Steam Deck OLED Finally Allows Windows 11 Installations

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Sajjad

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Just yesterday, we discussed Valve’s plans to fully support the Rog Ally through SteamOS and add Bluetooth connectivity to Steam Deck OLED. Valve today made another announcement. The company now supports Windows 11 with the Steam Deck OLED.

Valve clarified that the Bluetooth connectivity in Steam Deck OLED is accompained by drivers. To install the operating system, you must update your console’s BIOS through SteamOS 3.6.9.

Why it matters: While the Steam Deck primarily uses SteamOS, many are still fond of running Windows on the handheld. Therefore, this option will prove useful for such users.

The company released many drivers this week, like AMD APU drivers, to ensure compatibility with the Windows 11 operating system. We can also see SD card reader, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, and audio drivers. You can find all the drivers here.

However, even with these drivers, the Steam OLED is still not fully compatible with Windows 11. Reports indicate the built-in sound system does not work despite having audio drivers. However, you can use either wired or Bluetooth headphones for the audio.

Officially, dual-boot for Windows 11 and SteamOS is still not available on Steam Deck OLED. To install Windows 11, you must remove SteamOS from your device after saving everything on the SSD.

You can access the boot menu by pressing the power button while holding down the volume down button. The latest OS update is also mandatory before installing Windows 11.

If you want to enter a product key, you need a USB-C hub with an ethernet port. However, if you want to try Windows 11 on the handheld, these steps will be worth it.

While the current compatibility is a great step forward, many users hope Valve will improve the Steam Deck OLED compatibility further with Windows 11 and make it official.