Valve’s Steam Deck is a powerful handheld gaming computer. It’s got processors that can run up to 3.5GHz and a GPU you can crank to 1.6 TFlops. So the leap to using Windows on it, instead of the bundled SteamOS, isn’t a big one. Valve has officially released Windows 10 drivers for the Steam Deck for fans who want to run Windows on it.
What Can You Do With Windows Drivers on Steam Deck?
At the time of writing, Valve has four Windows 10 drivers for Steam Deck, which will allow the technologically brave among Deck owners to tinker with their devices. If you choose to switch OS allegiances, Valve has Windows 10 drivers for the GPU, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SD card reader.
What’s Not Working Yet?
Since Windows running on the Steam Deck isn’t its primary purpose, there are expectedly some quirks Here’s what you’ll have to put up with in this early iteration.
No Audio Drivers, for Now
Valve hasn’t released audio drivers yet, so Deck consoles running Windows 10 won’t be able to play audio through the speakers or the 3.5mm audio ports. Valve says it is working “with AMD and other parties” on audio drivers. So you’ll have to use USB-C or Bluetooth for your audio for the time being.
Also, there isn’t any official confirmation on using the device’s built-in microphone without Windows 10 audio drivers for the Steam Deck. Our best guess is that you won’t be able to yet for any input.
Dual-Boot Currently Not Available
If you’re thinking about dual-booting Windows 10 with SteamOS, you won’t be able to configure this yet. So you will have to remove SteamOS before installing Windows 10 on the console. Although, Valve says that Steam Deck is fully capable of dual-boot, it’s isn’t ready yet.
Windows 11 Installation Coming Later
You can install Windows 10 right now. But Windows 11 compatibility for the console is under development as a BIOS update (with fTPM ) is necessary.
Should You Wait to Install Windows on Your Steam Deck?
Even if you are a Windows superfan, it seems the logical thing to do is to wait for a while, at least for Valve to release audio drivers before you replace the Deck’s built-in OS with Windows 10. The ability to boot into either operating system sounds even better, but there’s currently no word on when Valve will allow dual-boot on the Steam Deck.
However, if you’re rearing to go, you can download Windows drivers for Steam Deck directly from Valve. The hyperlink takes you to Valve’s Steam Support page, which links the drivers currently offered for Windows 10 on Steam Deck.
Want to Install Windows 10 on Steam Deck? What You Should Know First
While Valve has the tools to install Windows 10 on Steam Deck, there isn’t “Windows on Deck” support for step-by-step installation instructions. However, if you somehow find yourself stuck during the process and want to put your Deck back to the way it was, Valve has recovery instructions to help you troubleshoot your way out.
The Deck may be an expensive console, starting at $399 and going up to $649, but there’s a lot to love about the Steam Deck. If you’re unsure whether you should add the Steam Deck to your collection of consoles or aren’t sure which model you should choose, our guide to selecting the right Steam Deck model for you should prove helpful.
Make the Most of Windows 10 on Steam Deck
If you’re looking to turn your Steam Deck into a Windows machine, you can get started right away with its support for GPU, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the SD card reader now available. You’re just going to have to wait a little longer for audio drivers and dual-boot functionality.
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