You can run multiple micro-SD cards simultaneously

[ba0701]

Just thought I'd pass this along. I am ever the tinkerer, especially when it comes to drive space. Swapping out SD cards regularly is not feasible, and I often find myself jumping from one game to the next until I find one that will hold my interest for awhile.

I currently have 4 micro-SD cards connected to my Steam Deck at the same time, while docked, and have them all loaded with accessible games, for a grand total of 3.5TB. I have 2x 1TB micro-SD cards, 2x 512GB micro-SD cards, and the 512GB internal SSD.

I have one multi-card reader with a micro-SD slot, and one standard SD slot. I put one card in the micro slot, and one card in an SD adapter, and they are both accessible, and can R/W simultaneously. Then I have a small USB 3.2 micro-SD card reader plugged into another port on the same hub for the third external card.

There are a few steps required to make all of this happen on the Deck, some of these steps can be altered, such as where I have found that using the Minitool Partition Wizard <free version> (as recommended by RoyalMetalKnights, thank you Sir) to partition and format my micro-SD cards is the best option for me, after tons of trial and serious error, but you can use whatever your favorite tool is or whatever process you're comfortable using. The steps are as follows:

1) partition/format micro-SD card on my Windows PC, using Minitool PW <free version> to EXT4

2) put the micro-SD card into the Deck's built-in slot, and put the Deck into Desktop Mode

3)Mount the newly inserted SD card by clicking the Most Recent Devices icon in the lower right hand "systray" area

4) While still in Desktop Mode, right click on the Steam icon in the same lower right hand "systray" area, go to Settings>Downloads>Steam Library Folders and add your new drive by clicking the +

5) Once Steam recognizes the new card for installing games, Unmount the card in the same Most Recent Devices icon previously used

6) Still remaining in Desktop Mode, plug the micro-SD card into a USB reader and plug it into a USB hub that is attached to your Deck.

7) Repeat steps 3 and 4, but this time in Step 4 you'll see the card being listed as a long list of numbers that will look similar to this: /run/media/deck/1211a-11j2389498-123238d-dd234

Once you have completed step 7 your micro-SD card, which is now connected to your Deck via USB card reader, should be fully functional. Depending on your POE, like the model card, card reader, and hub you have will affect the performance of your card, but in my case I literally have no difference in performance between my cards plugged into USB and the card plugged directly into my Deck.

I also had, in one instance, where the Deck gaming mode still did not recognize the SD card under storage, so I went back to desktop mode, where it still recognized the card, and I installed a small game, something that would download quickly, just to get something in the library folder, and after that the card was then recognized and accessible under Storage in gaming mode.

The reason for having to add the card twice, into your Steam Library Folders, beginning with it plugged directly into the Deck, is I have been unable to add the cards to the Library Folders while they are plugged into the USB readers.

I would imagine that there is a finite number of external drives you can use simultaneously, but I have no idea what that number would be. I would imagine it would be whatever the number of accessible drives Linux supports, but at least in my case I have 3 external cards working at the same time, which is a great start.

I am sure many will not see the benefit of this, but for me, who uses my Deck primarily while docked, this was tremendously helpful. We all will likely end up with multiple micro-SD cards loaded with games, but having as many of them plugged in and functioning simultaneously as I am able has really made the experience just that much better. For those interested in doing the same thing, I hope this helps!

Cheers!

[盗号四全家]

ACTUALLY, I think you can replace the original ssd to a larger ssd, maybe use 1TB ssd, because a premium TF card (Micro card) is expensive, and use 4 micro card need to use a dock. Use a 1TB 2230 SSD and 1TB micro card, you can get 2TB storage, i think it's enough to most people.

[盗号四全家]

And the steam deck is support to replace the 2230 SSD just, you can buy one 1TB 2230 SSD from amazon, if you don't know how to replace it, i can help you.

[MRK0017]

+1 for replacing the SSD. I replaced mine (64Gb) with a 500Gb I got from a laptop, reimaged the Deck using the official method, it works flawlessly. Added in a 500Gb SD Card where I store roms and non steam games, and I'm good :D

If you can find a 1Tb drive, go for it.

[Panther_ga]

I am in the process of doing this exact thing. I want to have Multiple sd cards/ thumb drives available for me in game mode. I am new to the community and would love to have some help in setting this up.

[John Helldiver]

it works but everytime i disconnect the deck or the reader i have to add it again thru desktop mode and steam library folders, is there any wat to auto add it?

[DerSchrecken]

Thanks! Works perfect for me. If the SD reader is disconnected, you need only to go in desktop mode and mount the card(s) again. Not needed to goto steam and add to library again.

[✨TheExtremeGamer✨]

what multi-card reader do you use?

[JoshuYoshida]

no idea why my SD card reader wont show both cards on steamdeck or PC, legit confused

[PsyBlade]

Originally posted by JoshuYoshida:

no idea why my SD card reader wont show both cards on steamdeck or PC, legit confused

Thats common for readers with multiple different slots. Basically they are a one slot reader with different adaptors built in. If you want one that reads multiple cards at the same time you have to specifically look for them.

Readers with multiple identical slots otoh should usually do that but beware of ones with selector switches.