The Steam Link message “No Host Computers Found” means the client cannot discover the computer running Steam on your local network. Start Steam and sign in on the host PC, enable Remote Play, put both devices on the same unrestricted home network, and allow Steam through the host’s firewall. The problem happens before streaming begins, so changing graphics quality or hardware encoding is not the right first step.
Fastest fix checklist
- Turn on the host PC, prevent sleep temporarily, launch Steam, and sign in.
- Open Steam > Settings > Remote Play and ensure Remote Play is enabled. Older clients may call this In-Home Streaming.
- Connect the Steam Link app or device and the PC to the same main home router. Do not use guest Wi-Fi, a phone hotspot, or a network requiring browser sign-in.
- Set the trusted home connection in Windows to Private.
- Allow Steam through Windows Firewall on the Private network.
- Disable any VPN temporarily and check third-party security software.
- Turn off AP, client, or wireless isolation on a trusted home network.
- Restart Steam, the client, the host PC, and network equipment.
- For a clean test, connect both devices directly to the main router, preferably by Ethernet.
What the message means
Discovery is the first stage of Steam Link. The client must find a reachable Steam host before it can show a pairing PIN or start a game. This is different from:
- Host found but offline: Steam Link sees the PC, but Steam is unavailable, asleep, logged out, or blocked.
- Pairing failure: The host appears, but PIN authorization or account authentication fails.
- Black screen, lag, low frame rate, or audio problems: The connection succeeds, but streaming or encoding needs attention.
1. Check the host PC and Steam
Steam must be running and signed in on the computer that will render the games. Leave the desktop client open while testing and prevent Windows from sleeping. Steam’s host guidance is documented at Steam Support’s host-computer troubleshooting page.
2. Toggle Remote Play
On the host, open Steam > Settings > Remote Play. If your client uses the older label, look for In-Home Streaming and Enable streaming.
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- Turn Remote Play off.
- Apply or save the change.
- Turn it on again.
- Exit Steam completely and relaunch it.
- Restart Steam Link and scan again.
Menu names vary between Steam versions and between Steam Link hardware, mobile, TV, handheld, and VR clients.
3. Verify that both devices are really on the same network
Discovery normally requires the host and client to use the same router or local LAN. Wired-to-Wi-Fi is fine when both connections terminate on the same unrestricted home network; matching Wi-Fi names alone do not prove that.
- Move the client from a guest SSID to the main home SSID.
- Check that the PC is not using a different router, extender network, or phone hotspot.
- Disconnect a VPN for the test; some VPNs route or filter local traffic.
- Ensure a mesh system or access point is bridged correctly rather than creating an isolated segment.
- Avoid hotel, apartment, workplace, school, university, and captive-portal networks, which often block device-to-device traffic by design.
Compare addresses as a quick check
On Windows, press the Windows key, type cmd, open Command Prompt, and run:
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- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
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ipconfigRecord the host’s IPv4 address. On the client, open Settings > Network (the exact path differs by device) and inspect its address. If the first three number groups match, the devices are probably on the same subnet, but this is not proof: VLANs, subnets, mesh configuration, and client isolation can still block discovery. If you know the client’s address and it responds to ping, you can also test:
ping <Steam-Link-IP-address>A failed ping is useful evidence, not a definitive diagnosis, because some devices block ICMP. Steam’s same-network guidance is at Can’t find my host computer.
4. Set a trusted Windows network to Private
Windows may restrict local discovery and permitted-app rules when the connection is classified as Public. Change it to Private only for a network you control and trust. Do not make an unknown public, hotel, school, or work network private just to make Steam Link work. Steam lists a Public profile as a possible cause of streaming connection problems.
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5. Allow Steam through Windows Firewall safely
- Open Windows Security.
- Select Firewall & network protection.
- Choose Allow an app through firewall.
- Select Change settings.
- Allow the Steam entries on the Private network.
- Save, then restart Steam.
Names vary; entries can include Steam, Steam Client Bootstrapper, and related Steam processes. Do not allow every application on every network. A third-party security suite can block Steam independently; Steam specifically notes ZoneAlarm as a possible source of conflicts.
Use firewall disabling only as a brief test
Temporarily disabling protection can confirm that the firewall is responsible, but it is not a solution. If the host appears while protection is off, turn the firewall back on immediately, add or repair the narrow Steam exception, and test again. Remove unnecessary rules afterward. Steam’s firewall guidance appears on its host-computer support page.
6. Check router isolation and unsupported networks
Router settings named AP isolation, client isolation, wireless isolation, guest isolation, intra-BSS blocking, or access-point isolation can prevent the client from reaching the host. On a trusted home network, disable the relevant isolation setting only if you understand that it reduces separation between devices. Leave guest-network isolation enabled when possible.
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Steam says Remote Play may not work on guest, public, captive-portal, workplace, school, university, or otherwise isolated networks. See Steam’s recommended network settings for Remote Play.
7. Check Remote Play traffic and ports
Steam lists these ports for Remote Play:
| Protocol | Ports | Use |
|---|---|---|
| UDP | 27031, 27036 | Remote Play traffic |
| TCP | 27036, 27037 | Remote Play traffic |
| UDP | 10400, 10401 | VR streaming |
These are primarily relevant to the host firewall and local network policy. Do not automatically create internet-facing port forwards for a same-home-LAN discovery problem. A Steam or game update can also cause a previously permitted application to be blocked again, so review the rule if the problem started after an update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Restart the network in a controlled order
- Exit Steam completely.
- Restart or power off the Steam Link client.
- Restart the host PC.
- Restart the router.
- If present, restart the modem, mesh nodes, switches, and powerline adapters.
- For equipment that must be unplugged, Steam suggests about 30 seconds disconnected and roughly 60 seconds for restart; timing varies by device.
- Wait for the network to return, start Steam on the host, then scan from Steam Link.
Steam’s wired-equipment procedure is described at Both computer and Steam Link are wired.
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9. Simplify the layout for a definitive test
Temporarily remove variables: connect the host directly to the main router by Ethernet and connect the client to that same router, preferably by Ethernet as well. Turn off the VPN, bypass powerline adapters and secondary routers, and avoid extenders until discovery works. Ethernet is recommended for stability, while wireless interference and powerline links can introduce packet loss or discovery problems. Steam’s network recommendations are at Recommended network settings for Remote Play.
If this arrangement works, restore one component at a time. The component that makes the host disappear is the likely cause. Also check whether the PC has multiple active network adapters; Steam may advertise through an interface the client cannot reach.
When the host appears but another problem remains
Host appears as offline
Recheck that Steam is signed in, wake the PC, restart Steam, toggle Remote Play, and repair the firewall permission. This is no longer a pure discovery failure.
Pairing or PIN fails
Restart both sides and run the client’s pairing process again. Confirm the intended Steam account. Remove stale authorization only if your current client interface provides that control; menus differ by platform.
Streaming starts but is poor
Use Ethernet for the host, preferably 5-GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet for the client, and check congestion, router firmware, bandwidth, resolution, and hardware encoding. These settings address an established stream, not a missing host. Steam documents bandwidth controls at Reduce network bandwidth and encoding controls at Change hardware encoding options.
When to contact an administrator or Steam Support
Contact the network administrator when you are on a managed, captive-portal, apartment, school, or workplace network and cannot change isolation or firewall policy. Contact Steam Support after testing a trusted, simplified home-LAN setup with Steam running, Remote Play enabled, the VPN disconnected, and a valid firewall exception. A factory reset, registry edit, DNS flush, or permanent firewall shutdown is not a sensible first response to this discovery message.
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