Guide

How to Transfer Steam Games to Steam Deck Over Your Local Network

Valve supports a feature called Local Network Game Transfers, which lets one Steam client send game installation and update files to another device on the same local network instead of forcing a fresh internet download every time. That can include a Steam Deck. But this is not a blanket “copy everything” feature, and it does not move saves, settings, or Steam Cloud data with the game files. This guide explains what Valve officially supports, what has to be true before a transfer works, and what to check before you rely on it.

Source note

Valve support pages checked August 27, 2026. Local transfer behavior, supported conditions, and Steam settings can change, so recheck Valve’s current support pages before you depend on this workflow.

Quick answer: can you transfer Steam games to Steam Deck over local network?

Yes. Valve says a Steam Deck can receive game content from another Steam client on the same local network, and it can also host local network transfers in supported contexts. The key limits are that both Steam clients must be online, both must be able to see each other on the same LAN, and both must allow transfers under their current Steam settings. Valve also says the sending client must be idle, the game must be released and playable by both users, and the source device must already have the up-to-date game files. If any of those conditions fail, the transfer may not happen.

Source-backed: Valve Local Network Game Transfers FAQ

What Valve’s Local Network Game Transfers feature does

Valve describes Local Network Game Transfers as a way to copy existing game installation and update files from one PC to another over a local area network instead of downloading those same files again from a Steam content server on the internet. Valve specifically identifies a home setup with multiple PCs or Steam Decks on the same network as a common use case.

That is the right mental model for this feature:

• it is for game installation and update files
• it is meant for devices on the same local network
• it is not the same thing as Steam Cloud sync
• it is not a general “move my whole Steam setup” feature

PocketPlay editorial guidance: this is most useful when you already have a game fully installed and current on one machine and want to reduce repeat downloading inside the same home network. It is less useful if your problem is save migration, account setup, or a broken SteamOS install.

FAQ

Sources

• Valve Local Network Game Transfers(Primary source checked August 27, 2026.)
• Valve Steam Deck - Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide(Primary source checked August 27, 2026.)
• Valve Offline Mode(Narrow offline caveat source checked August 27, 2026.)