How to Install Windows 11 on Steam Deck

Allow us to offer a detailed answer to the question of – how to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck, once and for all using this blog.

Steam Deck is an amazing gadget that allows you to play all kinds of games available on your Steam client. The device comes in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB variants, allowing you to install and play multiple games on a single device at a time. The 1280 x 800 display of the device makes the gameplay experience even more better for the gamers.

SteamOS is installed in all Steam Deck devices to help you interact with the device and play different games. However, some users may seek to get even more out of this device. If you are one such user, you may wonder how to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck.

It’s true that anyone can install Windows on Steam Deck, however, it’s not an easy task. The procedure to install Windows on Steam Deck is highly complicated and requires some prerequisites. In this article, we will help you with this procedure in detail. Here, you will find all the necessary details that will help you from setting up your device for installation to the actual installation. So, let’s proceed with the installation right away.

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How to Install Windows on Steam Deck: the Procedure

Now it’s time to answer — how to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck? Different ways will help you install Windows on Steam Deck. You can either decide to keep both SteamOS and Windows OS on the Deck, or completely/temporarily replace the SteamOS.

For your ease, you will find all these procedures accordingly. So, you can skip the other sections if required and jump to the suitable one right away. Additionally, we have also listed what’s required to install Windows on Steam Deck. So, let’s get started with the same.

Things You Should Know First

Certain pointers may help you decide whether you should proceed with the procedure to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck. Below you will find all these caution pointers before proceeding to the actual process. You can or will need:

keep both operating systems (SteamOS and Windows) on Deck [requires a high-end and high-storage micro SD card and a card reader.]
replace SteamOS with Windows 11 (requires a storage device with at least 16 GB storage)
a working and genuine Windows 11 product key.
a working Windows PC (with any Windows NT OS)
Rufus (on Windows PC)

Now that you know about the prerequisites, take some time to bring these devices together before proceeding with the installation process for Windows on Steam Deck as hampering the process can cause problems.

Now that you are ready, let’s have a look at the procedure to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck.

Procedure 1: Replace SteamOS Permanently

You can install Windows on Steam Deck and replace the SteamOS permanently. We do not recommend this method as going back to SteamOS and installing it can be very tricky. So, follow the steps provided below to learn how to install the Windows OS permanently:

Firstly, on your Windows PC, visit the official website of Windows 11, and download the ISO file of the latest version of the OS.

When the file is downloaded, visit the official website of Rufus to download this tool and install it.

Connect the storage device to your Windows PC.
Now, run the Rufus application, and under the Boot Selection section, choose the Windows ISO file that you downloaded previously.

Set the following options to the respective settings as stated:

Device: Your Connected Storage Device
Boost Selection: Disk or ISO Image
Image Option: Standard Windows Installation
Select: Choose Windows 11 ISO File Previously Downloaded
Partition Scheme: GPT
Target System: UEFI (non-CSM)
Volume Label: ESD-ISO
File System: Large FAT32 (Default)
Cluster Size: 32 kilobytes (Default)

Now you may see that the device is ready for boot. Click on Start to boot the storage device. (If any instructions appear, follow the same to proceed.)
While the device is booting, you can utilize this time. Visit the website of the Steam Valve Community to download all the Steam drivers for Windows.

Open the download folder and extract the downloaded driver folders. Move all the extracted folders to one consolidated folder and paste this folder to the storage device once the same is booted.
Once the storage device is booted, connect the same in the Steam Deck. Now, press the power and volume down buttons to bring up the boot menu.
When the Steam Deck Boot Manager loads, select the connected storage device.
Follow the instructions that appear to install Windows (you may need to enter the purchased Windows 11 keys). [Opt for Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications instead of Custom Installation.]
If you find any partitions, click and delete them and create a new partition.
Now, the device will take some time to install Windows 11. Once it’s done, set up Windows as required.
After setting up, open the drivers folder and run each driver file to install it.
Restart the device to complete the installation.

So, this is how you can install Windows on Steam Deck. If you wish to install and run both SteamOS and Windows on Steam Deck, let’s proceed to the next section.

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Procedure 2: Dual Boot SteamOS and Windows 11

This is the best and safest approach to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck while keeping the SteamOS on the device. Using this procedure, you can dual boot the two operating systems on one Steam Deck. However, Windows 11 will be installed on the external memory (SD card) and SteamOS will always remain on the Steam Deck’s internal SSD storage. Follow the below steps to proceed:

To proceed with this procedure, follow the first few steps provided below till the stage that you open the Steam Deck Boot Manager. However, in Rufus, now you need to select the MicroSD card to boot the device.
The tool will now select the microSD card to boot the device.
Follow the instructions that appear to install Windows (you may need to enter the purchased Windows 11 keys). [Opt for Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications instead of Custom Installation.]
If you find any partitions, click and delete them and create a new partition.
Now, the device will take some time to install Windows 11. Once it’s done, set up Windows as required.
Right-click on the screen, open Display settings, and set screen orientation to Landscape.
After setting up, open the drivers folder and run each driver file to install it.
Restart the device to complete the installation.

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Run Steam Deck with Windows 11 Freely

So, that’s all that we had to share with you. Previously, we had a look at two procedures for how to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck. We offered solutions to temporarily and permanently install Windows on Steam Deck, you can proceed with either solution as suited. However, we suggest that you dual-boot the device so that you can take advantage of both Windows and SteamOS at all times.

If you face any problem during the installation or want our help in any way, you can write your questions in the comments section below. You can also offer your feedback about the article in the same section. Also, if you liked our guide on how to install Windows 11 on Steam Deck, you can subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow our social media pages to get daily updates and keep in touch with us.