What every gamer on this planet always had in their mind was if they would ever get the chance to explore the real experience of PC games on a simple console. The ideal gaming system, Steam Deck, created by Valve Corporation, is the answer the gaming community was looking for.
There’s a growing concern worldwide regarding the [not so] ‘complicated’ process of installing Windows on the exciting game station, which is undoubtedly one of its kind.
Will it take too long to install Windows on Steam Deck?
No. Contrary to common belief, enjoying Windows on your brand-new Steam Deck gaming system doesn’t require much effort. The time it takes to install Windows completely will be under 15 minutes.
What are the necessary requirements to install Windows on Steam Deck?
You will need the following support to progress with the Windows installation setup on your Valve Steam Deck gaming device –
- One UHS-1 microSD card with at least 32GB of free space
- One USB thumb drive with at least 32GB of free space
- A USB-C hub with a spare USB port
- Last but not the least, a spare Windows PC
What are the issues you could face while trying to install Windows on Steam Deck?
You might encounter certain glitches while installing Windows on your Steam Deck, as Windows will not be as it is. If you decide to install the OS (or perform a boot from it through a microSD card, which will ensure the StreamOS installation remains unaffected), it will help you turn the Steam Deck as a replacement of your laptop.
Windows can be installed on Steam Deck, here’s how you could do it.
Please note that Windows 11 requires a TPM because your Steam Deck isn’t officially compatible with it. To add to your woes, Steam Deck is not enabled with TPM. Though you can manage to have Windows 11 on your Steam Deck barring the regular updates.
How to install Windows on the Steam Deck’s SSD?
- To begin with, generate a Windows installation drive.
- Download the Windows media creation tool and make an installer on your USB drive.
- Shut down your Steam Deck and connect your USB drive with a USB-C hub.
- Turn on the power of your Steam Deck while holding the volume down button to enter the boot manager. Select your USB drive with the Windows installer to proceed.
- Choose your preferred Windows version and then select Install now. Connect with a keyboard and mouse during this step in order to make it hassle-free.
- Activate Windows by entering the product key.
- Pick Custom: install Windows only. You have to delete partitions on the Steam Deck to facilitate installing Windows.
- Upload all your data to Steam Cloud to avoid losing all your games, settings and any saves/media, which will be erased automatically at this stage.
- Select the largest partition and press delete. It will show up as Unallocated space.
- Go with Next, it will prompt Windows installation on the drive.
- An automatic reboot will happen after some time. Now you will be in the normal Windows setup.
- Windows has been installed on your Steam Deck. Go to Settings > System > Display and switch Display Orientation to Landscape.
- Get hold of another USB drive with the Windows drivers for Steam Deck and install them for back up so that you can restore them in the future, as SteamOS is no more.
What about booting from a microSD card or USB drive?
For this, you will need some additional tools like Rufus, Windows drivers for Steam Deck (from Valve itself). It’s a bit more complicated than the previous one.
We will be offering further exclusive updates on this. Feel free to reach out to us if you face any issues while installing Windows on your Steam Deck.
