Steam client and Steam Deck handheld now get a new Beta update, bringing several new features, such as the ability to select an account at startup, logout, and support for players to transfer downloaded files over a LAN, making it easy for players to transfer games from their PCs to their handhelds.
If Steam detects another PC on your local network while you’re downloading a game, it will check on its own to see if there’s another PC on your local LAN that can transfer the desired game content directly to you.
Of course, if the connection breaks down or there’s no more content to transfer, Steam will use its own public content server to download the remaining content. As shown in the image below.
Settings
There are four settings for which PC + Steam client combinations can be used for game file transfers. These settings are bi-directional so that if you want to allow file transfers over the local network, you will automatically enable file transfers. The default setting is “Allow transfers to/from my own device”, which means you can only transfer content between PCs that are logged into Steam with your own account.
Off – Do not allow any transfers – the client will neither seek nor allow local file transfers. The client will not download files from other PCs on your LAN and will not transfer files out.
Allow transfers to/from my own devices – allows devices on your LAN that are logged in with your same Steam account to transfer files to each other (this is the default setting).
Allow transfers to/from my Steam friends’ devices – Allows files to be transferred to/from devices connected to your LAN that are logged into your friends’ accounts.
Allow transfers to/from any user – allows all devices running Steam and connected to your LAN to transfer files to/from each other.
Related Requirements
All Steam clients or Steam Deck can receive files from another client on the same LAN, but there are a few conditions that need to be met in order to transfer over your local network.
Both Steam clients involved in the transfer must be online and directly visible to each other on the same LAN (downloading is not possible as long as one Steam client is in offline mode).
The game file transfer settings on both devices must allow the transfer to take place (for example, if both devices have the “Allow transfers to/from my Steam friends’ devices” setting, the accounts on both devices must be Steam friends).
You can only transfer game content if the Steam client you are transferring to is idle, i.e. no game is downloaded or running.
The game must be publicly available and playable by Steam users on both devices (preloaded games do not qualify).
The game must be the latest version on the PC that is sending the game files.
Only PCs running Steam Desktop mode can send files. Therefore, Steam Deck, PCs in large screen mode, and specialized launchers are currently unable to transfer files over local networks.
In addition, gamers have also found themselves with a new screen when launching the Steam client, where they will be able to directly select their different accounts and then log in again. The client’s main menu also includes a “Logout” option, which removes credentials for local accounts (e.g. in an internet cafe environment, make sure you remember your login credentials).
In the game library screen, a new preload/install option has been added, overriding the original game press screen; this content will only appear once when the game is first opened for preload/release.
The update also includes a few other features, such as optimized performance for the N-card using Steam’s large screen mode, support for Sony’s DualSense Edge handle (including back button mapping), new dynamic icons for Steam Cloud Load Wait, and more.
Of course, these features are still only available in the Beta branch, but I believe it will be open to all users soon.
