Is your Steam Deck SSD full? Learn 3 safe, beginner-friendly ways to clear “Other” storage and Shader Caches without deleting your favorite games.
Is your Steam Deck “Other” Storage full? Here is the Fix.
If you own a 64GB or 256GB Steam Deck, you’ve likely seen the dreaded “Other” category eating up your precious SSD space. Even if you install games on a microSD card, Steam keeps “Shader Caches” and “Compatdata” on the internal drive.
Here are the 3 safest ways to get that space back without risking your system or your save files.
1. Empty the Desktop Trash (The “Hidden” GBs)
When you delete files in Desktop Mode, the Steam Deck doesn’t actually erase them—it moves them to a Trash folder that still sits on your SSD.
- The Fix: Switch to Desktop Mode > Open Dolphin (the blue folder icon) > Right-click Trash in the left sidebar > Select Empty Trash.
- Safety: 100% Safe. It only deletes what you already threw away.
2. Clear the Download Cache
Steam often leaves behind “stale” update data that clogs up the system over time.
- The Fix: Go to Settings > Downloads > Scroll down and click Clear Download Cache.
- Safety: 100% Safe. Your Deck will restart and you may need to log back in, but no games are deleted.
3. Use “Storage Cleaner” for Uninstalled Games
This is the most powerful tool for 2026. When you uninstall a game, the Steam Deck often leaves the “Shader Caches” (graphics files) behind.
- Install Decky Loader (The most trusted community tool).
- Open the Plugin Store (stall icon) and install Storage Cleaner.
- Open the plugin and look for games under “Uninstalled.”
- Select Delete Shader Cache.
- Safety: High. If you ever reinstall the game, Steam will simply download the shaders again.
⚠️ Beginner Tip: In Storage Cleaner, you will see an option for “Compatdata.” Avoid deleting this for games you are currently playing, as it can occasionally contain save files for non-Steam games.
How to Check Your Progress
To see how much space you’ve saved:
- Go to Settings > Storage.
- Note the size of the “Other” bar.
- Perform the steps above and Restart your Steam Deck.
- Return to the Storage menu to see your new free space!
The Permanent Fix: Get an A2 MicroSD Card
If you find yourself cleaning your storage every week, your internal drive is simply too small for your library. The best “set and forget” solution in 2026 is to use a high-speed A2-rated microSD card.
Recommended Cards for 2026:
- Samsung Pro Plus: The best overall balance of speed and price.
- SanDisk Extreme: The fastest for heavy AAA games.
- Lexar Play: The best budget-friendly high-capacity (1TB+) option.
Disclaimer & Safety Note: Proceed at your own risk. While the methods in this guide are widely considered safe by the Steam Deck community and do not void your warranty, they involve third-party tools and manual file deletion. We recommend backing up any important game saves (especially for non-Steam games) before performing a deep clean. Neither the author nor Valve is responsible for any data loss or system errors that may occur.
Read more guides: How to Fix Steam Deck Other Storage | Steam Screenshot Folder Location | How to Play Fortnite on Steam Deck | How to Reset Steam Deck Sudo Password After Factory Reset