How to Sell Your Steam Deck Safely and Get a Good Price

Selling your Steam Deck shouldn’t be a stressful task where you have to worry about every little detail on your listing, not getting scammed, negotiating a good price, gauging buyer interest, etc. It should be as easy as ordering a brand new one online and exciting as switching it on for the first time.

So in this guide, I’ll walk you through how to sell your Steam Deck safely and get a great price while skipping all the usual hassles. Here’s exactly what I’ll cover:

How to prepare your Steam Deck for sale.
Best place to sell your Steam Deck for the most money.
How to avoid scammers when selling your Steam Deck.
Tips to get more money when selling your Steam Deck.

How To Prepare Your Steam Deck For Sale

If you want to sell your Steam Deck for a good price, then you need to properly prepare the device. How well you prepare your device for sale can make or break your sale, so don’t skip it.

Assess the Condition of Your Steam Deck

Carefully assess the overall condition of your Steam Deck. Inspect every part of the device, including the screen, battery life, speakers, ports, and physical buttons. Pay close attention to the joysticks and display, as gamers are especially sensitive to issues like stick drift and dead pixels, which can impact resale value.

To check your Steam Deck battery health:

To check battery health, switch to Desktop Mode, click the battery icon in the bottom-right corner, select the three-dot menu (More Actions), and open Energy Information.

Check the last full charge value and compare it to the Steam Deck’s original design capacity (50Wh). If the full charge is close to or above 50Wh, the battery is in good condition. Some units even show slightly over 100% capacity when new, which is normal.

To calibrate and check for Joy-Con drift:

Open the controller calibration settings and move each joystick slowly to see if the on-screen input responds accurately or moves on its own. Check out this iFixit guide for more info on how to calibrate your Joy-Cons and potential fixes.

To check for dead pixels on your Steam Deck:

Display a solid-colored screen at full brightness and look closely for spots that do not change color.

In the case your Steam Deck doesn’t pass some or all of these tests: Disclose the issues clearly to interested buyers, as transparency helps avoid disputes and helps the sale go much more smoothly.

Back Up Data Steam Deck

The next step in properly preparing your Steam Deck for sale is to back up your data, like game saves. Even if you don’t plan on getting a new Steam Deck, it’s better to still have that data saved and accessible.

How To Backup Your Steam Deck

You can use Steam Cloud or create a local backup by connecting an external drive, opening Steam in Desktop Mode, right-clicking a game, and selecting Properties > Local Files > Back up game files > Choose your external drive and start the backup. You can back up multiple games at once.

For a full guide, check out this tutorial.

Factory Reset Your Steam Deck

Now that your file is backed up, the obvious next step is to sign out and factory reset your Steam Deck. And here’s how.

How To Factory Reset Your Steam Deck

Power on your Steam Deck and press the Steam button. Go to Settings > System, then scroll down on the right and select Factory Reset. When the warning appears, confirm by selecting Factory Reset again to erase all user data.

Bundle Accessories

Carrying case
Charger and cables
Dock or stand
Original box (if available)

Clean the Steam Deck and Accessories

Take time to clean both your device and any included accessories. Power it off, then wipe the screen and body with a microfiber cloth. Use a soft brush or cotton swab to clean around the joysticks, buttons, and triggers, and remove dust from ports and vents with compressed air.

Clean the charger, cables, and carrying case as well. Avoid harsh household cleaners or excess liquid, and never spray anything directly onto the device. A clean Steam Deck looks better in photos and gives buyers confidence that it has been well-maintained and won’t suddenly have faults after they buy it.

Where to Sell Your Steam Deck

SellMyCellPhone is the best place to sell your Steam Deck for cash if you want to get the most money with the least hassle.

Selling your Steam Deck to SellMyCellPhone only takes 2 minutes, and payment is processed within 24 hours of receiving your device. To make things even better, our free prepaid shipping label includes up to $300 in insurance, and we offer multiple payment options so you can choose what works best for you.

How To Sell Your Steam Deck To SellMyCellPhone

Confirm if you’re selling a regular Steam Deck or OLED Steam Deck.
Select your Steam Deck’s capacity and condition.
Receive an instant quote and click Get Paid to accept.
Proceed to checkout and follow the on-screen instructions.

Check what our customers are saying in our reviews here.

Other Ways To Sell Your Steam Deck

Swappa

Swappa is a peer-to-peer marketplace that gives you more control over your Steam Deck sale, but selling your Steam Deck there takes more work. You’ll need to create a listing, get the listing approved, communicate with buyers, and handle shipping yourself. Even after all that effort, you might not get the best price, and payments or disputes can take longer to resolve compared to just selling your Steam Deck to SellMyCellPhone.

That said, Swappa is a good option if you want to try for a higher price and don’t mind managing the sale yourself.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace lets you sell your Steam Deck locally and without platform fees, but it takes more effort on your part. You’ll need to create a listing, handle buyer communication, and arrange meetups or shipping. There’s also a higher risk of scams and unreliable buyers compared to using SellMyCellPhone.

Still, Facebook Marketplace is a great alternative if you prefer selling locally and are comfortable managing the sale yourself.

How to Avoid Scammers When Selling Your Steam Deck

Be cautious of overeager buyers who want to buy instantly without asking questions or offering extra money for unusual requests.
Never share sensitive personal info like your home address, bank login details, or national ID.
Only accept secure payment methods. Stick to cash or instant bank transfers; you can confirm in your app before handing over the device.
Meet in public, safe locations like malls, coffee shops, or police station parking lots during the day.
Watch out for fake payment alerts; don’t rely on screenshots or SMS notifications. Always confirm the payment inside your banking app.
Don’t ship without full payment first, no matter how convincing the buyer sounds.
Trust your instincts; if something feels off or too good to be true, walk away.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links sent by buyers claiming they’re for payment confirmation or shipping setup.
Say no to third-party pickups unless you’ve confirmed full payment yourself.
Sell your Steam Deck to SellMyCellPhone.

Tips to Sell Faster and for More Money

Clean your Steam Deck and its accessories thoroughly.
Include original accessories.
Sell while demand is high.

Final Words

Selling your Steam Deck doesn’t and shouldn’t be an energy and time-draining process. Thankfully, by simply following this guide, you can skip the hassle and headaches when selling your Steam Deck.

FAQs on Selling Your Steam Deck

What is the best way to sell my Steam Deck?

The best way to sell your Steam Deck is through a trusted buyback service like SellMyCellPhone. It’s fast, secure, and removes the hassle of negotiating with buyers or worrying about scams. You get a quick quote, free shipping, and fast payment once your device is received.

Is it safe to sell a Steam Deck?

Yes, selling a Steam Deck is safe as long as you use reputable platforms and take basic precautions. Always back up your data, sign out of your Steam account, factory reset the device, and use secure payment methods to protect yourself.

How do I prepare a Steam Deck for resale?

To prepare your Steam Deck for resale, back up your data, sign out of your Steam account, factory reset the device, and clean it thoroughly. Including original accessories and being honest about the device’s condition can also help you get a better price.

How do I wipe a Steam Deck before selling it?

Turn on your Steam Deck and press the Steam button. Go to Settings > System, scroll down, and select Factory Reset. When prompted, confirm the reset to erase all personal data and return the device to factory settings.