You’ve got your hands on the sleek Steam Deck OLED, but you’re yearning for more. SteamOS is great, but sometimes you just need the familiarity and flexibility of Windows. Well, buckle up because Valve has finally released official Windows drivers for your beloved gaming handheld.
Installing Windows on your Steam Deck OLED opens up a world of possibilities. No more relying on Proton to run your favorite PC games. With Windows, you can enjoy a native gaming experience, especially with those coveted PC Game Pass titles.
Before you dive in, make sure your Steam Deck is updated to SteamOS 3.6.9 Beta or later for the best Bluetooth support. You’ll also need a bootable Windows 11 installation media and a USB drive for creating a recovery image.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to unlocking the full potential of your Steam Deck OLED:
- Use Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with a Windows 11 installation image.
- Restart your Steam Deck and access the boot menu.
- Select the boot option for your recovery drive.
- Follow the prompts to install Windows 11 on your Steam Deck’s internal storage.
- Download and install the essential drivers from Valve’s official website, including APU, SD Card Reader, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Audio.
Now, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows just yet. There are a few limitations to keep in mind:
- Audio currently only works through plugged-in headphones or Bluetooth. Built-in speaker support is in the works.
- Installing Windows will wipe your Steam Deck clean, so back up your important files before taking the plunge.
Dual-boot isn’t available at the moment, but we’ll keep you in the loop if that changes. For now, embrace the power of Windows on your Steam Deck OLED and take your gaming to new heights. Happy gaming!