The Steam Deck has changed the landscape of portable gaming, and now with the addition of NVIDIA’s native GeForce NOW app, it makes the cloud gaming experience even better. This guide will teach you how to install, set up, and use GeForce NOW on your Steam Deck for high-performance cloud gaming wherever you go.
🎮 What is NVIDIA’s Native GeForce NOW App?
GeForce NOW is NVIDIA’s cloud gaming service that will allow you to play AAA PC games on low spec devices by streaming them directly from their powerful servers. With the launch of the native GeForce NOW app, Steam Deck users will now benefit from:
- Low latency play
- Improved controller support
- Better performance
- Full screen handheld gaming
Why Use GeForce NOW on Steam Deck?
Before we get into the step by step instructions, lets outline some of the reasons why using GeForce NOW on Steam Deck is a great idea.
- Play AAA games without using local storage
- Save battery life by streaming the game rather than running it locally
- Access your entire PC game library (Steam, Epic games, Ubisoft – everything)
- Play any game with no downloads or updates required (your subscription allows instant access to many cloud-enabled PC titles)
How to Install NVIDIA’s Native GeForce NOW App on Steam Deck
Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode
Hold the Power button.
Select “Switch to Desktop” from the power menu.
Wait for the Steam Deck to boot into KDE Plasma desktop.
Step 2: Open Discover Store
Click on the blue shopping bag icon on the task bar to open the Discover store.
Search for GeForce NOW.
Locate the official NVIDIA GeForce NOW app.
✅ Tip: Approach installing it via Flatpak if not directly available from the repository OR add it directly from websites ( ie., nvidia.com).
Step 3: Install GeForce NOW
Simply click Install.
From here, you can open the app directly from desktop mode.
Step 4: Add to Steam Library (Optional but Recommended)
Open Steam from desktop mode.
Go to “Games” > “Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.”
Click on GeForce NOW and then click “Add Selected Programs.”
How to Use GeForce NOW on Steam Deck
Step 1: Launch the App
Return to Gaming Mode from start menu.
Go to your Steam Library and select and launch GeForce NOW.
Step 2: Log in to Your NVIDIA Account
Log in with your NVIDIA credentials or create a new account.
Log in and sync your games libraries like Steam, Epic Games, and Ubisoft.
Step 3: Search and Play
Browse or search for your game of choice.
Select “Play” and the game will launch using NVIDIA’s cloud servers.
🎯 Performance Tip: For the best experience, use a strong Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection (recommended minimum 15 Mbps)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
❓Do I have to pay for the GeForce NOW app?
You can use the free tier, but increasing your monthly subscription to Priority or Ultimate will improve the performance and increase your gaming session times.
❓Do I need a computer with a GeForce graphics card?
Nope! There is no requirement to have your own PC with a GeForce graphics card because since it is cloud based, the GPU of the game is hosted by NVIDIA’s powerful servers.
❓Can I play all of my Steam games?
You will be able to play any game that is supported by GeForce NOW, please check the list on NVIDIA’s pages on all supported games.
Final Thoughts
Now the NVIDIA native GeForce NOW app is available for Steam Deck, we can go gaming with NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW on a portable device. Now any time you want to play fast FPS games or RPG’s, it doesn’t matter if it’s not installed on your Steam Deck, the cloud is your new play space. Follow this guide to get started and use GeForce NOW to its potential with your Steam Deck.
