Getting started
A first-launch checklist for installing the base app, learning placement and interaction, and keeping the desktop usable.
Open this routePractical guide index
Desktop Mate guides
Use this guide set to move from a verified Steam install to a comfortable first session, then decide whether official DLC or a community model actually belongs on your desktop.
Independent fan resource. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by infiniteloop Co., Ltd., Valve/Steam, or any character rights holder.
01
Install from Steam
02
Learn the clean base app
03
Compare platform status
04
Add mods one at a time
Download and platform answers
Windows and Apple silicon Mac have publisher-listed routes; Linux, Deck, Android, and iOS need an honest availability answer.
Mod safety
Source, license, loader, compatibility, direct-release behavior, and rollback steps for community projects.
Start with the answer you came for
If you searched for a download, use the platform router first. It links Windows and Mac to the publisher's Steam listing and explains why the other platform pages do not provide a risky mirror.
If you searched for mods, open the catalog and choose a page with a real preview and original author route. Every mod page is intentionally separate so its requirements and warnings are not hidden inside a generic list.
Your first ten minutes
Install the clean base app, launch it once, and watch how the character occupies the desktop. Try the interaction and alarm features before adding DLC or loaders; this gives you a baseline for troubleshooting.
A good setup is one you can still read and control. Keep the character near an edge, close it for focused full-screen work, and make a note of the settings you want to preserve.
- Verify the Steam publisher and App ID 3301060.
- Open the clean app before community code.
- Try the window interaction and alarm behavior.
- Record the settings that feel comfortable.
A source-aware mod workflow
Treat every community mod as its own software decision. Read the original description, check the loader and Desktop Mate version, inspect the license, scan the archive, and install one project at a time.
GitHub tools may provide original release assets. Nexus character pages keep file access on Nexus because the uploader controls permissions and the Files tab; this site does not re-host those archives.
Browse the source-verified mod catalog Check platform availability
When an update changes the experience
A Steam update can change file paths, rendering, input, or the assemblies a loader expects. If a mod stops working, remove the mod first, return to the clean app, and verify files through Steam before trying another version.
Keep the source URL and date with each experiment. That small record prevents you from downloading a random reupload months later.
Desktop Mate guides FAQ
Where should I start with Desktop Mate?
Start with the official Steam install and the getting-started guide, then learn the clean base app before adding DLC or mods.
How many Desktop Mate mods should I install at once?
One at a time is the safest way to identify a loader conflict, broken model, or changed file path.
Are all Desktop Mate downloads on this site direct?
Base-app links go to Steam; GitHub tools can link to original release files; Nexus models stay on the original Files page and may require login.
What if a guide says to disable antivirus?
Stop. An unknown mod or installer should not require disabling security software. Return to the original source and verify what the file actually is.
Sources and verification
This page uses official product material for the Desktop Mate route and keeps similarly named projects or community files on their original sources.
Product and platform details checked on 2026-07-22. Recheck the live source pages after app or platform updates.