i wondered what i did wrong, didnt take hours the first time, it was like a few minutes then when i got to the steamdeck it looked like an old version of windows and asked for license key then couldnt install on partitions. I had already been wondering why rufus didnt ask me which version i wanted lol
By far, the easiest way to run windows on the Steam Deck. You made everything so easy to follow and understand. Instant follow and fan here. Ben Affleck is also one of my favorite actors haha. Seriously, thanks again for this brother!
but is this the recommended way to run windows on steamdeck? i areas a post somewhere on reddit where it was discouraged to run windows this way on steam deck, please I need a suggestions....though I have win 4...bought I would prefer playing on steamdeck.
hello. quick question. After installing windows on microSD card, is it okay to just leave it inserted there? and how big is the overall file for windowsOS on microSD card? was planning on following the tutorial but already had some games installed. will need to transfer them to internal if ever windowsOS file require larger storage.
This is actually genius. I didn’t think of that. Unfortunately I don’t currently have access to a Windows machine so I can’t do this right now but thank you for the very in-depth tutorial
ive had this video saved for weeks while i saved up for my steam deck and i finally was able to buy it!!! using this video to dual boot mine right now!
I don't know if I've come on here and thanked you personally yet, but here it is! Thanks brotha! Just completed your process for the second time now and works flawless each time. Just upgraded my internal drive and wanted windows separate for game pass along other ecosystems, can't thank you enough!
Good video. Just forgot to show people how to add touch screen keyboard functionality. Go to setting Click on devices Select typing Scroll down and enable (show touch keyboard when not in tablet mode)
I found this was the best way to use windows on it as using an SD card keeps everyting seperate from your steamos install, sadly if you don't want to get banned from some games like Genshin Impact (which actually performs better on windows) or Lost Ark, installing windows is the only way to do. For anyone doing this I highly recommend installing handheld companion app for non steam games. It's provides a gui for controller emulation and system settings including TDP within windows.
@@EpiKerCovers I run into the occasional audio cut out maybe once every 45 mins or so, but nothing major. Always comes right but after a restart but thats just my experience. At the very least the performance boost vs using something like an animegamelauncher on SteamOS makes it worth it for me.
Running Windows on the Steam Deck? Heresy I say! We should start demanding online multiplayer games to use the Linux version of their respective anti-cheats. All the major ones have them already, it's a matter of implementing it.
The problem is that the current state of anticheat physically cannot run on Linux because the user would just be able to see everything that happens, everything the anticheat would check, and would have an even easier time working around them
@@haider7866 when you format the drive you will see NTFS as an option. If you want to use Xbox game pass, you need to use this file system. FAT32 and exfat do not work with Xbox game pass.
Guys, if Rufu doesn't detect your SD card just do this : Open Rufus as admin and with rufus open press ALT + F then it will detect your SD card...... :)
Not sure why there's so much Windows hate. I've got dual boot set up on the internal SSD and split the microSD card so both Windows 11 and SteamOS can use it. Best of both worlds and can use Gamepass. The Windows experience is significantly better than it was, especially when using Handheld Companion and it runs fast
Such a good tutorial, so easy to follow. Looking forward to finally being able to run Windows on my deck Also, just have to brag about my PC, only took me 18 minutes to download Windows onto my microSD through Rufus lol
at 4:39, it doesnt ask me which version i want to download. Do you know why? Am i doing something wrong? Ultimately it ask for a windows product key and i when i enter it, it says its invalid. ugh.
I need HELP! I did everything as said but when i boot up windows to set it up it is frozen on the steam logo it has been like this for 1+ hours now I need help!!
You should have mentioned about the "Windows To Go" option. I did not catch that and failed to do anything to get it running. I caught it now so I am testing it.
This works in 5 minutes on PC. Out of town, with only a mac, with all the software available, I failed for 10 days and then came home and did it in 5 again.
Love these videos brother I went over the xemu emulation video you put out the other day and got it running on my steam deck, thanks for the help and God Bless.
What does the Partition Scheme look like, could you show what the Disk actually Looks Like from the view of like "MiniTool Partition Manager" or Windows Disk Manager?
Won’t let me install. Gets to where do you want to install and won’t accept any of the options on the screen. When I go to show details it states windows must be installed on a ntfs. Is it because my card is formatted at exfat?
@@OhNoItsAlexx I followed to the T mate. I went on Reddit and they’re saying delete all partitions now I’m re-installing steam os 🤦♂️ as windows installed on the main drive instead of the sd. But yeah I followed to the letter mate and still had that error.
Its helpful noting that at 6:01 in the video.. if you purchased a steam deck *oled* then the wifi Bluetooth and other drivers as of 4/29/2024 are not currently available for the steam deck *oled* ..... 😩
UI have done this successfully for several times with several SD cards however after some time the windows installation seems to always break, and the steam deck will not recognise the sd card as a boot device. I have even tried on an external SSD but to the same result. After a month the installation seems to corrupt without being it recoverable. Any help please?
@@Taylor-yo5wz i switched to windows 10 not 11 but i believe that the thing that was breaking the install were the optional driver updates offerred by windows update. So dont use them
2 questions…. 1.) Will the windows OS also recognizing the steam decks internal storage? And will the games downloaded internally already, be playable on windows steam? I think I will just buy a windows memory card size for the games with the anti cheat issue… so 512gb should work for now. 2.) when powering the steam deck console on, does it automatically load the last used OS so only need to use volume down to switch between?
1. For me it only recognized the sd card and 2 other partitions on the hard drive but not the main hard drive that has the main storage 2. It automatically loads windows always, at least for me, to boot into steamos hold volume + and power then boot manager, then the hard drive that has steamos on it
I did everything as you said, but my Steam deck wont recognize my sd card in boot mode. (I switched to "windows to go") Whats the problem? Edit: I have found the solution. Switch off the console, put the SD card in, switch on the console by pressing volume UP (not volume down) AND the power button. You hear the beep sound, you let go the buttons. A bios menu will show up. You select “setup utility”, then “boot” menu, then “add boot options”. You change the setting there to “First”. Save and exit the changes. The Steam Deck will restart and it will just boot from the sd card.
Idk what I'm doing wrong, went step by step an can't get Rufus to see my sdcard. I had formatted the sdcard but it also ask me what do I want the SD to do. Was trying to do this from a windows pc with sdcard inserted in the SD reader on the side of the computer.
Insane that one year later the Steam Deck window resources page for the OLED still says "Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Audio drivers for Windows on Steam Deck OLED are currently being worked on, and will be available soon."
Im stuck in the windows setup .(1) it askes for a license key (2) it asks where do you want to install windows and none of the options work. I followed the video step by step but cant figure this part out
Thanks for this tutorial, quickest and simplest tutorial! I'm a big fan of booting from the micro SD and i'm glad there are others encouraging the same!
Didn't explain how to find your network. Installed all the drivers from the steam page and when trying to connect it doesn't find any networks. Even went and installed the rtlwan drivers for realteck and still nothing...
Forgive me if this is a stupid question but do I have to keep the micro sd card that has windows installed to it inside my steam deck? Or do I install windows from it and I can switch back to another card? I ask because I have a micro sd card in my steam deck right now but it has all of my games on it so I'd rather not choose one or the other.
this no longer works if you already installed windows on the sd card..have formatted...deleted the partition and still don't get the option what version of win 10 i want and the system will think that i had windows on the sd card before so won't install anymore
So I’m in the process of windows setup on the steam deck, and it’s asking for activation key??!!! Now it’s saying windows cannot be downloaded on “Drive 0 partition 1” and there’s 8 different partitions. None of them will allow me to install…
Using Linux for gaming is akin to using a Boeing 747 to drive across the country on highways, is it possible? Technically. Is it powerful? - In the right circumstances very much so. Does it make sense? Not when you can use a car (Windows) It's far more cut out for the task, it's simple to operate. My Steam Deck is a door stop, using anything other than Steam games is like trying to teach a pig to play the piano. Windows 11, whilst not 'cool' it's good at what it's supposed to do, being a simple OS for people to use for a wide variety of tasks without endless hassle, endless reading and having to use command line instead of clicking a mouse button twice. Looking forward to restoring some sense to my SD, Windows 11 is going on so I can actually enjoy gaming on it (which many videos proves it does very well).
At 4:37 I missed an edit. Make sure you set the Image Option drop down to “Windows To Go”
Thanks!
It never gives me an Image Option.
i wondered what i did wrong, didnt take hours the first time, it was like a few minutes then when i got to the steamdeck it looked like an old version of windows and asked for license key then couldnt install on partitions. I had already been wondering why rufus didnt ask me which version i wanted lol
I noticed it and i switched it even when you didn't mention it. Sometimes its common sense to follow everything
Does it matter if I don't do windows to go I already installed windows 10
By far, the easiest way to run windows on the Steam Deck. You made everything so easy to follow and understand. Instant follow and fan here. Ben Affleck is also one of my favorite actors haha. Seriously, thanks again for this brother!
Damn, I didn't know Casey Affleck had a UA-cam!
but is this the recommended way to run windows on steamdeck? i areas a post somewhere on reddit where it was discouraged to run windows this way on steam deck, please I need a suggestions....though I have win 4...bought I would prefer playing on steamdeck.
@@michaelddonI’m not too sure, but if ur worried abt it there’s direct instructions on how to do it on the official steam website
@@sarahrodriguez7267 yea windows on sd card is worst than using hdd now if u play eac games online install windows if not use steam deck os
i like mike Malik
thank you adam sandler
More like Alex Mason
Looks more like ben affleck than adam sandler
@@moviesynopsis001Also wanted to say that he looks nothing like Adam
I'm still looking for the similarities..🤔
Looks like Andy Samberg with Ben Affleck’s chin
8:02 don't pretend we don't see that neat little game you have in your library
Hehe, sharp eyes
What the fuck is that game
thats what im saying
He clearly installed that game just so someone would comment about it. "New to library"
I’m so dead 😂😂😂😂
Honestly very straightforward and helpful. I had a little trouble with the audio driver but it was very easy for the most part.
hello. quick question. After installing windows on microSD card, is it okay to just leave it inserted there? and how big is the overall file for windowsOS on microSD card? was planning on following the tutorial but already had some games installed. will need to transfer them to internal if ever windowsOS file require larger storage.
@@raymondfuntanilla6650 iirc Win 10/11 is only 20GB
One of the best YT tutorial videos I've seen. Easy to follow and straight to the point. Would love to see this guy do more help tutorials!
SRSLY!!! This guy is right on the money. Deserves a subscription just for that.
This is actually genius. I didn’t think of that. Unfortunately I don’t currently have access to a Windows machine so I can’t do this right now but thank you for the very in-depth tutorial
ive had this video saved for weeks while i saved up for my steam deck and i finally was able to buy it!!! using this video to dual boot mine right now!
Lmk how it works out. I'm genuinely curious since you're the most recent commenter.
did it work
Did it work out?
@@sarahrodriguez7267 yes !
@@vennrune eek i never saw this sorry but it worked
I don't know if I've come on here and thanked you personally yet, but here it is! Thanks brotha! Just completed your process for the second time now and works flawless each time. Just upgraded my internal drive and wanted windows separate for game pass along other ecosystems, can't thank you enough!
Good video. Just forgot to show people how to add touch screen keyboard functionality.
Go to setting
Click on devices
Select typing
Scroll down and enable (show touch keyboard when not in tablet mode)
perfect- thanks for this
C😮 he
I found this was the best way to use windows on it as using an SD card keeps everyting seperate from your steamos install, sadly if you don't want to get banned from some games like Genshin Impact (which actually performs better on windows) or Lost Ark, installing windows is the only way to do. For anyone doing this I highly recommend installing handheld companion app for non steam games. It's provides a gui for controller emulation and system settings including TDP within windows.
But Genshin running on Windows on the Steam Deck has a lot of problems, no? Like no sound or something.
@@EpiKerCovers I run into the occasional audio cut out maybe once every 45 mins or so, but nothing major. Always comes right but after a restart but thats just my experience. At the very least the performance boost vs using something like an animegamelauncher on SteamOS makes it worth it for me.
@@Notraficci So would you suggest installing Windows to play Genshin and not use Thay Anime Game Launcher?
Why get banned?
Running Windows on the Steam Deck? Heresy I say! We should start demanding online multiplayer games to use the Linux version of their respective anti-cheats. All the major ones have them already, it's a matter of implementing it.
Yeah exactly. The more we demand the more we get
Linux? Lmao. That OS died years ago.
Windows on separate MicroSD card makes a good stop gap, most of my gaming purchases are factored with whether they run on steam os (linux) nowadays.
True words!
The problem is that the current state of anticheat physically cannot run on Linux because the user would just be able to see everything that happens, everything the anticheat would check, and would have an even easier time working around them
(I mean this as a compliment) Ben affleck is the last person I thought would be instructing me how to install windows on a steam deck
so much better than all the other tutorials ive seen! thank you!!! :)
I tried to follow the guide, lucky you remined us that we need to have a Steam deck. 😋
Mine will arrive tomorrow
You should probably go ahead and format the SD Card to NTFS. Some game launchers require NTFS, Xbox Game Pass is one.
What is NTFS
@@haider7866 when you format the drive you will see NTFS as an option. If you want to use Xbox game pass, you need to use this file system. FAT32 and exfat do not work with Xbox game pass.
It's a file system os for storage devices. Ntfs can store larger individual files but fat 32 can easily access smaller individual files.
Its already in the format options on Rufus by default
Wish i had seen this earlier. So game pass wont work they way he installed it?
Just did this and works flawless. Thanks man :)
This was the easiest and most forward guide I could find on the internet and it worked great! Thx! 💪🏼
Windows is so easy yet so convoluted to install at the same time lol
Thank you! Amazing and easy walkthrough, first time commenting on a youtube video and you get the comment for outstanding work!
Guys, if Rufu doesn't detect your SD card just do this : Open Rufus as admin and with rufus open press ALT + F then it will detect your SD card...... :)
I doesnt work for me, in log it says:
"Found non-USB removable device ' SDXC SCSI Disk Device' => Eliminated
0 devices found"
Any idea? :(
It worked like a charm :)
Just got my deck and this is the FIRST thing I wanted to do. Thanks man 💯!
I keep getting asked where I'd like to install the os and none of the options are for the sd card
This is dope as hell, if I get a Deck this christmas, I’m definitely gonna do this :D
Amazing video, thank you! Simple and detailed. Dropped a like!
been waiting for a reliable guide for this
Not sure why there's so much Windows hate. I've got dual boot set up on the internal SSD and split the microSD card so both Windows 11 and SteamOS can use it. Best of both worlds and can use Gamepass. The Windows experience is significantly better than it was, especially when using Handheld Companion and it runs fast
how did you set this dual boot up?
@@txlockednloaded2128 I used this guide here: ua-cam.com/video/uYWNZGiBsUo/v-deo.html
How do you split the SD card?
@@BiggWillps2 I think I used the guide here: ua-cam.com/video/VVoodxlO3oA/v-deo.html
Gamepass not being native on steam deck is more of a shame than dual booting windows.
Excellent guide, works perfectly. Thank you!
Glad it helped!
Such a good tutorial, so easy to follow. Looking forward to finally being able to run Windows on my deck
Also, just have to brag about my PC, only took me 18 minutes to download Windows onto my microSD through Rufus lol
Same 😂
I need windows for everything. But the steam deck design is the best I've seen! So... Why not both:) thanks man
Great Tutorial! It Worked Flawlessly Thank You! 😁
You're welcome!
at 4:39, it doesnt ask me which version i want to download. Do you know why? Am i doing something wrong? Ultimately it ask for a windows product key and i when i enter it, it says its invalid. ugh.
was not expecting that at 8:01 😂looks like a good game tho😳
Really good video, i shared/linked this video to a M8 who wants windows on his SD.
Good stuff. That was much easier than I imagined.
I need HELP! I did everything as said but when i boot up windows to set it up it is frozen on the steam logo it has been like this for 1+ hours now I need help!!
Once again thank you for a helpful video! I managed to get windows running nicely
I did it today and I used a laptop with an inbuild SD card reader and it only took like 3 minutes to make the SD card over Rufus.
is it save if i update my steamdeck on linux or windows iam scared to do it i just got my steamdeck oled what if i brick it can i still get it back
You can restore the image from the steam website if it does brick idk about updating
You should have mentioned about the "Windows To Go" option. I did not catch that and failed to do anything to get it running. I caught it now so I am testing it.
This works in 5 minutes on PC. Out of town, with only a mac, with all the software available, I failed for 10 days and then came home and did it in 5 again.
Since the new updates, you can no longer boot the microsd card from the BIOS.
What if we already have an SD card in the steam deck? Will I have to move everything over to the SSD so i can format the card?
Love these videos brother I went over the xemu emulation video you put out the other day and got it running on my steam deck, thanks for the help and God Bless.
man I just started doing this, only after I realized there are limited drivers on oled.... and I moved all my emulation data from SD card.
What does the Partition Scheme look like, could you show what the Disk actually Looks Like from the view of like "MiniTool Partition Manager" or Windows Disk Manager?
After my honey do list tomorrow I will be doing this. Seems very easy the way u explained it. 🎉
You can do it!
important note if you install windows 11: THE HOME VERSION WILL NOT WORK AS IT REQUIRES A MICROSOFT ACCOUNT AND A NETWORK TO SETUP.
im not even done, but its been so easy so far because of this video. i appreciate this guide!
Unfortunately my steam deck can't see my SD in boot manager, it can see it in normal mode but not boot manager
this was super straight forward and helpful, thank you so much!
Since rufus only detects usb storage media on laptops or desktops with in built sd card readers rufus does not pick up the sd cards
My laptop picked it up in the sd slot just fine
It took 15 mins not 2h something wrong??
Still work as of now? (Oct 22nd 2024)
Thank you in advance, cant wait to try this to get better performance with emulation
this guide was very helpful! Thank you so much. Just can't finish yet because theres missing drivers for oled so I have to wait for their release.
Won’t let me install. Gets to where do you want to install and won’t accept any of the options on the screen. When I go to show details it states windows must be installed on a ntfs. Is it because my card is formatted at exfat?
You skipped the Rufus step
@@OhNoItsAlexx I followed to the T mate. I went on Reddit and they’re saying delete all partitions now I’m re-installing steam os 🤦♂️ as windows installed on the main drive instead of the sd. But yeah I followed to the letter mate and still had that error.
Switch to windows to go in Rufus. He edited that part out of the video.
Thank you for this great guide, smooth and simple process thanks to you!
Thank you for this Alex! :)
Thank you I finally got windows on steam deck!
So where exacty did you install Windows? You skipped about 4 steps where you need to select the location!
Its helpful noting that at 6:01 in the video.. if you purchased a steam deck *oled* then the wifi Bluetooth and other drivers as of 4/29/2024 are not currently available for the steam deck *oled* ..... 😩
I'm so pissed, idk why the OLED version I got doesn't have wifi and the other stuff. No matter what I do I can't get it working 😕
how do i get my controller working on epic games? like for fortnite?
UI have done this successfully for several times with several SD cards however after some time the windows installation seems to always break, and the steam deck will not recognise the sd card as a boot device. I have even tried on an external SSD but to the same result. After a month the installation seems to corrupt without being it recoverable. Any help please?
Hey I was planning on trying the tutorial soon. Did you ever find any solution?
@@Taylor-yo5wz i switched to windows 10 not 11 but i believe that the thing that was breaking the install were the optional driver updates offerred by windows update. So dont use them
Thanks for this bro.
Now make another one for tweaks and how getting best experience.
2 questions….
1.) Will the windows OS also recognizing the steam decks internal storage? And will the games downloaded internally already, be playable on windows steam?
I think I will just buy a windows memory card size for the games with the anti cheat issue… so 512gb should work for now.
2.) when powering the steam deck console on, does it automatically load the last used OS so only need to use volume down to switch between?
1. For me it only recognized the sd card and 2 other partitions on the hard drive but not the main hard drive that has the main storage
2. It automatically loads windows always, at least for me, to boot into steamos hold volume + and power then boot manager, then the hard drive that has steamos on it
@@zxro5567 did you lose any gaming performance?
I did everything as you said, but my Steam deck wont recognize my sd card in boot mode. (I switched to "windows to go")
Whats the problem?
Edit: I have found the solution. Switch off the console, put the SD card in, switch on the console by pressing volume UP (not volume down) AND the power button. You hear the beep sound, you let go the buttons. A bios menu will show up. You select “setup utility”, then “boot” menu, then “add boot options”. You change the setting there to “First”. Save and exit the changes.
The Steam Deck will restart and it will just boot from the sd card.
This is a great guide. I'm waiting for a 1TB SD card to drop in price on a fire sale or something before doing this
Idk what I'm doing wrong, went step by step an can't get Rufus to see my sdcard. I had formatted the sdcard but it also ask me what do I want the SD to do. Was trying to do this from a windows pc with sdcard inserted in the SD reader on the side of the computer.
Did you ever find a fix for this?
@@Nerolir-kf9okrun as admin. Then press alt + F and it should automatically insert your SD card
Can you still install games to the SD card when using the Steam Deck OS?
what do i do when its fails deleting mbr/gpt/pbr
my device isnt showing up on rufus any ideas?
Insane that one year later the Steam Deck window resources page for the OLED still says "Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Audio drivers for Windows on Steam Deck OLED are currently being worked on, and will be available soon."
They are available now but sound only works on headphone jack or Bluetooth
Ug i had to do this 3 times because you didn't say to select Windows to Go, but you quickly selected it in the video which i missed... lol
my steam boot manager does not detect sd card
You're the man! Easy installation!
I got to the part where it asked where I want to install Windows, am I doing something wrong?
Im stuck in the windows setup .(1) it askes for a license key (2) it asks where do you want to install windows and none of the options work. I followed the video step by step but cant figure this part out
Trust me definitely only gonna do this becuz of some games just requiring it lol
I love the shade at the beginning tho very funny and good guide
I need help , wen I go and try install windows on my steamdeck first the steamos isn’t thr and wen I try to install windows it asks me for a key😢
does this work on the steam deck oled
Yes, it should work
doesnt this kill the micro sd card faster
Thanks for this tutorial, quickest and simplest tutorial! I'm a big fan of booting from the micro SD and i'm glad there are others encouraging the same!
the rufus thing took like 5 mins not hours did i do it right lmao
For some reason EFi SSD didn't pop up under boot manager just EFi Harddrive and SteamOS both which load the steamOS only...help?
Thanks for this tutorial. I have just one question. What was the reason for giving Windows to Go access to internal disks?
Doesn’t let me install bayhub sd what to do
Sd card doesn't show in bios but shows in desktops mode steam os
Great video my dude 😎
Didn't explain how to find your network. Installed all the drivers from the steam page and when trying to connect it doesn't find any networks. Even went and installed the rtlwan drivers for realteck and still nothing...
Forgive me if this is a stupid question but do I have to keep the micro sd card that has windows installed to it inside my steam deck? Or do I install windows from it and I can switch back to another card? I ask because I have a micro sd card in my steam deck right now but it has all of my games on it so I'd rather not choose one or the other.
Thanks for this straightforward guide, much appreciated. I guess this'll work on external drives too.
just getting steamdeck on tuesday :) subed
when I updated a driver, it restarted, now its telling me I need to create a password and the keyboard doesn't work
this no longer works if you already installed windows on the sd card..have formatted...deleted the partition and still don't get the option what version of win 10 i want and the system will think that i had windows on the sd card before so won't install anymore
So I’m in the process of windows setup on the steam deck, and it’s asking for activation key??!!!
Now it’s saying windows cannot be downloaded on “Drive 0 partition 1” and there’s 8 different partitions. None of them will allow me to install…
Thanks - super cool guide...
Can you do the first part on the steam deck desktop instead of a pc?
Great videos you will reach 100k
Using Linux for gaming is akin to using a Boeing 747 to drive across the country on highways, is it possible? Technically. Is it powerful? - In the right circumstances very much so. Does it make sense? Not when you can use a car (Windows) It's far more cut out for the task, it's simple to operate. My Steam Deck is a door stop, using anything other than Steam games is like trying to teach a pig to play the piano. Windows 11, whilst not 'cool' it's good at what it's supposed to do, being a simple OS for people to use for a wide variety of tasks without endless hassle, endless reading and having to use command line instead of clicking a mouse button twice. Looking forward to restoring some sense to my SD, Windows 11 is going on so I can actually enjoy gaming on it (which many videos proves it does very well).