Valve asks users not to modify the Steam Deck SSD

What you need to know

• Responding to a PC Gamer article covering a Steam Deck SSD modification, Valve designer Lawrence Yang warned it can significantly reduce the console’s lifespan.
• A modder named Belly Jelly explained via Twitter how they chose a low-power replacement and that the thermal pad is intact but agrees with the potential risks.
• Although the Steam Deck uses a standard M.2 SSD, Valve has always urged users not to modify the console.

Valve’s handheld Steam Deck is more of a portable PC than a console and uses mostly standard components. Taking to Twitter to share their adventures in storage replacement, modder Belly Jelly documented the process of replacing the factory-fitted M.2 2230 SSD with a physically larger M.2 2242 variant. Sacrificing airflow is an obvious downside, though the thermal pad apparently still covers the new solid-state drive. Clarifying they specifically chose the replacement for its low power draw, the Steam Deck seemed to boot up just fine and installed games as usual.

Nevertheless, Valve has always advised against modifying the Steam Deck, citing the potential to shorten the console’s lifespan and the danger of physical harm when working around the precise design. Lawrence Yang of the Steam Deck development team strongly advised against this practice, explaining how the console is unsuitable for components that may draw more power and generate extra heat.