How to Set a Custom Boot Video on Your Steam Deck (Without Paying for It)

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Want to give your Steam Deck a fresh look every time you power it on? You don’t need to pay for Valve’s official boot animations or rely on broken plugins. Here’s how to set a free, custom boot video manually — no Decky Loader required.

Why Customize Your Boot Video?

Let’s face it: the default Steam Deck startup animation gets old fast. Why not spice it up with something cooler? Whether it’s the Matrix code, a Cyberpunk 2077 intro, or even a GameCube boot screen, there’s a custom boot video out there that fits your vibe.

What You’ll Need

• Steam Deck in Desktop Mode
• .webm file at 1200×800 resolution
• File manager (like Dolphin or Thunar)
• Internet access for downloading videos

Step-by-Step Guide to Install a Custom Boot Video Manually

1. Boot into Desktop Mode by holding the Power button and selecting ‘Switch to Desktop’.
2. Open a browser and head to steamdeckrepo.com/bootvideos to pick your video.
3. Download your chosen .webm file and move it to your home directory (e.g., /home/deck/).
4. Open a file manager and navigate to /home/deck/.steam/root/config/uioverrides/movies/. If the folders don’t exist, create them manually.
5. Rename your video to deck_startup.webm and copy it into the movies folder.
6. Reboot your Steam Deck and go to Settings → Personalization → Startup Animation to select your new video.

Alternative: Use Steam Deck Repo Manager

If you want a slightly easier route, try the Steam Deck Repo Manager app. It automates the download and installation of boot videos without needing to touch any file paths.

Just search for the video you want, click install, and it handles the rest. No manual file management, no fuss.

Official (Paid) Option: Steam Points Shop

Valve sells official boot animations through the Steam Points Shop under Settings → Customization → View Points Shop → Start animations. These are polished but limited compared to what the community offers — and you have to pay for them.

Unless you’re a die-hard Steam fan, there’s no reason to spend points here. The free community options are just as good — if not better.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

Setting a custom boot video on your Steam Deck is easier than you might think — and completely free. Forget Decky Loader’s broken Animation Changer plugin. Stick with the manual method or use Steam Deck Repo Manager for simplicity.

Ready to give your Steam Deck a new startup look? Head over to steamdeckrepo.com/bootvideos and find the perfect video for your style.