How to Change Your Steam Deck Boot Animation With Decky Loader

Every Steam Deck owner sees the same thing at startup: the Steam logo, the same short animation, every single time. It is clean, but it is not yours. With Decky Loader and the Animation Changer plugin, you can swap that boot animation for a community-made one — a favourite game, a custom logo, or something completely silly — and change it back whenever you like. This guide covers installing the plugin, choosing a boot video, applying it safely, and undoing it if anything goes wrong.

What Animation Changer Does

Animation Changer is one of the well-known visual plugins in the Decky Loader ecosystem, alongside CSS Loader for themes and Audio Loader for sounds. Its job is simple: it replaces the animation your Deck plays while booting, and it can also change the suspend animation that plays when the device sleeps. Like every Decky plugin, it is an optional add-on from an independent developer — the loader itself ships with no plugins and adds no features of its own. Animation Changer only changes what you see during startup; it does not modify Steam's files, and it does not affect your games, saves, or performance. That narrow scope is exactly what makes it safe to experiment with.

Installing Animation Changer From the Store

First, make sure Decky Loader is installed and the plug icon is visible in the Quick Access menu. Press the "..." button, open the Decky tab, and tap the store icon to open the plugin browser. Search for Animation Changer and install it from the store — never from a random download link, because a boot video from an untrusted source is not worth the risk. The plugin appears in your Decky tab within seconds. Open it and you will see its main screen: your current boot animation, a browser for community boot videos, and the controls to apply or revert. Before you change anything, note what the current animation looks like, so you know what "back to normal" means later.

Choosing a Boot Video That Actually Works

This is the step where most people trip up, so take it slowly. Boot videos are community creations, and they come in different lengths, resolutions, and formats. Always read the plugin's own documentation for the supported format and size before you download anything — a video in the wrong format simply will not play, and the plugin will tell you so only after you try. Prefer videos from the plugin's built-in browser or from well-known community sources with comments and ratings, where other users have already confirmed they work. Short and simple beats long and elaborate: a five-second loop that plays cleanly is better than a thirty-second epic that stutters on the Deck's boot sequence. Pay attention to file size as well as length, since an oversized video can slow the boot even if its format is correct. And check the video's compatibility notes for your SteamOS version, since boot behaviour can change between system updates.

Applying Your New Animation

Once you have a video you trust, applying it is straightforward. In Animation Changer, select the video and confirm — the plugin sets it as your boot animation, and the change takes effect on the next restart. Reboot the Deck once to see it in action, and watch the whole sequence: does it start cleanly, play smoothly, and hand over to the home screen without a long black gap? If yes, you are done. If the animation stutters or the boot feels slower, try a shorter or smaller video rather than a longer one. You can also use the same plugin to change the suspend animation, which plays when the Deck wakes from sleep — the process is identical, and the same format rules apply. Give the new animation a few days before judging it: a clip that feels fresh on day one can feel long by day ten, and switching takes seconds. If you want ideas for other visual plugins to pair with your new boot screen, you can visit website and browse the catalogue.

Undoing It: Back to the Stock Animation

Every change Animation Changer makes is reversible, and undoing it is a one-tap job. Open the plugin, choose the default or stock animation, and confirm — the next boot will show the original Steam animation again. If a boot video ever causes a problem, such as a long delay at startup, remove it the same way before you try anything drastic. And if you decide to uninstall the plugin entirely, revert to the stock animation first: the official documentation warns that uninstalling a plugin removes only its plugin files, not any other files, settings, or changes that plugin may have created elsewhere, so a clean revert before uninstalling avoids leftovers. A reboot after reverting confirms everything is back to normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is changing the boot animation safe?
Yes, when you use Animation Changer from the official plugin store and videos in the format its documentation specifies. It only changes what plays at startup and does not modify Steam's files.

Where do I get boot videos?
Start with the browser built into Animation Changer, or well-known community sources with user comments confirming the video works. Avoid random download links from untrusted sources.

Why won't my video apply?
The most common reason is the wrong format or size. Read the plugin's documentation for the supported format, and try a shorter video if a long one stutters or delays the boot.

Can I change the suspend animation too?
Yes. Animation Changer handles both the boot animation and the suspend animation, and the process is the same for each.

How do I go back to the original animation?
Open Animation Changer, select the default or stock animation, and confirm. Reboot once to check that the original animation is playing again.