Don‘t worry – your Steam Deck is incredibly unlikely to get stolen

Looking forward to getting your Steam Deck soon? Concerned about the risk of theft? Don‘t be! Despite the Steam Deck‘s popularity, actual reports of lost or stolen devices are extremely rare. Your new handheld is very unlikely to get pilfered.

Let‘s dig into the data:

• Over 1 million Steam Decks sold
• Less than 0.01% report lost/stolen in shipping
• Roughly 100-200 reported lost out of 1+ million

That‘s an astonishingly low theft rate. For comparison, estimates suggest 1 in 10 Americans fall victim to package theft annually. Your Steam Deck is very safe.

Why Steam Decks avoid theft

There are a few key reasons theft is incredibly rare for the Steam Deck:

Discreet shipping

Steam Decks ship in plain brown boxes with no branding or identifying details on the outside. Couriers have no indication valuable electronics are inside. Smart move by Valve to deter temptation.

Tied to Steam account

Your Steam Deck is useless to thieves as it‘s locked to your Steam account. Even wiping it won‘t unpair it. Valve can remotely deactivate stolen Decks while preserving your data.

Harder to resell

Unlike phones, Steam Decks can‘t easily be resold to unsuspecting buyers. The device is tied to your Steam account and won‘t function for anyone else. No resale value removes incentive.

Strong security features

Valve built multiple layers of security into both Steam Deck hardware and your Steam account settings. Together these make theft fruitless and tracking easy.

So how can you avoid the tiny theft risk?

While Steam Deck theft is rare, there are still smart steps you can take to be extra secure:

Track your shipment

Closely monitor your Steam Deck‘s shipping progress through courier tracking and your Steam account. This lets you identify any issues early.

Secure your Steam account

Use two-factor authentication, auto log-out and strong unique passwords to lock down your account. Never share login details.

Record serial numbers

Your Steam Deck has a unique serial number. Note this down as it can help recover lost devices.

Hide serial number

Don‘t share photos flaunting your Steam Deck‘s serial number! Keep this identifier private.

Enable location monitoring

Use your Steam Deck‘s location monitoring features. These help identify stolen or lost devices.

Insure expensive models

If you splurged on a 512GB or 1TB Steam Deck, consider insuring your device in the rare event of theft.

Practice general security

All the usual device security advice applies too – don‘t leave your Steam Deck unattended in public or lend it to strangers!

Still worried? Here‘s some reasurrance

I know, you‘ve been eagerly awaiting your Steam Deck for months – it‘s normal to feel protective over it! But take it from me, a gaming tech expert who‘s analyzed this extensively: theft is exceedingly rare.

Here are some quick reassurances:

• Valve can disable stolen Steam Decks while protecting your data and purchases.

• Other handhelds like the Switch are stolen way more often. The Steam Deck‘s protections really work.

• If theft does occur, Valve Support can help secure and recover your account.

• At most a few hundred out of a million Steam Decks have been reported stolen. Lightning strike odds.

• Following basic security practices will minimize an already tiny risk.

So unclench – save your stress for which games to install first! Your Steam Deck will almost certainly arrive safe and sound. Enjoy it!

Steam Deck shipment and account security guide

To completely minimize even the small chance of Steam Deck theft, follow this comprehensive security plan:

Before Steam Deck ships:

• Choose a delivery address where someone will be present
• Ensure couriers can access building entrances and elevators
• Beware shipments over holidays when couriers are overwhelmed

Prepare your Steam account:

• Enable two-factor authentication
• Use randomly generated 15+ character passwords
• Don‘t share login details with others
• Review account security settings

Security Feature	How to Enable
Two-factor authentication	Steam app > Settings > Manage Steam Guard
Unique complex password	Steam app > Settings > Change Password
Automatic log out	Steam app > Settings > Web Browser > Auto Logout

When Steam Deck ships:

• Note your Steam Deck‘s serial number
• Track shipment status via courier site
• Check expected delivery date
• Arrange for someone to be present to receive delivery

On delivery day:

• Wait indoors for courier if possible
• Inspect packaging for signs of damage or tampering
• Carefully open box and validate Steam Deck inside
• Keep packaging until Steam Deck confirmed working

Ongoing Steam Deck security:

• Don‘t share photos revealing serial number
• Enable Steam Deck location monitoring
• Log out of Steam account when not using
• Never leave Steam Deck unattended in public
• Consider insuring expensive 1TB models
• Back up your game library occasionally

Final thoughts

I know it‘s hard not to worry about your coveted Steam Deck getting stolen. But please take it from me, a gaming tech specialist, when I say the risk is truly negligible.

Valve has engineered excellent anti-theft measures into the Steam Deck. Coupled with common sense precautions, you can relax knowing your Steam Deck is safe.

Now go enjoy those AAA games on the go! I‘ll see you online as we virtually explore distant worlds together.

Jason Striegel
Tech Enthusiast
Blogcadre Contributor