2 min read Steam Frame

Getting Plex Running on Steam Frame

Black and gold Plex artwork for the Steam Frame installation guide

I wanted Plex on my Steam Frame so I could watch films from my own library in the headset. Installing the Android app got me as far as the welcome screen. Signing in made it crash.

Lepton was missing Android’s clipboard service, which Plex expected during sign-in and library setup. Adding a small clipboard helper got sign-in and playback working. I’ve bundled it with a launcher and icon so Plex can be opened from the Steam library.

Install Lepton Development through Steam on the Frame’s internal storage first. I used Lepton 2.8.14 and the Plex APK linked below.

SSH access

Enable Steam Settings → System → Enable Developer Mode.

Steam Frame System settings with Enable Developer Mode highlighted
Enable Developer Mode in System settings. Image: Valve’s Steamworks documentation.

I set the SSH password by connecting a physical keyboard to the Frame, switching to Desktop Mode and running this in Terminal:

passwd

Connect from your computer, keeping the headset awake:

ssh steamos@frame

Use the headset’s IP address if frame doesn’t resolve. Valve’s SSH documentation has more on connecting to the Frame.

Install the launcher and clipboard helper

With Steam running and Plex closed, run these commands over SSH as steamos. The archive includes the helper’s source code.

cd "$HOME"
curl -fL --retry 3 -o plex-steam-frame-helper.tar.gz \
  'https://kaspa.rs/content/files/2026/10/plex-steam-frame-helper-v1.0.1.tar.gz'
tar -xzf plex-steam-frame-helper.tar.gz
(cd plex-steam-frame-helper && sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS) && \
  bash plex-steam-frame-helper/install.sh

The installer puts the files in ~/Applications/Plex and asks Steam to add a Plex shortcut. Accept the Add to Steam prompt on the headset if it appears.

Download the Plex APK

This is the ARM64 release I used, downloaded directly from Plex:

cd "$HOME/Applications/Plex"

curl -fL --retry 3 -o plex.apk.download \
  'https://downloads.plex.tv/Kepler/kepler-arm64-v8a-googlePlay-10.28.0.3441-367a93b4.apk'

echo '371e831d87309279ac78c4d85e82282adc66873c2d79d386a1666b14b8f57acc  plex.apk.download' \
  | sha256sum -c - && mv plex.apk.download plex.apk

Launch Plex

Open Plex from Non-Steam in your Steam library. Leave the shortcut’s compatibility override disabled; the launcher starts Lepton itself.

Plex Android welcome screen running on Steam Frame, with Sign Up and Sign In buttons
The Plex Android welcome screen captured on my Steam Frame.

Sign in and choose your libraries. Keep the default mobile layout—the TV interface was awkward with the Frame’s controls.

If it fails to launch

A missing-Lepton error means the launcher couldn’t find Lepton on internal storage. If the helper reports that Lepton’s launch hooks have changed, it needs updating for that Lepton version.

For SSH dropouts, see Fixing Wi-Fi Dropouts on Steam Frame.

Kaspars Kučers

Kaspars Kučers