ArmadaOS

A SteamOS-like Linux distribution for ARM handhelds built on Fedora bootc using device support from ROCKNIX.

Includes:

• ARM64 Steam
• Latest FEX
• CachyOS Proton 11
• Desktop mode (KDE)
• Bazaar App Store
• Over-the-air updates
• Install to internal storage (alongside Android)
• Power and fan control in the Steam UI
• Per-game FEX and Proton settings (Decky plugin)

Warning

Prototype software. Use at your own risk. Armada is under active development and is not stable. Booting it requires flashing an ABL which could brick your device or corrupt your Android partition.

Over-the-air updates are experimental. Armada can now update itself in place (see Updating) instead of reflashing, but the update path is still being validated. If an update fails, reflashing the SD card is the reliable recovery.

Armada ships with a known default password. The image ships with user armada / password armada. SSH is disabled by default, but if you enable it from Armada Control, anyone on your network can log in until you change the password.

Using Armada

FEX (x86 translation) and CachyOS Proton 11 are set up out of the box, so for most games you can just install from Steam and press play, with no extra setup. The rest of Armada works like SteamOS, and the Armada-specific controls live in Armada Control, a Decky plugin in the Quick Access Menu, for tuning and the occasional game that needs it.

Quick Access Menu and Armada Control

Press the Steam button to open the Quick Access Menu (on AYANEO devices the QAM is unmapped, so use Home + A), then open Armada Control. It has three tabs:

• Power. Pick a profile: Eco, Balanced, or Performance. Each sets a fan curve, CPU underclock, and a GPU clock range. Profiles are editable in Armada Control.
• Compatibility. Per-game resolution and FEX settings. Pick a FEX preset (Default, Fast, Compatible, or Custom). The defaults work for most titles; change these only if a game misbehaves. Settings are saved per game.
• Settings. Choose the controller emulation type (Xbox 360, Steam Deck, or DualSense), launch stick and trigger calibration, and adjust system options.

Desktop mode

From the Steam power menu, choose Switch to Desktop for a full KDE Plasma desktop. The Bazaar app store and the Armada Installer (Install to internal storage) live here. Use the Return to Gaming Mode shortcut on the desktop to switch back.

Power button and sleep

Pressing the power button does a "fake suspend" (inspired by ROCKNIX) rather than real S3 sleep: it blanks the screen and freezes the session, and the same press wakes it. Because the device does not truly sleep, idle battery drain is higher than it would be with real suspend.