Things to know when using Windows drivers on Steam Deck
Valve's Steam Deck is a powerful handheld gaming device. It features a processor that can run up to 3.5GHz and a GPU that can reach up to 1.6 TFlops. Valve has officially released Windows 10 drivers for the Steam Deck to cater to fans who want to run Windows on it.
What can you do with the Windows drivers on the Steam Deck?
When Valve launched the Windows drivers for the Steam Deck, there were initially 4 drivers available to allow the brave Deck owners to tinker with their device. These Windows drivers were for the GPU, WiFi, Bluetooth, and SD card reader. Since then, Valve has released additional drivers to make your Windows experience on the Steam Deck a bit smoother.
1. Steam Deck owners can now install Windows 11
When the Windows drivers were released for the Steam Deck, Windows 10 was available. Now, those who want to boot their Steam Deck console into the latest Windows platform - Windows 11 - can also do so.
2. Steam Deck with Windows now has sound
However, topping the list of new Windows drivers are the drivers for sound. The first users had to use USB-C or Bluetooth for sound with Windows on the Steam Deck. The sound driver for the Steam Deck comes with two separate files, and information on how to set up those files is available on the Windows Resources page for the Steam Deck.
https://help.steampowered.com/vn/faqs/view/6121-eccd-d643-baa8
What else are users looking forward to?
Users are ready for Valve to release more Windows drivers for the Steam Deck. The only thing left that Valve hasn't added to this powerful handheld device is the ability to have dual operating systems.
Valve does not have an official method for dual-booting Windows and SteamOS on the Deck - however, there are some unofficial ways to do this. Gamers wanting to dual boot Windows and SteamOS will have to wait a bit longer.
Should you install Windows on the Steam Deck?
While nothing stops you from installing Windows on the Steam Deck, there are reasons to be cautious about doing so. Not all games on Valve's handheld device are compatible with Windows.
However, you can download the Windows drivers for the Steam Deck directly from Valve if you wish. The provided hyperlink will take you to Valve's Steam support page, which links to the drivers currently offered for Windows 10 on the Steam Deck.
Considerations when installing Windows 10 on the Steam Deck
Although Valve has tools for installing Windows on the Steam Deck, there is no "Windows on Deck" support for step-by-step installation instructions. However, if you get stuck in the process and want to revert your Deck back to its original state, Valve has recovery instructions to help you troubleshoot.
The Deck can be an expensive console, with prices ranging from $399 to $649, but the Steam Deck has many advantages.
If you're looking to turn your Steam Deck into a Windows machine, then you can start right away with its support for the currently available GPU, WiFi, Bluetooth, and SD card reader drivers. You will have to wait a bit longer for the sound driver and dual-boot functionality.
