How to Clone Your Steam Deck's SSD | Easiest Way

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to clone your Steam Deck's SSD to a new drive. This allows you to upgrade storage capacity while preserving all your games, settings, and configurations.

Upgrading your Steam Deck's SSD can significantly enhance your gaming experience by providing more storage space for your favorite titles. However, transferring your existing data and settings to a new SSD can be daunting. EaseUS will guide you through cloning your Steam Deck's SSD using EaseUS Partition Master, a powerful and user-friendly tool that simplifies the upgrade process.

How to Clone Your Steam Deck's SSD - Complete Guide

Cloning your Steam Deck's SSD using EaseUS Partition Master Professional is an efficient way to upgrade your storage without losing valuable data and configurations. This method saves you from the hassle of re-downloading games, reconfiguring settings, and navigating the complexities of the Linux-based SteamOS. 

Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can seamlessly transfer your entire Steam Deck environment to a larger SSD, ensuring ample space for your growing game library while maintaining all your personalized settings. 

Preparations for Cloning Steam Deck SSD:

Here is a list that contains everything you will need during cloning the Steam Deck SSD:

• Your Steam Deck
• A Windows PC
• A Phillips-head screwdriver (#0 size), A PH1 or PH0 screwdriver
• Prying tool or opening pick: To help separate the back cover from the main body
• Optional: ESD-safe tweezers For handling small components and cables
• Optional: USB-C External NVME SSD enclosure
• Optional: Micro SD card or USB drive: This is for reinstalling SteamOS if it is not cloning

Phase 1. Remove the Original SSD

It is advised that you empty your Steam Deck battery below 25% before opening it because there is a risk of inadvertently puncturing a Li-Ion battery. Additionally, switch your Steam Deck to battery storage mode. Let's begin:

Step 1. Unscrew and take off the back cover screws.

Step 2. Remove the three screws securing the board shield and take it off.

Step 3. Disconnect the battery cable by pulling on its tab.

Step 4. Remove the single screw holding the SSD in place.

Step 5. Gently pull out the old SSD from its M.2 slot.

Phase 2. Clone Steam Deck's Internal SSD

Connect the Steam Deck's original and new SSD to your computer. First, use EaseUS Partition Master to initialize the new SSD before you start:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master and switch to the Partition Manager tab.

Step 2. Right-click the target new SSD and select "Initialize to MBR" or "Initialize to GPT." Then click "Execute Task" > "Apply" to apply the changes.

Then, you can begin to clone and upgrade your Steam Deck SSD:

Step 1. Select the source disk.

• Click the "Clone" from the left menu. Select the "Clone OS Disk" or "Clone Data Disk"  and click "Next".
• Choose the source disk and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the target disk.

• Choose the wanted HDD/SSD as your destination and click "Next" to continue.
• Read Warning message and confirm "Yes" button.

Step 3. View the disk layout and edit the target disk partition size. 

Then click "Continue" when the program warns it will wipe out all data on the target disk. (If you have valuable data on the target disk, back up it in advance.)

You can select "Autofit the disk", "Clone as the source" or "Edit disk layout" to customize your disk layout. (Select the last one if you want to leave more space for C drive.)

Step 4. Click "Start" to start the disk cloning process.

Phase 3. Put the New SSD Into the Steam Deck

The entire process should take about 20 minutes. Be sure to use the correct screwdriver sizes and handle components carefully.  Here are the key steps to replace the SSD in a Steam Deck. 

• Power down the Steam Deck and unplug any cables.
• Remove the eight screws on the back cover using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Carefully take off the back cover.
• Remove the single screw holding the SSD in place.
• Use the shielding that is removed from the old SSD.
• Insert the new M.2 2230 SSD at the same angle as the original.
• Secure the new SSD with the screw.
• Reconnect the battery cable and replace the board shield and its three screws.
• Snap the back cover into place and replace the eight screws.
• Follow Valve's official instructions to reinstall SteamOS on the new drive.

If this post helps you complete the Steam Deck SSD cloning process successfully, you can share it online:

Why Should I Upgrade My Steam Deck's SSD

Upgrading your Steam Deck's SSD offers several significant benefits:

• Increased storage capacity: A larger SSD allows you to store more games, apps, and media on your device without relying on external storage options.
• Improved performance: Higher-capacity SSDs often come with better read/write speeds, potentially enhancing game load times and overall system responsiveness.
• Future-proofing: As games continue to grow in size and complexity, a larger SSD ensures your Steam Deck can handle upcoming titles without storage constraints.
• Cost-effective upgrade: Upgrading the SSD yourself can be more economical than purchasing a higher-capacity Steam Deck model from Valve.
• Flexibility: You can choose an SSD that best fits your needs in terms of capacity, performance, and budget.
• Enhanced gaming experience: With more storage, you can keep a larger library of games installed and ready to play, reducing the need for frequent downloads or uninstalls.
• Potential for faster load times: Depending on the SSD you choose, you may experience faster game load times and improved overall system performance.
• Longevity: SSDs with larger capacities often have better endurance ratings, potentially extending the lifespan of your storage solution.

By upgrading your Steam Deck's SSD, you're essentially future-proofing your device, ensuring it can handle the growing demands of modern gaming while providing a more seamless and enjoyable gaming experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using EaseUS Partition Master to clone your Steam Deck's SSD is a simple and effective way to upgrade your storage capacity and improve performance. By following the step-by-step instructions in this guide, you can successfully transfer all your data and settings to a new SSD without losing any information. With the ability to clone your SSD, you can enjoy a seamless gaming experience on your Steam Deck with more storage space and faster speeds. Thank you for reading, and we hope this article has helped you with cloning your Steam Deck's SSD.

FAQs About How to Clone Your Steam Deck's SSD

Find more useful information about how to clone and upgrade your Steam SSD in this FAQ part:

1. What are the main benefits of cloning the Steam Deck SSD using EaseUS Partition Master?

Here are the advantages of using the EaseUS Partition Master Clone tool to upgrade Steam SSD:

• Preserves all your data and configurations: Cloning allows you to transfer your entire Steam Deck environment, including games, settings, and personalized configurations, to a new SSD without starting from scratch.
• Saves time: Cloning is much faster than re-downloading games and reconfiguring settings on a new SSD.
• Easy to use: EaseUS Partition Master provides a user-friendly interface with simple steps to clone the entire SSD.
• Clones only used sectors: The software can clone only the used sectors of the original SSD, saving time and space on the new drive.
• Handles initialization of new SSDs: If you're using a brand new SSD, EaseUS Partition Master can initialize it before cloning

2. Can you add another SSD to Steam Deck?

Yes, you can replace or add a new SSD to your Steam Deck. The Steam Deck is designed with a single M.2 2230 SSD slot, which means you can only replace the existing SSD with a larger capacity one, rather than adding an additional drive.

3. Can I clone SSD without enclosure?

 It is possible to clone an SSD without using an enclosure, but it may require some additional steps or tools. Here are the main options:

• Use a bootable USB or SD card
• Use the Steam Deck's built-in storage
• Direct replacement and cloning
• Use existing hardware