> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kouch.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kouch.dev/getting-started/alpha.md).

# What works in the alpha

What works in the alpha, what's switched off until Kouch is on Steam, and what's still early.

Kouch is in **alpha**: it works, it's being tested, and it has rough edges. This page lists the limits in one place. Other pages mark them where they come up.

## Needs Kouch's own place on Steam

Kouch has applied for its own Steam app, and that hasn't been approved yet. Until then you add Kouch to Steam yourself as a non-Steam game ([Start Kouch from Steam](/getting-started/start-from-steam.md)). Everything that works through Steam Input works that way: controllers, motion, Steam's button glyphs and friends. A few Steam features only work for an app with its own Steam page, so they're **off in the alpha**. Where they'd appear, Kouch shows a note instead.

| Feature                                                      | In the alpha                                                                                      |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Steam Workshop (themes, mods, plugins, sharing)              | Off. Local themes, mods and plugins work.                                                         |
| Steam Cloud saves                                            | On for every emulator, but nothing syncs yet. Your saves stay on this PC until Kouch is on Steam. |
| Remote Play Together                                         | Off.                                                                                              |
| Your SteamGridDB key on your other PCs                       | Off. The key stays on the PC where you set it.                                                    |
| Rich presence ("Playing … on Kouch" in friends' Steam lists) | Off.                                                                                              |
| Steam's own **Join game** button starting Kouch              | Off. Join from inside Kouch instead.                                                              |
| Friends list, lobbies and netplay between testers            | **On.**                                                                                           |
| Steam's button glyphs and Steam Input                        | **On.**                                                                                           |

## Still early

* **The Steam Deck.** Kouch runs in Game Mode on the Deck, and it's newer there than on Windows. Scrolling a very large library can drop a few frames. See [Install on the Steam Deck](/getting-started/install-steam-deck.md).
* **Split-pair controllers** (a controller that comes apart into two halves) are waiting for a hardware check. Until then a pair works the way Steam presents it. See [Split-pair controllers](/controllers/split-pair.md).
* **Rumble in games** works on Windows for players 1 to 4. On the Steam Deck and Linux, games don't rumble yet. See [Rumble in games](/controllers/players-and-seats.md#rumble-in-games).
* **Exclusive fullscreen.** An emulator in exclusive fullscreen can hide the Quick Menu. Use borderless fullscreen, which is the default in Kouch's emulator profiles.

## Coming later

* **Rumble on the Steam Deck and Linux**, for every player.
* **Suggested settings for each game from an online source**, optional and never required. Kouch works fully offline with your own settings.
* **Performance reports you opt into:** the frame rate, your system's specs and the settings in use, to find the best settings for everyone. Off until you say yes, and nothing personal. Today Kouch sends nothing of the kind.

## Your tester pack

The Kouch team gives testers a pack of emulator profiles as one `.kod` file. It works on Windows and on Linux (the Steam Deck included). Drop it on the Kouch window (or use **Settings › Emulators › Import profile**), choose **Take everything**, and Kouch installs each emulator for your system, one after another. Some emulators need your own system files; Kouch says so. See [Your own system files](/emulators/emulators/system-files.md).

## Tell us what you find

When something goes wrong, open **Settings › About** and choose **Create a report for the Kouch team**. [Create a report](/troubleshooting/create-a-report.md) explains what's in it and what never is.


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