Never leave Game Mode to fix your issues! This troubleshooting guide helps you solve Epic, GOG, Amazon & itch.io game problems directly from your Steam Deck's Game Mode.

Showing all 10 troubleshooting questions

Installation & Setup Issues

Junk Store 2.0 installation fails

Problem: Installation appears to fail, or Junk Store appears broken after installing.

⚠️ CRITICAL: When installing Junk Store 2.0, you MUST wait until the dialogue box says "Installation Complete" before clicking OK. Clicking the OK button too early cancels the installation process.
What to do:
  1. Wait for completion: Let the installation dialog run until it specifically shows "Installation Complete"
  2. Don't click OK early: The OK button appears before installation finishes - ignore it until completion message shows
  3. If you clicked too early: Re-run the installer and wait for the complete message this time
This is the #1 cause of installation issues - incomplete installations due to clicking OK too early.
Downloaded executables won't run on Steam Deck

Problem: Executable files don't run when double-clicked, or open in text editor instead. Quick fixes:
  1. File permissions: Right-click → Properties → Permissions → Enable "Is executable"
  2. Theme interference: Custom icons/themes can break dialogs - switch to default temporarily
  3. Console execution: Right-click → "Run in Konsole" for error details
Most common cause: Custom icon themes interfering with system dialogs (zenity).
I don't have any extensions—what do I do?

If you don't see any extensions, you'll need to generate them. Currently, Junk Store supports extensions for Epic, GOG, Amazon, and itch.io (beta).

To generate extensions:
  1. Open Junk Store by pushing Select button above the D-pad.
  2. Make sure you're logged in to your Junk Store account.
  3. Scroll down to the Tools section.
  4. Open the sliders menu (☰) next to the search bar and select Download All Presets from Server.
  5. Then, go to each extension you want (Epic, GOG, Amazon, itch.io (beta)) and press the Download button (📥) for each one.
Once downloaded, the extensions will appear as tabs in Junk Store.

📖 Need detailed installation steps? Check our Installation Tutorial for complete setup instructions.
Junk Store isn't working or showing errors after installation?

This might be caused by a couple of common issues:
  1. Outdated Decky version
    Outdated versions can cause compatibility errors, such as:

    An error occurred while rendering this content
    Error reference: shared SteamUI_9871360_fede34d936775239

    Try updating Decky and see if the issue is resolved.

    If you're still having trouble, feel free to reach out on our Discord server.

  2. You're using the Steam Beta branch
    Breakages can happen on Steam Beta due to ongoing codebase changes. We do our best to patch any issues quickly.

    For the most stable experience, we recommend using the Stable version of Steam. The Beta branch often includes bugs or breaking changes.

    If you do choose to stay on Steam Beta, we also recommend using the Beta version of Junk Store for better compatibility.
My game won't launch. What should I do?

Games may fail to launch for various reasons. Let's go through a step-by-step checklist to identify and fix the issue. After each step, try launching the game—this helps identify exactly what fixed the problem.
  • Check offline mode settings
    • Games or storefronts set to offline mode can sometimes prevent launching.
    • Check global settings: Go to the storefront tab (Epic/GOG/Amazon) > ⚙️ Cog Icon and make sure Offline Mode is toggled off
    • Check per-game settings: Go to Junk Store > [Your Game] > Press Y > ⚙️ Cog Icon > Game Configs and check if Offline Mode is enabled for that specific game
    • If you change any settings, make sure to Press X to Save

  • Install any missing game dependencies
    • Missing or broken dependencies can cause launch issues.
    • You may get prompted to install things like Microsoft C++ runtimes when first launching.
    • Easily install any missing dependencies via our built-in dependency installer

  • Verify and repair the game files
    • Corrupted or incomplete installs can be fixed with these tools.
      To verify game files:
      Junk Store > [Your Game] > ☰ Sliders Menu > Verify Game
      To repair game files:
      Junk Store > [Your Game] > ☰ Sliders Menu > Repair Game

  • Change to a GE-Proton version
    • Some games require a more compatible version of Proton.
      Go to:
      Junk Store > [Your Game] > Press Y > ⚙️ Cog Icon > Compatibility
      Select a GE-Proton version

  • Enable the EOS Overlay (Epic games only)
    • Some Epic games require the Epic Online Services (EOS) overlay to launch properly.
      Go to:
      Junk Store > [Your Game] > ☰ Sliders Menu > Enable EOS Overlay
Still not working? Check compatibility resources:
📋 First check our Games Tested table to see if your game has been tested with compatibility notes and workarounds.

If not found there, visit ProtonDB.com for community tips. You may find game-specific tweaks, compatibility reports, or Proton version recommendations that solve your issue.
Having issues bringing up the keyboard in Game Mode?

If the Steam + X shortcut isn't bringing up the keyboard try the following:
  • Try to bring up the keyboard ⌨️ from the Quick Access Menu (⋯).
  • Tap directly on a text field (like a password box) to prompt the keyboard.
  • Try toggling to Desktop Mode and back to Game Mode to reset input services.
  • Restart Steam or the device if the issue persists.
This is a known Steam bug that has been around for a while. These steps usually help work around it until Valve fixes it in a future update.
My games aren't showing up in my library. What should I check?

If your games aren't appearing in one of the store tabs, try the following checks to resolve it:
  • Check "Show Installed" filter:
    • Check the bottom-right of the store tab (Epic/GOG/Amazon/itch.io (beta))
    • If Show Installed is enabled, only games already installed will be visible
    • Disable this to see your full game library
  • Check the search bar:
    • Make sure you haven't accidentally typed something into the search bar that's filtering your games
    • Clear the text field to show all titles
  • Check your login account:
    • You might be logged into a different Epic/GOG/Amazon/itch.io (beta) account
    • Log out and back in with the correct account linked to your game library
  • Refresh the game list:
    • Go to the Epic/GOG/Amazon/itch.io (beta) tab and select the sliders menu to manually refresh the game list
    • This can help pull in any missing titles, especially after login or token changes
  • Reboot your Steam Deck:
    • Sometimes a restart is all it takes to reload everything properly
Installing games to SD card causes a Permissions Error?

If you're getting permissions errors when trying to install games to your SD card, you need to properly configure your install location in Junk Store 2.0.

How to fix:
  1. Follow the steps in our FAQ for How to manage game storage and SD card downloads
  2. Make sure to set the dropdown at the top to All
  3. When setting your install location, select Specify your own path
  4. Put the path to your SD card in the Custom Install Path field
  5. Press X to save your changes
This ensures Junk Store has the correct permissions to write to your SD card location.

Game Launch & Performance Problems

My game shows a rainbow screen (TV test), black screen, or fails to launch. What should I do?

These issues are common with non-Steam games and are often related to Proton compatibility. Junk Store defaults to the system version of Proton, but this doesn't always work well for all games.

Try using a GE-Proton version:
GE-Proton tends to be more compatible with non-Steam games and often fixes these launch issues.
  • To change Proton version:
    • Junk Store > [Your Game] > Press Y > ⚙️ Cog Icon > Compatibility
  • Select a GE-Proton version from the list
Where to get GE-Proton versions:
  • Wine Cellar (Decky Plugin)
  • ProtonUp-QT from the Discover Store on your Steam Deck
Need more tweaks? Or still having issues?
If you're still stuck, feel free to reach out on our Discord or Reddit community for help with your specific game.

Check ProtonDB.com for community-recommended tweaks or launch options that may be needed to get your specific game working.
I don't have Proton GE or don't know how to install it

To get Proton GE or other custom versions of Proton, you can use one of the following tools:
  • ProtonUp-QT — A simple app that lets you download and manage Proton versions. You can find it in the Discover Store (in Desktop Mode).
  • Wine Cellar — A Decky plugin that works similarly to ProtonUp-QT. If you already have Decky installed for other plugins, you can install Wine Cellar directly from the Decky Plugin Store.
Once installed, use either tool to download the latest GE-Proton release. After that, you’ll be able to select it as a compatibility option in Junk Store.

Please refer to our Tutorials page to see how to change/check your Proton version if you are unsure how to do this.
My game gets stuck at the Steam pre-launch screen. What should I do?

This issue might be caused by another plugin—such as decky-cloud-save or syncthing—locking Junk Store’s files.

Make sure nothing is interfering with the following folder:
~/.config/junkstore and ~/.local/share/junkstore
Junk Store relies on this data directory to function correctly, so if another tool is syncing or locking files in that path, it can prevent games from launching.
I installed a game on the new version and can't see it in the Decky one?

The new version of Junk Store uses a different system, so games installed there won’t show up in the older Decky version — and can’t be moved over.

If you’re switching back to the Decky version:
  • Back up any save files manually otherwise they will be deleted.
  • Uninstall the game from the new version (to free up space).
  • Reinstall the game from within the Decky version of Junk Store.
  • Restore your game save manually.
Tip: Do this before your trial ends — otherwise, you may lose access and the games will still occupy storage.

Didn't Find Your Answer?

Still having trouble after following these guides? We've got you covered with multiple support options.

Quick Help

2.0 Standalone Help Quick reference and tips Setup Tutorials Step-by-step guides

FAQ Pages

2.0 Standalone FAQ Common 2.0 questions Getting Started Initial setup guide

More Resources

Gallery Visual examples Games Tested Compatibility database

Community Support

Join our community for live help and discussion

Discord Reddit
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