In an update released in spring 2022, the Steam Deck allows players to install and run Windows OS 10 and 11 on the device. Unfortunately, installing Windows on the Steam Deck’s SSD will mean one has to wipe their device’s SSD. Wiping the SSD is far from ideal and carries a variety of risks and headaches for the user. So until Steam release an update to fix this, this guide focus on running Windows 10 (or 11) on the Steam Deck with micro-SD.

Items/Programs Needed

A Windows PC 32GB USH micro-SD 32GB USB drive SD Card reader Keyboard and mouse (optional) Download the Windows OS files here. Download the USB Boot program Rufus from here.

Download the Windows Drivers from here.

Steps To Installing Windows On The Steam Deck

Ensure the Windows Creation tool from the Window site above is downloaded and ready. Open the Windows Creation Tool. Select Create Installation, and locate the Windows 10 ISO file. Download the Windows drivers files and place the files into a separate USB drive. Plug in the micro-SD reader and open Rufus. Select the Device option. Navigate to the Windows ISO and click on Select. Ensure that Windows. iso is present under Boot Selection. Under the Image Option dropdown select Windows To Go. In Partition Scheme, select MBR. In the Format Option, select the NTFS option. Click on the Ready button. Power down the Steam Deck. Insert the micro-SD card into the SD slot on the bottom of the Steam Deck. Press and hold the Power and the Volume Down buttons to enter the Steam Deck’s boot menu.

Windows On The Steam Deck From A Micro-SD

Select the Windows option in the boot menu. Windows will launch in portrait mode. Players can now connect a keyboard and mouse or use the Steam Deck’s touchpad. Go to Settings>System>Display>Display Orientation. Select Landscape and flip the screen to the correct position. Plug the USB-C card reader into the Steam Deck and connect the USB with the Windows Drivers files. Install the drivers. This will run Windows 10 or 11 on the Steam Deck without installing it on the SSD.

The Steam Deck is available to order from the official Steam website.

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