Network shares (SMB)

DeckCrate can connect to SMB network shares and browse them like any local folder. The experience is the same on every platform — only the underlying mount mechanism differs per OS.

Connecting to a server

1. Open the command menu and choose Connect to server.
2. Enter the host, share, and username (and password when prompted).
3. On success, the active tab jumps into the share and it appears under the Network section in the sidebar.

Saved shares that are currently offline still appear under Network — select one to reconnect. Press X on a connected share to disconnect it.

Your host / share / username are saved (in preferences.json); the password is never saved — it’s held in memory only for the session.

Deletes are permanent on a share

Network shares have no recoverable trash / Recycle Bin. Deleting on a share prompts for confirmation and then permanently deletes — there’s no trash round-trip. This is by design.

Requirements

macOS

Works out of the box using the system SMB client.

Linux

Linux mounts shares through GVFS, so no root or polkit prompt is needed — a good fit for the desktop and Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode. The SMB backend and the FUSE bridge aren’t part of base GVFS, so install them once:

# Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt install -y gvfs-backends gvfs-fuse

# Arch / SteamOS (Desktop Mode)
sudo pacman -S --needed gvfs gvfs-smb

gvfs-fuse is what exposes a mounted share as a real filesystem path, so DeckCrate has something to browse — it’s required, not optional. See the Linux platform guide for verification steps.

Windows

Nothing to install — the built-in Windows SMB client (the Workstation service, on by default) is all that’s required. Note that Windows connects on the standard SMB port 445 (a custom port in the connect dialog is ignored) and needs SMB2 or newer (legacy SMBv1-only servers won’t connect). See the Windows platform guide for details.