How to install SteamOS on ROG Ally, Legion Go, and more

While Valve's Steam Deck pioneered the SteamOS handheld experience, third-party manufacturers like ASUS and Lenovo are now jumping aboard the SteamOS train. The Lenovo Legion Go S became the first official "Powered by SteamOS" third-party handheld, but what about existing devices like the ROG Ally and original Legion Go?

Installing SteamOS on these Windows-based handhelds often brings better performance in a few games as it unlocks extra system resources for the title to use. Valve's lightweight operating system is based on a custom Linux kernel specialized for gaming, which cuts off much off the bloat a general-purpose OS has to bundle.

Current SteamOS compatibility across handheld devices

Before diving into installation steps, let's look at which devices support the operating system and to what extent.

Officially supported devices

Steam Deck (all models) - Full native support
Lenovo Legion Go S - Third-party handheld with official SteamOS

Semi-official compatibility (manual installation required)

ASUS ROG Ally & ROG Ally X
Lenovo Legion Go (original)
Other AMD-powered handhelds - Varying degrees of success depending on specific hardware

Limited or no support

MSI Claw series - Intel-based architecture currently unsupported
GPD devices - Claims of support remain unverified by Valve
OneXPlayer/AYANEO models - Community solutions only, no official pathway

You'll need an AMD system to run the operating system. As of writing, Intel-based devices barred from entry unless Valve expands official support beyond AMD's ecosystem.

Step-by-step SteamOS installation for ROG Ally

BIOS configuration and setup

The ROG Ally brings significant performance improvements with Valve's OS installed (Image via Asus)

Access the ROG Ally's BIOS by holding Volume DOWN + Power button during startup. You'll need to make several critical changes:

Disable Secure Boot - Navigate to Security settings and turn off Secure Boot (mandatory)
Set USB as primary boot device - Change boot priority to USB first
Enable UEFI mode - Ensure Legacy BIOS support is disabled
Save changes - Exit BIOS with settings saved

Creating bootable media

Download the official recovery image from Valve's website. Using Rufus on Windows:

Select your USB drive (8GB minimum)
Choose the Steam OS recovery image file
Use default settings and click "Start"
Wait 5-10 minutes for completion

Once these steps are done, the installation stage begins. Follow these steps:

Boot from USB - Insert the bootable USB and restart while holding Volume UP
Select installation option - Choose "Wipe Device & Install SteamOS" from the desktop
Confirm data wipe - The installer will warn about permanent data loss
Wait for completion - Installation typically takes 15-30 minutes
Initial setup - Configure WiFi, Steam account login, and system updates

Post-installation optimization

The real work begins after installation. By default, the OS is limited to 15W TDP settings, mimicking the Steam Deck. On the Ally, this will severely limit framerates.

Essential plugin installation via Decky Loader:

SimpleDeckyTDP - Unlocks full 5W-30W TDP range for proper performance scaling
CSS Loader - UI customization options
SteamGridDB - Nice-to-hav efor game artwork management

Legion Go generally offers better SteamOS compatibility than ROG Ally devices

The Legion Go bundles more robust support for SteamOS (Image via B&H)

The installation process on the Lenovo Legion Go devices mirrors the ROG Ally procedure but typically encounters fewer compatibility issues. You get better sleep/wake functionality, 10-15% higher framerates compared to Windows, full 2560×1600 resolution and 144Hz display support, and seamless detachable controller operation.

Most devices also report running cooler and significantly quieter with Valve's OS installed. Boot times have also been reported to halve with the lightweight kernel. This also helps with the longevity of your device.

While there are several positives to installing Valve's OS, do note that anti-cheat compatibility renders titles such as Valorant and Apex Legends unplayable. Moreover, you lose access to Game Pass completely, which may not be ideal for some.

On unsupported devices such as the MSI Claw, consider installing Bazzite OS, which is the closest alternative in terms of performance capabilities that also bundles access to Epic Games Store and GOG.

About the author

Arka’s journey as a tech journalist took root in his educational background as a computer science undergraduate. Gathering valuable experience from YT Times, Quoramarketing.com, Games Bap, and Outscal, Arka now produces top-notch content for the Gaming Tech division of Sportskeeda.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Buildzoid and Gamers Nexus, Arka relies on thorough testing and in-depth research of the latest hardware to ensure the delivery of authentic information in his articles. His genre expertise has also led him to work with tech giants such as Dell, Logitech, AMD, Nvidia, and more, where he reviewed their latest hardware.

While he delves into language modeling in his free time, he also finds time for gaming. His go-to genre is single-player games, but he often revisits Conflict: Desert Storm I and II, the former being the game that prompted him to undertake the journey he’s enjoying today. If he ever got a chance to drop into a game Jumanji-style, it would have to be Mafia: Definitive Edition.

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Edited by Arka Mukherjee