How to Install Windows on Steam Deck

This article explains how to install Windows on your Steam Deck, including how to run Windows from a micro SD card and how to replace SteamOS.

How to get Steam Deck to run Windows

The Steam Deck comes with a modified version of Arch Linux called SteamOS, but the hardware is essentially just a handheld PC, so you can replace the existing OS with Windows or install Windows on an SD card or USB drive.

If you want to replace SteamOS with Windows, you can switch back using Valve’s SteamOS recovery image. Installing Windows on a USB drive or SD card gives you the freedom to switch between operating systems each time you boot up your Steam Deck.

How to dual boot Windows and SteamOS on Steam Deck

You cannot dual boot Windows and SteamOS on the onboard Steam Deck storage, but you can if you install Windows on a USB drive or micro SD card. If you only need Windows when your Steam Deck is stationary at home, preferably plugged into a powered dock, you can use an external USB-C drive. If you want to access Windows on the go, an SD card is the most convenient option.

To boot Windows from an SD card on a Steam Deck:

1. Create a bootable Windows USB drive or microSD card.

   
   

2. Connect the bootable USB drive to your Steam Deck or insert the bootable SD card.

3. Make sure the steam deck is turned off.

   
   

4. Stop volume down and press the energy Button.

5. Choose USB drive or SD card.

6. The Steam Deck boots into Windows.

   The display will be sideways at this point.

7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete Windows setup.

8. When the Windows desktop appears, navigate to beginning > settings > system > advertisement.

9. Choose Show Orientation > landscapeand then accept the change when prompted.

10. Open Edge and navigate to the Steam Deck Windows resource page.

    
    

11. Download the APU driver, Wi-Fi driver, bluetooth driver, SD card reader driverand both audio driver.

12. Install the drivers and you can use Windows on your Steam deck.

    Your Steam Deck will boot into SteamOS every time it is powered off and on again. To return to Windows, press and hold volume down button when you press it power switch and select the SD card in the boot menu.

How to Install Windows on a Steam Deck

You can also install Windows directly onto your Steam deck, but this will replace SteamOS. If you’ve downloaded games to your Steam deck, made changes, set up emulators, or made any other changes, they will all be lost if you replace SteamOS with Windows. You can return to SteamOS later using the SteamOS recovery image, but this is essentially a factory reset that requires you to set up your Steam deck from scratch.

To install Windows directly onto your Steam Deck:

1. Create a Windows installation drive.

   
   

2. Turn off your Steam deck.

   
   

3. Connect your installation drive to the Steam Deck via USB.

   If necessary, you can use an adapter.

4. Stop volume down and press the energy button, then release both.

   
   

5. Choose EFI USB device.

6. The Steam Deck will launch with the Windows installer active. Check the language and tap Next.

   The display appears sideways at this time.

7. Beat Install now.

8. Enter a Windows activation key and tap Nextor tap I don’t have a product key continue without a key.

9. Choose a Windows version and tap Next.

10. Beat Next.

11. Beat Custom: Install Windows only.

12. Beat drive 0 partition 8then tap Extinguish. You can then choose Drive 0 Unallocated space and type Next.

    SteamOS stops working after deleting drive 0 partition 8, so make sure you really want to install Windows directly onto your Steam deck before doing so. If you change your mind, you’ll need to restore your Steam deck using a SteamOS recovery image.

13. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Windows installation.

    
    

14. When the installation is complete, the Steam Deck will reset.

    
    

15. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete Windows setup.

    
    

16. When the Windows desktop loads, navigate to beginning > settings > system > advertisement.

    
    

17. Choose Show Orientation > landscape.

    
    

18. Open Edge and navigate to Steam Deck Windows Resources Side.

    
    

19. Download the APU driver, Wi-Fi driver, bluetooth driver, SD card reader driverand both audio driver.

    
    

20. Install the drivers and you can use Windows on your Steam deck.

    
    

Why Install Windows on a Steam Deck?

SteamOS is great for running games. Heck, it’s capable of playing many games that are only playable on Windows. This is thanks to Proton, a compatibility layer that lets you run Windows games on Linux PCs.

There are many games that run flawlessly this way, and many more than fairly well, but some games just need a real Windows environment. If you play one or more of these games and want to play them on your Steam deck, you will need to install Windows.

Installing Windows on a Steam deck also allows you to install other digital storefronts like Epic and Origin and play games you own through those platforms on your handheld. If you have a lot of games on these platforms, you will benefit from installing Windows.

Games aside, installing Windows on a Steam Deck also turns your handheld into a portable Windows PC. You can connect it to a monitor via the HDMI cable, connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and access Windows on the go. If you have apps that don’t run on Linux, or you’re just unfamiliar with Linux, this can be an attractive option.

Why can’t you dual boot Windows and SteamOS?

You can dual boot Windows and Linux, so it might come as a surprise that you can’t dual boot Windows on your Steam Deck. The truth is that it is indeed possible, but the process is very difficult and requires a lot of behind-the-scenes work that just isn’t feasible for the average Steam deck owner.

Two major problems are that the SteamOS takes up the entire internal drive with its own partitions when installing, and both the Windows installer and Windows updates can break the bootloader required for dual booting. There are ways around these problems, but they’re not worth the trouble for the average user. Installing Windows on a microSD card is a much easier option.