How To Install SteamOS On The Legion Go

SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system by Valve, optimized for gaming. It was first introduced with the Steam Deck, giving users a console like experience on handheld gaming PC’s.

Three years later, Valve has finally released the operating system to the public for everyone to install on their handheld gaming PC’s like the Legion Go. This gives users an alternative operating system to run besides Windows which isn’t the most handheld friendly experience. Microsoft is working on handheld friendly OS also but it’s rumored to be releasing at the end of the year.

The Legion Go is not officially supported like the Legion Go S yet but Valve provided instructions on their website to install it on the device with the release of SteamOS 3.7.

How To Install SteamOS On The Legion Go

Note: Installing a new operating system will wipe your Legion Go so make sure to backup any files before proceeding.

1. 1. 1. The first thing you want to do is download the official SteamOS image from here.
    2. Next, you want to download Balena Etcher for Windows here.
    3. After both files are downloaded, connect a USB thumb drive (8GB minimum) to your Legion Go using a USB hub or USB-C adapter. This drive will be wiped during this process so make sure to backup any files before doing the next step.
    4. Launch Balena Etcher, click Flash from file, find the SteamOS image you downloaded and select it.
    5. Click Select target and select your USB hard drive.
    6. Press Flash. Now wait as SteamOS will be written to the USB stick. Depending on the speed of your hard drive it should take a few minutes.
    7. After it’s finished. Turn Off your Legion Go. While off hold the Volume Up button and Power button at the same time until the NOVA button menu screen appears. Click BIOS Setup. Now you should be in the Legion Go BIOS screen, click More Setting at the bottom right of the screen and then go to Security. Scroll down until you Secure Boot. You want to disable it. Exit while Saving changes.
    8. After your device restarts, you want turn off the Legion Go again and go back into the BIOS. When the NOVA button menu screen appears again, click Boot Menu. Select the USB Device you installed SteamOS on.
    9. Once the SteamOS installer loads, click the Wipe Device & Install SteamOS icon on the desktop. A pop up will appear warning you that all your data will be wiped during the installation of SteamOS. Click Proceed.
    10. Once that is finished, click Proceed to reboot into the official SteamOS setup screen.
    11. From here you can choose your language, timezone and connect to your wifi to download any required updates.
    12. You should now be at the Steam login screen for SteamOS.

Decky Loader & Simple Decky TDP

For TDP Control we are going to install Simple Decky TDP via Decky Loader.

Switch to Desktop Mode within SteamOS, open up a browser and go to https://decky.xyz/ and click the Download button at the top right of the page. Once downloaded click and select execute. Install the stable release.
Go to System Settings, scroll down to user and create a user password.
Open up Terminal.
Paste this code and press enter curl -L https://github.com/aarron-lee/SimpleDeckyTDP/raw/main/install.sh | sh This is how you update the plugin as well.
Click the Return to Gaming Mode.
At the bottom of the right side menu, there will be Decky icon. Click it and SimpleDeckyTDP will show.
Click it and you will have all the option to adjust your TDP in game.

Legion Go Remapper

For Button remapping and RGB Control install the Legion Go Remapper plugin.

Switch to Desktop Mode within SteamOS
Open up Terminal.
Paste this code and press enter curl -L https://github.com/aarron-lee/LegionGoRemapper/raw/main/install.sh | sh This is how you update the plugin as well.
Click the Return to Gaming Mode.
At the bottom of the right side menu, there will be Decky icon. Click it and Legion Go Remapper will show.