How to Equip a Steam Startup Movie: Step-by-Step Tutorial

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Set a startup video for the Steam intro

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: December 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Equipping Steam Startup Movies
|
• Installing Custom Startup Movies
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Want a custom movie to pop up when you start your Steam Deck or Big Picture Mode on Steam for PC? This is called a Startup movie, and there are a ton you can purchase directly from the Steam Points shop. You can also create your own Startup movie, but it must be in a specific format to work. Here's how to equip a Steam Startup movie on your Steam Deck and Windows or Mac computer.

Setting Up Steam Startup Movies

To equip a Steam Startup movie for your PC or Steam Deck, enable Big Picture Mode by going to View > Big Picture Mode. Click Steam Settings and select Customization to select a new Startup movie or Visit the Points Shop to purchase another one.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Equipping Steam Startup Movies

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1. 
   1
   Launch Steam in Big Picture Mode. You can only change the Startup movie while in this mode; normal Steam settings won't have the option you need.

   • To enter Big Picture Mode, click the monitor icon in the top-right corner of Steam. It should be next to your Steam username. You can also click View > Big Picture Mode.
   • Big Picture Mode will play the default Startup movie. You can click anywhere to skip it.
2. 
   2
   Click Steam Settings. This is in the bottom-left corner when you are in Big Picture Mode. A new window will open.
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3. 
   3
   Click Customization in the left toolbar. If you don't see this option, you are not in Big Picture Mode. Make sure you're in Big Picture Mode first by clicking the monitor icon in the top-right corner.
4. 
   4
   Select a new Startup movie. You'll see a list of all your purchased and downloaded Startup movies. This will set your new Startup movie.

   • If you don't have any Startup movies, you can click Visit the Points Shop next to Find More Startup Movies to browse the Steam shop. You can also download a custom Startup movie from your device.
     • Browse the home page for featured Startup movies, select a category at the top, or use the search field to find a specific type.
     • Most Startup movies cost Steam points, so make sure you have enough before purchasing.
     • Once you find one, click the Steam points amount to purchase it, and then click Equip Now.
   • To exit Big Picture Mode, click Steam Menu > Power > Exit Big Picture Mode.
5. 
   5
   Customize Startup movie actions (optional). If you have more than one Startup movie, you can choose to shuffle through them rather than use a single one. You can also set a Startup movie to play when your device resumes from Sleep mode.

   • Toggle on Shuffle Startup Movie to shuffle through your available Startup movies.
   • Toggle on Use as Wake Movie to play your set Startup movie when resuming from Sleep mode.
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Section 2 of 2:

Installing Custom Startup Movies

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1. 
   1
   Return to Steam's desktop mode. If you want to install a custom Startup movie you created or saved yourself, you'll need to be in desktop mode.

   • If you're using your computer, click Steam Menu, select Power, and then click Exit Big Picture Mode.
   • If you're using a Steam Deck, hold the power button, and then select Switch to Desktop.
2. 
   2
   Create a "uioverrides" folder. This process will vary depending on your device. Do the following:

   • Steam Deck:
     • Open the Dolphin File Manager and select Home.
     • Select ☰ in the top-right corner and select Show Hidden Files.
     • Open .steam folder > root folder > config folder.
     • Select ☰ and select Create New > Folder.
     • Name the folder uioverrides and select OK.
   • Windows:
     • Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86) \Steam\config.
     • Create a new folder and title it uioverrides.
3. 
   3
   Create a "movies" folder. In the new uioverrides you just created, create a new folder titled movies. This is where you'll add the Startup movie file.
4. 
   4
   Move your Startup movie into the folder. Keep in mind that the video needs to be a WebM video file, up to 30 seconds long with dimensions of 1280x800. You can download Startup movies from other sites, but be wary of any third-party sites that ask for your information.

   • If the video isn't in WebM format, it won't work for your Steam startup movie.
5. 
   5
   Set your new Startup movie. Open Big Picture Settings on Steam by clicking the monitor icon in the top-right corner. Click Steam Menu and select Customizations. Click your newly added Startup movie to set it.
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