Steam Link Setup: How to Stream Your Games

Steam Link lets you stream your PC games to another screen in your home, like a TV, phone, or tablet. You’ll need a PC with Steam running, a second device with the Steam Link app or hardware, and a solid home network. This guide walks you through the setup so you can play your library from the couch.

What You’ll Need

• A PC with Steam installed and logged in
• The Steam Link app (on Android, iOS, Apple TV, or a Steam Link hardware device) or another PC with Steam
• A stable home Wi-Fi network (5 GHz recommended) or a wired Ethernet connection for both devices
• Steam account credentials for both ends
• Optional: a Bluetooth or USB controller for the client device

Step-by-Step

1. Prepare your host PC. Make sure Steam is installed and running on the computer that has the games. Sign in with your Steam account.
2. Enable Steam Remote Play (optional but recommended). On the host PC, open Steam, go to Steam > Settings > Remote Play. Ensure that “Enable Remote Play� is checked. This is usually on by default, but verifying helps avoid surprises.
3. Install the Steam Link app. On your client device (phone, tablet, TV, or another PC), download Steam Link from the official app store for that platform (App Store, Google Play, or the Steam store for hardware).
4. Open Steam Link. Launch the app. It will ask for permission to access local network and Bluetooth (for controllers). Grant these permissions when prompted.
5. Pair your controller (if using one). If you want to use a gamepad, connect it to the client device via Bluetooth or USB. The app should detect it automatically. You can also configure controller settings within the app.
6. Sign in to Steam. In the Steam Link app, you’ll be asked to sign in. You can either enter your Steam username and password directly, or use a PIN displayed on the screen by entering it on your PC’s Steam client. The PIN method is often easier if you have two-factor authentication enabled.
7. Find your computer. The app will scan your local network for computers running Steam. When your PC appears, tap its name. If it doesn’t appear, make sure both devices are on the same network and that your PC is awake and not in sleep mode.
8. Test the connection. The app will run a quick network test. It will show you an estimated connection quality. If it’s poor, try moving closer to your router or using Ethernet.
9. Start streaming. After the test, you’ll see a “Start Streamingâ€� button. Tap it. You’ll see your PC’s desktop or Steam Big Picture mode on your client screen. From there, navigate to your library and launch a game.
10. Adjust settings if needed. While streaming, you can access the Steam Link overlay (usually by tapping the screen or pressing a button on your controller) to change resolution, bitrate, and other options.

Common Mistakes

• Both devices on different networks. Steam Link only works on the same local network unless you enable Remote Play over the internet (which requires port forwarding and is less reliable).
• Using a weak Wi-Fi signal. 2.4 GHz networks are often too slow for smooth streaming. Use 5 GHz or wired connections.
• Forgetting to close other heavy apps on the host PC. Streaming uses CPU and GPU resources; having many programs open can cause lag.
• Not updating Steam or the app. Outdated versions can have compatibility issues.
• Sleep mode on the host PC. If your computer goes to sleep, streaming stops. Adjust power settings to prevent sleep while streaming.

Tips

• For the best experience, connect both the host PC and the client device via Ethernet cables. If that’s not possible, place your router and client device in the same room to minimize interference.
• Use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi band on your router. You may need to split your network into separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz SSIDs in your router settings.
• In Steam Link settings, you can lower resolution or bitrate to improve performance on slower networks. Start with 1080p and 20 Mbps, then adjust.
• If you have a large library, consider using Steam Big Picture mode for a console-like interface.
• Enable hardware encoding on your host PC in Steam’s Remote Play settings. This offloads work to your GPU, which can reduce lag.
• For controllers that aren’t officially supported, you can enable “Generic Gamepad Configurationâ€� in Steam’s controller settings.

Troubleshooting

• Can’t find your computer in the app. Ensure both devices are on the same network. Check your firewall—Steam needs incoming UDP ports 27036 and TCP 27036. Temporarily disable the firewall to test. Also, restart Steam on the host PC.
• Streaming is laggy or stutters. Lower the resolution and bitrate in the Steam Link settings. Close bandwidth-heavy apps on your network (e.g., Netflix, downloads). Move closer to the router. If using Wi-Fi, try switching to Ethernet.
• Audio is out of sync. Disconnect and reconnect the Bluetooth audio device. In Steam Link settings, try changing the audio output to “Stereoâ€� instead of “5.1 surround.â€�
• Controller not working. Make sure the controller is paired with the client device, not the host PC. In Steam Link, go to Controller Settings and test the buttons. For some controllers, you may need to enable Steam’s generic controller support on the host PC.
• Black screen when streaming. Update your GPU drivers on the host PC. Try disabling hardware encoding in Steam’s Remote Play settings. Also, try running the game in windowed mode instead of fullscreen.
• Steam Link app crashes. Uninstall and reinstall the app. On mobile, clear the app cache. Ensure your device’s OS is up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Steam Link hardware device?

No. The Steam Link app is available for many platforms, including Android TV, Apple TV, and mobile devices. You can also use another PC as the client.

Can I stream games over the internet?

Yes, but it’s not recommended for fast-paced games. You’ll need to enable Remote Play over the internet in Steam settings and forward ports on your router. Latency will be higher.

Does the host PC need to be powerful?

Yes, the host PC does the heavy lifting. It needs to run the game and encode the video stream. A mid-range gaming PC is usually sufficient.

Can I use a keyboard and mouse?

Yes, you can connect a keyboard and mouse to the client device via Bluetooth or USB. They will work as input devices.

Why is my controller not detected?

Make sure the controller is in pairing mode and connected to the client device. In Steam Link, go to Controller Settings. If it’s not there, try a different USB cable or Bluetooth dongle.

Can I stream non-Steam games?

Yes, you can add non-Steam games to your Steam library as “Non-Steam Game� shortcuts, and they will appear in your library for streaming.

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