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Steam Link lets you play a game running on your Steam computer through another device: the computer runs the game, while the client streams its video and audio and sends your input back. To get started, turn on the host PC, open Steam and sign in, connect your Steam Link client and host to the same home network, then follow the client’s pairing prompts.
What you need before you start
- A host computer that can run the game, with Steam open and your account signed in.
- A Steam Link client, such as the original Steam Link hardware, an Android device, a Raspberry Pi, or a supported VR headset. Requirements differ by client.
- A suitable network connection between the host and client. Valve recommends Ethernet for the host and a wired client connection when available.
- An input device supported by your chosen client, such as a controller, keyboard, or mouse.
Steam Link does not run the PC game natively on a phone, TV, or Raspberry Pi. It streams from the host computer, so the game, host, client, and network all affect how well it plays. Valve says virtually every game a computer can run can be streamed, but that is not a guarantee of compatibility or smooth performance in every setup. See Valve’s Steam Link hardware guidance.
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Choose the Steam Link client that fits your setup
| Client | What Valve’s guidance says | Setup note |
|---|---|---|
| Original Steam Link hardware | Valve lists Windows 7 or newer, Mac OS X 10.10 or newer, SteamOS, or Ubuntu 12.04 or newer as host options on its hardware support page. | Connect the Link to a display over HDMI, then connect it to your network. The page describes a display capable of 720p or 1080p and strongly recommends a wired home network. Check current Steam client and operating-system support before relying on legacy versions. Source |
| Android phone, tablet, or TV | Valve describes the app for many devices running Android 5.0 or newer. | Install Steam Link from the appropriate app store and follow its prompts. Valve lists a 5 GHz wireless router in its required or recommended equipment; app availability and compatibility can vary by device and region. Source |
| Raspberry Pi | Valve documents Raspberry Pi 3 or newer. | Valve recommends wired networking; the Pi page does not recommend 5 GHz wireless. Install using the commands below. Source |
| VR headset | Valve lists consumer Meta Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest Pro, PICO 4 Ultra, PICO 4, PICO Neo 3, HTC Vive Focus Vision, and HTC Vive XR Elite. Business headsets are not officially supported. | VR has separate host, graphics, wireless, and headset operating-system requirements. Check Valve’s current compatibility page before setup; these requirements do not apply to ordinary phone or TV streaming. Source |
How do I set up Steam Link?
Original Steam Link hardware
- Turn on the home PC, launch Steam, and sign in.
- Connect the Steam Link to a display with HDMI and power it on.
- Connect the Link and PC to your home network. Ethernet is Valve’s recommended option where possible.
- Connect an input device, then follow the on-screen instructions to find the Steam computer and begin streaming.
Valve’s hardware setup instructions cover equipment and supported input devices.
Android
- Launch Steam on the host PC and sign in.
- Connect the Android device to the same network as the host.
- Install Steam Link from the appropriate app store, open it, and follow the on-screen setup and pairing prompts.
- Connect or pair a compatible controller, or use another input method supported by your device.
See Valve’s Android Steam Link instructions for platform details.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
Raspberry Pi
- On a supported Pi, open a terminal and run
sudo apt update. - Install the client with
sudo apt install steamlink. - Launch Steam Link from the Games menu or run
steamlinkin a terminal. - Connect the Pi and host PC to the same network, then follow the client’s setup prompts.
Valve recommends wired networking for Raspberry Pi. Its Pi support page has the install guidance.
VR headsets
VR setup is not the same as standard screen streaming: Valve’s listed requirements include Steam and SteamVR on Windows 10 or newer, a minimum graphics family of NVIDIA GTX 970 or better or AMD RX 570 or better, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5. Valve excludes AMD RX 6400 and RX 6500 XT because of hardware encoding. The page recommends 16 GB RAM, an NVIDIA RTX 2070 or better, and Wi-Fi 6 or 6E; headset-specific operating-system requirements also apply. These are Valve’s listed technical requirements and recommendations, not performance guarantees. Confirm current details on Valve’s headset support page.
Rank #2
- 🎮 EasySMX X05 controller compatible with Black Myth: Wukong. 🎁 Includes a pair of thumb grips 🎁 This EasySMX X05 PC game controller supports Bluetooth & 2.4G & Wired.
- 🎮【RGB Lights】 The X05 game controller features RGB lighting effects, allowing you to change the lighting to your preferences and creating an immersive gaming experience.
- 🎮【Hall Effect Joysticks and Triggers】Enjoy enhanced joystick control with our four hall effect sensors. These sensors provide precise and reliable input detection, allowing for smoother and more accurate movement in-game. Whether you're navigating through virtual worlds or aiming with precision, our hall effect technology ensures a seamless gaming experience.
- 🎮【750mAh Battery with 10‑Hour Playtime】This wireless game controller features a 750mAh NMC lithium‑ion battery, with 1.5× longer life than regular polymer batteries, supporting up to 10 hours of continuous gameplay on a full charge.
- 🎮【Ceramic Charging Cable】 Your X05 PC controller's ceramic charging cable ensures a stable and reliable wireless connection, minimizing signal interference and providing a seamless gaming experience. It also offers low power consumption, extending the usage time.
Connect a controller, keyboard, or mouse
Input support depends on the client. Valve lists different supported devices for original hardware, Android, Raspberry Pi, and VR; a controller listed for one platform is not necessarily supported in the same way on another. Some other input devices may work without being officially listed. Check the support page for your exact client before buying a controller: original hardware, Android, Raspberry Pi, or VR headsets.
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- Make sure the host PC is powered on, Steam is running, and the account is signed in. If the host appears offline, use Valve’s offline-host troubleshooting.
- Check that host and client are on the same router or home network, and that Remote Play or streaming is enabled in the Steam client. See Valve’s computer-discovery troubleshooting.
- Check the router for client isolation, which must be disabled for devices to discover one another.
- Try another private home network if you are using a guest, public, workplace, school or university network, or one that requires a captive-portal login. Valve says these network types are generally unsupported for Remote Play.
- If discovery or connection still fails, check whether the host firewall allows Steam to listen on the relevant ports. Valve lists UDP 27031 and 27036, and TCP 27036 and 27037, for Remote Play. VR streaming also uses UDP 10400 and 10401. Treat this as a targeted troubleshooting step rather than changing firewall settings pre-emptively. More details are in Valve’s network guidance.
How do I reduce Steam Link lag, stuttering, or freezing?
- Wire the host first. Valve highly recommends connecting the computer directly to the router with Ethernet. Use a wired client connection too if the device supports it.
- Improve Wi-Fi if wiring is not practical. Valve recommends 5 GHz Wi-Fi and a router supporting 802.11ac; its cited guidance names 5 GHz 802.11n as the next-best choice. A crowded 2.4 GHz band and wireless interference can cause problems.
- Reduce competing network activity. Pause downloads or other heavy traffic on the home network while streaming.
- Check the performance overlay. Enable the Remote Play performance overlay in advanced streaming settings. Valve says large spikes in the cyan line indicate highly variable network time and typically coincide with stutter or freezing.
- Lower streaming demands. Try Balanced or Fast quality, reduce resolution, or adjust bandwidth. Valve suggests beginning at 3 Mbit/s and increasing until hitches appear, then lowering the rate. That is a tuning procedure, not a universal minimum or ideal speed.
- Improve the wireless path. Move devices for a stronger signal and update router firmware if available.
Valve’s suggested network settings explain the overlay and tuning options. There is no single latency, frame-rate, or image-quality result that applies to every game and setup.
Rank #3
- TMR Joysticks - Offering higher sensitivity, greater precision, and enhanced durability.
- 8BitDo Exclusive Wireless Technology - “8Speed”, it delivers an exceptionally stable 2.4G connection with ultra-low latency under 1ms. Engineered for rock-solid reliability, it features strong anti-interference and a 10m range with virtually no lag.
- Trigger Mode Switch - Easily switch between linear Hall Effect triggers and non-linear tactile triggers for optimal control across different gaming scenarios.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection). Customizable 6-Axis Motion Control. Turbo function. Rumble vibration. Support 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2.
- 2 Pro back paddle buttons, extra R4/L4 bumpers, and tactile bumpers & D-pad for enhanced control and faster response. Includes a multifunctional charging dock and USB-C adapter for seamless connectivity.
What happens to audio?
Valve documents stereo audio streaming from supported host operating systems to clients. Windows Steam clients can also stream quadraphonic and 5.1 audio in supported circumstances; 5.1 capture is limited to processes launched through Steam on Windows. For 5.1 output, the TV or receiver must support six-channel PCM. Linux or macOS clients may require manual speaker selection. See Valve’s Remote Play audio setup.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Platform Compatibility: This PC controller is designed for Windows PC, Steam, Switch, Android, and iOS. Xbox-style asymmetric stick layout for PC gamers. Three modes cover all your devices. Please check your device compatibility before purchase
- Three Connection Modes: 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth, wired USB-C. PC gets native XInput/DirectInput. Switch pairs via Bluetooth, no adapter. This gaming PC controller switches devices seamlessly. Stable wireless minimizes random disconnects during gaming
- Hall Effect Precision: Hall effect joysticks and triggers eliminate stick drift. This gaming controller for PC delivers smooth, responsive input with no dead zones. Built for FPS, racing, and action games. Long-term precision for competitive PC gaming
- Back Buttons & Battery: Two programmable back buttons map combos and shortcuts. Textured grips with dual vibration. 1000mAh battery delivers up to 20H playtime. RGB can be turned off. A solid PC controller for gaming with custom back buttons
- ABXY Layout Switch: Press B + Minus + Plus to swap between PC and Switch modes. Features: 1000Hz polling rate, RGB lighting, turbo. Note: designed without mic jack or gyro sensor
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