How to Get Steam Deck to Run Windows
The Steam Deck comes with a modified version of Arch Linux called SteamOS, but the hardware is essentially just a handheld PC, so you are free to replace the existing OS with Windows or install Windows on an SD card or USB drive. If you choose to replace SteamOS with Windows, you can switch back with Valve’s SteamOS recovery image. If you install Windows on a USB drive or SD card, you can switch between the operating systems freely each time you boot up your Steam Deck.
How to Dual Boot Windows and SteamOS on Steam Deck
You can’t dual boot Windows and SteamOS on the built-in Steam Deck storage, but you can if you install Windows on a USB drive or a micro SD card. If you will only need Windows when your Steam Deck is stationary at home, preferably plugged into a powered dock, then you can use an external USB-C drive. If you want access to windows on the go, then an SD card is the most convenient option. Here’s how to boot Windows from an SD card on a Steam Deck:
How to Install Windows on a Steam Deck
You can also install Windows directly on your Steam Deck, but doing so will replace SteamOS. If you’ve downloaded any games on your Steam Deck, made any modifications, set up any emulators, or made any other changes, that will all be lost when you replace SteamOS with Windows. You can switch back to SteamOS later using the SteamOS recovery image, but that is essentially a factory reset that will require you to set up your Steam Deck from scratch. Here is how to install Windows directly on your Steam Deck:
Why Install Windows On a Steam Deck?
SteamOS is great at running games. Heck, it’s capable of playing a lot of games that are only playable on Windows. This is thanks to Proton, which is a compatibility layer that lets you run Windows games on Linux PCs. There are a lot of games that run flawlessly in this way, and a lot more than run pretty well, but some games just need an actual Windows environment. If you play one or more of those games, and you want to play them on your Steam Deck, then you’ll need to install Windows. Installing Windows on a Steam Deck also allows you to install other digital storefronts, like Epic and Origin, and play games you own through those platforms on the handheld. If you have a lot of games on those platforms, then you’ll benefit from installing Windows. Aside from games, installing Windows on a Steam Deck also turns your handheld into a portable Windows PC. You can plug it into a monitor via the HDMI cable, connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and have access to Windows on the go. If you have any apps that don’t run on Linux, or you just aren’t comfortable with Linux, this may be an attractive option.
Why Can’t You Dual Boot Windows and SteamOS?
You can dual boot Windows and Linux, so it might come as a surprise you can’t dual boot Windows on your Steam Deck. The truth is that it actually is possible, but the process is very difficult and requires a lot of behind-the-scenes work that just isn’t viable for the average Steam Deck owner. Two big issues are that the SteamOS takes up the entire internal drive with its own partitions when it’s installed, and both the Windows installer and Windows updates can break the bootloader that’s necessary to dual boot. There are ways around these issues, but they aren’t worth the trouble for the average user. Installing Windows to a microSD card is a much easier option.
