Version: March 9th 2026 Stable Channel
It is impossible to use Steam Deck without a Steam account after the March 9th 2026 update. Similar to Microsoft now removing Local Accounts from Windows.
Here is a Reddit thread discussing the issue and multiple people are reproduced it:
Before the Desktop option would only appear after connecting to WiFi. Was it performing some creepy telemetry to enable the device before or could the wifi network be local? Now the Desktop option doesn't appear at all no matter what you do.
I'm hopeful this is just a bug in the March 9th update. This isn't a security change because you could set a password on your desktop like a normal computer.
I'm worried this change is to prepare for Steam Frame forcing you to use Steam to use it because it doesn't have an isolated desktop mode outside of SteamVR. SteamVR and SteamOS's hardware drivers are closed source and they only work out of the box with Steam running. So the Frame will be unusable without logging in because it is impossible to use without controller input and SteamVR. It isn't like Deck where you can just plug in a monitor and keyboard. I hope they aren't removing the ability to use the Deck without Steam after 4 years just to make them equivalent. Hopefully SteamOS on Frame has a way to use it without an online account like the Deck used to.
Version: March 9th 2026 Stable Channel
It is impossible to use Steam Deck without a Steam account after the March 9th 2026 update. Similar to Microsoft now removing Local Accounts from Windows.
Here is a Reddit thread discussing the issue and multiple people are reproduced it:
Before the Desktop option would only appear after connecting to WiFi. Was it performing some creepy telemetry to enable the device before or could the wifi network be local? Now the Desktop option doesn't appear at all no matter what you do.
I'm hopeful this is just a bug in the March 9th update. This isn't a security change because you could set a password on your desktop like a normal computer.
I'm worried this change is to prepare for Steam Frame forcing you to use Steam to use it because it doesn't have an isolated desktop mode outside of SteamVR. SteamVR and SteamOS's hardware drivers are closed source and they only work out of the box with Steam running. So the Frame will be unusable without logging in because it is impossible to use without controller input and SteamVR. It isn't like Deck where you can just plug in a monitor and keyboard. I hope they aren't removing the ability to use the Deck without Steam after 4 years just to make them equivalent. Hopefully SteamOS on Frame has a way to use it without an online account like the Deck used to.