How to install SteamOS on ROG Ally (step by step)

You can install SteamOS on an ASUS ROG Ally or ROG Ally X with Valve's official recovery image: disable Secure Boot, boot a USB drive, and choose "Wipe Device & Install SteamOS". Valve lists both models under beta SteamOS support at the time of writing (October 2026), so it works, but with fewer guarantees than on a Steam Deck or Legion Go S. The install erases Windows completely.

This guide covers what you need, every step from Valve's instructions, which handhelds are supported, and when Bazzite is the better choice for your handheld.

Which handhelds can run SteamOS?

Valve's SteamOS installation page has two tiers:

Powered by SteamOS (full support): Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame and Lenovo Legion Go S. The Legion Go S is the only third-party handheld sold with SteamOS.
Beta SteamOS support: Lenovo Legion Go, ASUS ROG Ally, ASUS ROG Ally X and "other AMD powered handhelds".

Valve keeps adding devices in its release notes. SteamOS 3.8.28 (September 25, 2026) improved support for MSI Claw and OneXPlayer models and added gamepad support for the AYANEO Pocket S2 and others, and the 3.9.2 beta adds preliminary Legion Go 2 support. Some MSI Claw models use Intel chips, which Valve's support page does not list, so treat them as experimental.

What you need

An ROG Ally, ROG Ally X or another AMD handheld, charged or plugged in.
A USB drive of at least 8 GB, plus a USB-C hub or adapter if the drive is not USB-C.
Another computer to write the USB drive.
A backup of everything on the handheld: the install erases the whole internal drive, including Windows and your games.
Optional but useful: a USB mouse or keyboard, because the installer runs in a desktop rather than a controller interface.

Step 1: Download the SteamOS image

On Valve's installation page, download the SteamOS image "for Deck/Machine/PC". The other image is only for the Steam Frame headset.

Step 2: Write it to the USB drive

On Windows, Valve recommends Rufus: select the downloaded file and write it to the USB drive. On macOS or Linux, use balenaEtcher. Writing the image formats the USB drive.

Step 3: Disable Secure Boot on the ROG Ally

Valve says most non-Steam Deck devices need Secure Boot turned off to boot the installer. Valve's steps for the ROG Ally:

With the Ally powered on, choose restart.
While it restarts, hold the Volume Up button to open the BIOS utility.
Press Y for Advanced Mode.
Press right on the D-pad to reach the Security tab.
Move down to Secure Boot and press A.
Set Secure Boot Control to Disabled.
Press B to go back, then press right to Save & Exit.

On a Lenovo Legion Go, Valve's steps are: power off, hold Volume Up and press Power, choose BIOS Setup in the Novo Button Menu, then More Settings → Security → Secure Boot → Disabled, and exit saving changes.

Step 4: Boot from the USB drive

Shut the handheld down, connect the USB drive through your hub, and open the boot menu. On most handhelds this is a button combination at power-on; check your manufacturer's instructions. Choose the USB drive. The screen stays dark for a minute while it boots, then a desktop appears.

Step 5: Install SteamOS

In the recovery desktop, open Wipe Device & Install SteamOS. This fully wipes the device and installs stock SteamOS. When it finishes, reboot into the SteamOS welcome screen, connect to Wi-Fi and sign in to Steam.

The same USB drive also has Repair SteamOS, which reinstalls the system while trying to keep your games and files, and Re-image Device, a full factory reset. Keep the drive for later.

After installing: what to expect on the ROG Ally

The extra buttons are mapped. Valve added support for mapping the ROG Ally's additional buttons in an August 2024 update.
Updates come from Valve. SteamOS updates the whole system at once, like on a Steam Deck. You can switch between the Stable, Beta and Preview channels in Settings → System.
Support is limited. Valve says Steam Support may not be able to help with hardware outside its Powered by SteamOS list, and asks users to report problems on the SteamOS GitHub.
No dual boot. Valve's installer has no option to keep Windows. Going back means reinstalling Windows.

SteamOS or Bazzite on your handheld?

Bazzite is the most popular alternative for handhelds. It is a community project built on Fedora Atomic, with a Steam Gaming Mode image for handhelds and living-room PCs. Its handheld documentation has pages for ASUS, Lenovo, GPD, OneXPlayer, AYN and AYANEO devices.

Choose SteamOS if:

you want the system Valve itself builds and tunes, with the same updates as the Steam Deck
your handheld is on Valve's support list, such as the ROG Ally, Ally X or Legion Go
you don't need Windows on the same device

Choose Bazzite if:

you want to keep Windows: Bazzite's handheld image supports dual boot
you want Secure Boot left on: Bazzite supports it with its own signing key
your handheld is not on Valve's support list but has a page in Bazzite's handheld wiki
you want to install extra Linux packages that survive updates, which SteamOS does not guarantee

Bazzite's ROG Ally page lists known issues worth reading before you switch, such as audio volume quirks and a TDP setting that can stick after unplugging the charger in standby. Compare both systems on Bazzite vs SteamOS.

Troubleshooting

The USB drive does not appear in the boot menu. Secure Boot is probably still on: repeat step 3. Also try another USB port on your hub, or rewrite the drive with Rufus or balenaEtcher.
Black screen after choosing the USB drive. Wait at least a minute; Valve notes the screen goes dark while the installer boots.
Something breaks after an update. Use Repair SteamOS from the USB drive to reinstall while keeping your games.

Is the ROG Ally officially supported by SteamOS?

Partly. Valve lists the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X under beta SteamOS support, not as Powered by SteamOS devices. That means Valve tests and improves them, but Steam Support may have limited ability to help with problems specific to them.

Can I dual boot SteamOS and Windows on the ROG Ally?

Not with Valve's installer, which wipes the whole internal drive. If you want both, Bazzite supports dual boot with Windows on handhelds.

Is SteamOS better than Windows on the ROG Ally?

It depends on your games. SteamOS gives a console-like interface, fast suspend and resume, and runs most of the Steam library through Proton. Games whose anti-cheat blocks Linux will not run, and launchers outside Steam take extra setup in Desktop Mode.

What is SteamOS based on?

SteamOS 3 is based on Arch Linux, with a KDE Plasma desktop mode. Valve confirms this in its SteamOS FAQ. Read more in our SteamOS 3 explainer, or see the SteamOS release history.

Sources

Ready to put this into practice? Find your Linux distro or compare a shortlist.