Steam Deck Adds Audio Drivers For Windows 10, 11 Installations
Valve is finally fixing one annoying limitation to the Steam Deck if you decide to install the Windows OS over the PC gaming handheld.
On Friday, the company released(Opens in a new window) audio drivers for Windows 10 and 11 installations for the Steam Deck. The software is necessary for playing sound from the device’s built-in speakers or 3.5mm headphone jack if you dump SteamOS for Microsoft’s operating system.
Back in March, Valve officially introduced Windows OS support on the Steam Deck, allowing owners to turn the product into a true Windows gaming machine. But at the time, the company offered no audio driver support. So any Steam Deck installation could only play sound through Bluetooth or the USB-C port.
Friday’s announcement addresses the audio limitation for not only Windows 10, but also Windows 11, which can be installed over a Steam Deck through a beta patch(Opens in a new window).
The new audio drivers can be downloaded from Steam’s dedicated website(Opens in a new window) for resources on installing the Windows OS. The audio drivers also require(Opens in a new window) the installation of the most current APU driver file for the Steam Deck.
Unfortunately, the Steam Deck still doesn’t support dual booting. So any Windows installation will require the user removing the default SteamOS already onboard. The other problem is that adding Windows to the Steam Deck can be a bit of hassle(Opens in a new window). You’ll need to install Windows on the device first using a USB thumb drive.
Valve also adds: “To enter your product key during installation, you'll need internet. Because there are no Wi-Fi drivers at this point, you'll need a USB-C hub with an Ethernet port for internet.” However, you can skip
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