How to Install Lightroom on a Steam Deck
Steam Decks are still the most popular portable PC gaming alternative to traditional laptops, offering amazing great gaming experiences and impressive portability. It’s also a great substitute for a laptop and is more than capable of running creative software, including apps like Photoshop. In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps to install Lightroom on your Steam Deck, allowing you to tap into its potential for both gaming and creative tasks.
How to Install Lightroom on a Steam Deck
Installing Lightroom on Steam Deck is super simple, but there are a few key steps to follow. First, you’ll need to set up your Steam Deck to dual-boot Windows 11. While it’s technically possible to install Lightroom on SteamOS, the process is much more complicated and not recommended, so we won’t be covering that approach in this guide. There are plenty of other benefits to using a Windows 11 dual boot system as well so it makes perfect sense.
What You’ll Need Before You Start:
- A dual-boot setup with Windows 11 on your Steam Deck
- A dock to connect the Steam Deck to a monitor
- The Windows version of the Lightroom installer
- A keyboard and mouse (optional, but highly recommended for easier everything)
If you need help installing Windows 11 on your Steam Deck, follow the steps in this guide.
Installing Lightroom on Steam Deck with Windows 11 (Dual Boot)
Once your Steam Deck is booted into Windows 11, you can install Lightroom using the standard Windows installation files or any other method you have. Be sure to carefully follow the installation instructions provided with Lightroom to ensure a smooth setup.
Optimizing Lightroom on Steam Deck
After installing Lightroom, you won’t need to do much optimization, as Lightroom typically configures itself to work well on most devices. However, using Lightroom on a Steam Deck without a mouse, keyboard, and monitor is basically impossible. This is why we suggest getting a dock. Without one, using Lightroom on your Steam Deck is not practical.
Can You Use Video Editing Software on a Steam Deck?
Surprisingly, yes! You can run video editing software like DaVinci Resolve on your Steam Deck, but it requires more optimization compared to Lightroom. DaVinci Resolve doesn’t automatically configure itself for the device. We have a full guide on optimizing DaVinci Resolve for the Steam Deck, so check it out if you're interested. Just like with Lightroom, using a dock is highly recommended to get the best experience. Obviously, you'll pretty much be locked into using your Steam Deck while connected to a power source if you plan on using creative programs and apps. Your batter won't last long otherwise and you'll have less performance.