What Is (Windows) Steam Deck Tools?

(Windows) Steam Deck Tools is a Windows software suite for the Steam Deck that bundles four utilities: Fan Control, Performance Overlay, Power Control, and Steam Controller. It is distributed as a README page at steam-deck-tools.ayufan.dev, with installers hosted on GitHub Releases. The project is provided on a best-effort basis and, in its own words, "can break your SteamDeck" — so it suits users who want finer control over a Windows-on-Deck setup and accept the stability and anti-cheat trade-offs described below.

What the suite includes

Install and dependencies

Download and install the latest SteamDeckTools--setup.exe from the project's GitHub Releases page.

If you use the portable archive instead of the installer, you must manually install these dependencies first:

• Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
• Rivatuner Statistics Server
• ViGEmBus

The README also strongly advises uninstalling or disabling SWICD, GlosSI, and HidHide before use, since they can conflict with this suite.

The kernel driver question — read this before playing online

This is the most important decision point in the documentation. The project can manipulate kernel memory via inpoutx64.dll, which may trigger antivirus and anti-cheat software. The README explicitly warns this "could result in interference or issues in games that use anti-cheat technology (including the possibility of a suspension or ban)."

By default, the application does not use kernel-level features; enabling a change that requires them prompts you to acknowledge the risk.

If you play online games, the README says to disable kernel features and treats these settings as safe:

• Fan Control: Use Default FAN
• Performance Overlay: OSD
• Kernel Drivers: DISABLED

Disabling kernel drivers costs you:

• Fan Control: the optimised SteamOS fan curve
• Performance Overlay: CPU % and MHz, GPU MHz, and APU W usage
• Power Control: the ability to change TDP and CPU settings

So the practical rule: online or anti-cheat games → kernel drivers off, accept reduced monitoring and no TDP control. Offline tuning and full fan-curve control → kernel drivers on, with the stated instability and detection risks.

Other things to know

• Controller shortcuts: default shortcuts exist when using Steam Controller; the README links to a dedicated page for them.
• Development: build instructions are documented separately for those who want to compile the project.
• Privacy: the software can connect to a remote server to check for auto-updates or track errors.
• Troubleshooting: a dedicated troubleshooting page covers common problems.
• Beta builds: the latest beta version is published in GitHub Releases.
• Support: help and chat are available in the #windows channel of the Steam Deck Discord.

Who should use it

Choose this suite if you run Windows on a Steam Deck and want fan curves, an FPS overlay, TDP/refresh-rate control, or Game Pass controller support in one package — and you are comfortable disabling kernel features for any game with anti-cheat. Skip it if you only play online titles and want zero risk of anti-cheat flags, or if you are not prepared for the possibility of an unstable system, which the project itself flags as a known risk.