Users can officially install Windows OS on their Steam Machine. However, once they do, they can't use the SteamOS.
Steam Machine Receives Windows Drivers, But Valve Doesn't Encourage Installing Windows on the Device Yet
Steam Machine might one of the most interesting launches from Valve yet, but its hefty price tag has left the community divided. The majority sees $1000 price tag too high, but Valve considers it necessary due to the ongoing DRAM and SSD shortage. Nonetheless, Steam Machine is an interesting gaming console that runs on SteamOS by default, and it is pretty much the ideal choice for the device.
That said, Valve still considered giving users an option to install another operating system on the machine. Recently, the company just released official Windows drivers for the device on the website, allowing users to install Microsoft's operating system while maintaining support for key hardware components. This move follows a similar strategy Valve adopted for the Steam Deck.
The newly available drivers enable Windows to properly recognize and utilize the critical hardware components, including the AMD Radeon graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth, and the SD card reader. Without these drivers, Windows would likely counter missing functionality. That said, despite allowing users to install Windows OS on the device, Valve doesn't recommend it at the moment.
Dual-Boot with SteamOS not yet available
- Installing Windows requires you to wipe your Steam hardware, and dual-boot with SteamOS is not currently available.
- While Steam Deck and Steam Machine are fully capable of dual-boot, the SteamOS installer that provides a dual-boot wizard isn't ready yet. This will ship alongside SteamOS once it's complete.
Valve still considers SteamOS as the recommended operating system as it has evolved significantly in recent years. From offering console-like gaming experience with fast boot times to optimized user interface, SteamOS remains the favorite for many. Given that Steam Machine currently doesn't offer dual-boot functionality, once users install Windows OS, they won't be able to run SteamOS on the same machine.
However, once Valve updates its SteamOS installer with dual-boot wizard in the near future, running both simultaneously will be possible.
News Sources: Steam, Via Videocardz
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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