery life guideand our guide onhow to install the Epic Games Launcher on the Steam Deck. We’ve also got guides onhow to install Proton GE on the Steam Deck, to fix compatibility issues with certain games, andhow to use Steam Remote Play with the Steam Deck.
