Handheld gaming PCs are a reality now with devices like the Steam Deck putting entire computers in people’s back pockets. However, these mini-computers aren’t without compromises and while the Steam Deck might be able to run full PC versions of Windows and Linux, there are still several things such as emulation that pose a challenge.
In this article, we’re taking a look at the “error pulling from repo” message you get when trying to clone the Flatpak repo to your Steam Deck.
What causes this error?
There isn’t a specific reason for the error per se, however, common causes include:
- Bad internet connection.
- Steam Deck servers not responding.
- Issues with Flatpak.
Also read: Steam content file is locked: 6 Fixes
How to fix this?
Here are four solutions you can try out.
Restart, restart, restart
Restarting is an age-old trick that often resolves situations like these. Restart the Steam Deck, the Discover app and the Desktop Mode by exiting it and then entering it again.
Check internet connection
Now’s also a good time to check whether or not you have an active internet connection. If you’re on WiFi, make sure you’ve got an active link and that there are no signal issues. On cellular data, ensure that it’s enabled and that you’re getting good network coverage.
Restarting your router can help get rid of a bunch of seemingly random internet and connectivity issues that may be hindering your connection to Steam’s servers.
Update your Steam Deck
If your Steam Deck is fresh out of the box, there’s a good chance you don’t have the latest updates available from Valve yet which unsurprisingly can affect several programs on the Steam Deck. Try checking for updates and if they’re available, install them right away and reboot the device before proceeding.
Also read: What is DB_Password and how to change it?
Use the terminal
If the Discover app’s GUI isn’t giving you enough information, try installing Flatpak using the terminal. Not only does this have a higher chance of success, but the terminal will also give you more information in case the installation fails.
You can use the following command to install Flatpak. Keep in mind that this command is specific to Arch Linux as that’s what the Steam Deck uses as a base.
sudo pacman -S flatpakAlternatively, you can also pull the remote Flatpak repository using the command below.
flatpak remote-add name [location]Also read: How to fix ‘error for site owner: Invalid key type’?
