If you’re a Valorant fan who recently picked up a Steam Deck, the first question you probably typed into your search bar is can you play Valorant on Steam Deck. Riot’s hit 5v5 tactical shooter has one of the most dedicated player bases in gaming, and the idea of jumping into quick unrated matches or Spike Rush games on the go sounds like a dream for many players. But Valorant’s strict anti-cheat system and lack of native Linux support throw a few wrenches into that portable play plan. We’ve tested every possible method to run the game on Valve’s handheld, so we’ll break down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and what risks you need to know before you start.
Can You Play Valorant on Steam Deck Officially?
The short official answer is no, you can’t run Valorant on Steam Deck’s default SteamOS operating system right now. The main roadblock is Valorant’s anti-cheat Vanguard does not support Linux-based operating systems at this time. Riot designed Vanguard to work exclusively with 64-bit Windows 10 and 11, and the team has stated multiple times that there are no current plans to add native Linux or Steam Deck support.
You also can’t run the game through Steam’s Proton compatibility layer, even if you own a copy of Valorant purchased outside the Steam store. Proton works by translating Windows API calls to Linux, but Vanguard actively detects this type of emulation and will block the game from launching entirely. Riot has put strict rules in place to prevent cheating, and any attempt to run the game in an unsupported environment can lead to permanent account restrictions, so it’s not worth trying to bypass these protections on SteamOS.
That doesn’t mean portable Valorant on Steam Deck is impossible, though. You just have to make a few small adjustments to the handheld’s software to get the game up and running. It’s not an official supported setup, but thousands of players already use this method to play Valorant on their Steam Decks without major issues.
Workarounds to Run Valorant on Steam Deck
The only reliable way to run Valorant on your Steam Deck is to install Windows 10 or 11 on the device. Valve designed the Steam Deck to be fully customizable, so you can install a secondary operating system either on the internal SSD or a high-speed microSD card if you don’t want to replace your default SteamOS setup.
Installing Windows on your Steam Deck will not void your manufacturer warranty, per Valve’s official support statements. The process is relatively straightforward for users who have experience installing Windows on other devices, but if you’re new to modifying system software, you can find step-by-step tutorials to walk you through each part of the process. You’ll need a USB-C hub, a 16GB or larger USB drive, and a valid Windows license to complete the setup.
Once you have Windows installed on your Steam Deck, you can download the Riot Client, install Valorant, and launch the game just like you would on a regular Windows PC. You’ll need to make sure you enable TPM 2.0 in the Steam Deck’s BIOS before installing Windows, as Vanguard requires this security feature to run. If you skip this step, the game will refuse to launch even on a Windows setup.
You can also map the Steam Deck’s built-in controls to Valorant’s in-game inputs through the Steam overlay once the game is installed. The default layout works for casual play, but you can adjust the sensitivity, button mapping, and gyro controls to match your personal play style for better performance.
Expected Performance When Running Valorant on Steam Deck
Once you have Valorant running on a Windows-installed Steam Deck, performance is surprisingly solid for a handheld device. The Steam Deck’s custom AMD APU is more than powerful enough to run the game at the device’s native 1280x800 resolution, even with some graphical settings turned up.
Most players report getting between 60 and 90 frames per second on medium to low graphical settings, which is more than enough for smooth casual play. If you prioritize frame rate over visual quality, you can turn all settings down to the lowest level to hit a consistent 90fps, which matches the Steam Deck’s maximum display refresh rate. Expect 2-3 hours of battery life per charge when playing Valorant on maximum performance settings, which is on par with most other high-demand games on the handheld. If you limit your frame rate to 60fps and lower the screen brightness, you can extend that to 3.5 to 4 hours per charge for longer play sessions.
To get the best possible performance, follow these simple tweaks:
- Set Valorant’s in-game resolution to 1280x800 to match the Steam Deck’s native display, avoiding upscaling lag
- Turn off shadow effects and anti-aliasing first to boost frame rates without heavily impacting visibility
- Limit your frame rate to 60fps to extend battery life and prevent overheating during long ranked matches
- Enable Steam Deck’s performance overlay to monitor temperature and CPU/GPU usage during play
You can also connect a keyboard and mouse to your Steam Deck via Bluetooth or the USB-C hub if you want a more traditional control setup. This eliminates the disadvantage of using a controller, and makes the device a viable option for playing ranked matches when you’re away from your main gaming PC.
Key Risks and Considerations Before You Try
While running Valorant on Steam Deck works well for most casual players, there are a few important risks and downsides you need to consider before you go through the trouble of installing Windows on your device.
First and foremost, Never attempt to run Valorant through Proton or Linux compatibility layers. We mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating: Vanguard will detect this type of emulation, and you run a very high risk of getting your Valorant account permanently banned. Riot does not make exceptions for players who get banned for using unsupported environments, so you could lose all your skins, rank progress, and account access permanently if you try to bypass the anti-cheat.
Second, even if you run the game on a legitimate Windows installation, Riot does not provide official support for Valorant on Steam Deck. If you run into technical issues, crashes, or account problems related to running the game on a handheld device, Riot’s support team will not help you resolve them. Most players don’t run into issues, but it’s a risk to keep in mind if you rely on your Valorant account for competitive play.
Third, You will face a noticeable competitive disadvantage if you use the default Steam Deck controls for ranked play. Valorant is designed for precise keyboard and mouse input, and even the best controller players will struggle to keep up with mouse and keyboard players in higher rank lobbies. The built-in gyro controls help a lot with aim, but you still won’t have the same level of precision as you would on a regular PC setup. Save the controller layout for casual unrated or Spike Rush matches, and use a keyboard and mouse if you plan to play ranked.
At the end of the day, if you’ve been wondering can you play Valorant on Steam Deck, the answer is yes, as long as you’re willing to install Windows on the device and accept the small risks that come with using an unsupported setup. It’s perfect for casual play when you’re traveling, visiting friends, or just want to play from the comfort of your couch without dragging your full gaming PC with you. If you’re a serious competitive player who only plays ranked matches, you’re probably better off sticking to your main PC for the best performance and no account risks. For everyone else, it’s a fun way to enjoy one of the most popular tactical shooters on the market in a portable form factor.
