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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchInstall Moonlight on the Steam Deck through Discover in Desktop Mode, then pair it with Sunshine running on your gaming PC. Moonlight is the streaming client; Sunshine is the host software. Once paired, you can stream a game or desktop, and optionally add Moonlight to Steam for access from Gaming Mode.
What you need before you start
- A Steam Deck running SteamOS.
- A gaming PC with the games or applications you want to stream, and Sunshine installed and running on that PC.
- For the first setup, put the Deck and PC on the same home network. The Moonlight setup guide recommends strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and, if possible, connecting the host PC to the router by Ethernet.
- A controller setup supported by the game and host. Basic gamepad input can work, but compatibility depends on the host, game, drivers and input configuration.
Moonlight streams games and applications from another computer; it does not install PC games on the Deck or provide cloud gaming. The Moonlight project recommends Sunshine as a host. Sunshine supports modern AMD, NVIDIA and Intel GPUs, with supported host platforms and requirements described in the setup guide. You do not need to install Sunshine on the Deck when the Deck is receiving a stream from your PC.
Install Moonlight on the Steam Deck
- Press the Steam button, select Power, then choose Switch to Desktop. This is Steam’s documented route to Desktop Mode.
- Open Discover Software Center from the taskbar or application menu.
- Search for Moonlight. Choose the listing published by Moonlight Game Streaming Team; its Flatpak ID is
com.moonlight_stream.Moonlight. - Select Install and wait for it to finish.
- Launch Moonlight from Discover or the application menu.
SteamOS’s desktop-app workflow uses Discover, and Moonlight is available as a Flatpak through Flathub. You do not need to disable SteamOS’s read-only system image or modify the base system to install it.
Optional: install with Konsole
If you prefer the terminal, open Konsole and run:
flatpak install flathub com.moonlight_stream.MoonlightConfirm the application ID against the current Flathub listing if it changes.
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Install Sunshine on the gaming PC
Install Sunshine on the computer that will run the games, not on the Deck. For Windows, Sunshine’s documentation recommends using its official installer; follow the current instructions in the Sunshine getting-started guide. Do not use Linux commands in a Windows installation.
Linux host
For a Linux host, Sunshine’s documented Flatpak options are a system-wide installation:
flatpak install --system flathub dev.lizardbyte.app.SunshineOr a user-level installation:
flatpak install --user flathub dev.lizardbyte.app.SunshineThe Sunshine Flatpak also requires this additional step:
flatpak run --command=additional-install.sh dev.lizardbyte.app.SunshineUse the current instructions in the Sunshine guide and Flathub listing; installation details can change.
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Open Sunshine’s configuration page
Start Sunshine on the host, then open https://localhost:47990/ in a browser on that computer. The browser may warn that the connection is not secure because the local interface uses a self-signed certificate. That warning is expected for this local Sunshine page. Use Sunshine’s interface to finish setup and respond to Moonlight’s pairing request.
Pair Moonlight with the PC
- Make sure Sunshine is running, then open Moonlight on the Deck.
- Wait for the host PC to appear. If it does not, use Moonlight’s option to add a computer manually and enter the host’s network address.
- Select the host. Moonlight displays a PIN.
- Enter that PIN in Sunshine’s configuration interface on the host and complete the pairing prompt.
- Return to Moonlight. Select an available entry, such as Steam or Desktop, to begin streaming.
Sunshine’s default application entries can include Steam and the desktop, but the list depends on the host configuration. If your game is not listed, add the game or its launcher in Sunshine’s application configuration; the Moonlight setup guide covers manual application setup.
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Add Moonlight to Gaming Mode
This step is optional: Moonlight can run from Desktop Mode without a Steam library entry. Adding it as a non-Steam game makes it easier to launch from Gaming Mode and lets you use Steam’s controller configuration layer.
- While in Desktop Mode, open the Steam client.
- Select + Add a Game… in the lower-left corner.
- Choose Add a Non-Steam Game….
- Select Moonlight from the application list and choose Add Selected Programs.
- Return to Gaming Mode and find Moonlight in the Library’s non-Steam section.
If Moonlight is not in the detected-app list, launch it once from Desktop Mode and repeat the process, or browse to the installed application. Steam documents the non-Steam-app workflow in its desktop FAQ.
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- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Choose stream settings that fit your network
There is no single best setting for every Deck, host PC and Wi-Fi network. Start with a resolution and frame rate your host can encode smoothly, then adjust one setting at a time:
- Resolution: Higher resolution uses more bandwidth and host encoding resources. Lower it if the stream stutters or the host struggles.
- Frame rate: 60 fps is a sensible starting point. Higher frame rates need more capable hardware and networking.
- Bitrate: Raising bitrate can improve image quality, but increases network load. Reduce it if you see stutter or unstable delivery.
- Codec: H.264 is broadly compatible. HEVC and AV1 can be more efficient, but require compatible hardware at both ends. Moonlight’s current Flathub listing describes codec and hardware-decoding capabilities; actual availability depends on the devices and drivers.
- HDR: HDR needs support through the host, encoder, client and display pipeline. Sunshine’s documentation says HDR must also be enabled in Moonlight; otherwise the stream is SDR. Results can vary by GPU and Steam Deck model, so test it rather than assuming it will work identically on every setup.
Troubleshoot common problems
Moonlight does not appear in Discover
- Search for the exact name Moonlight and check that the publisher is Moonlight Game Streaming Team.
- Check the Deck’s network connection, then restart Discover and try again.
- If you use Konsole, use the Flatpak ID shown in the current Flathub listing rather than a package or script from an unknown tutorial.
The PC does not appear in Moonlight
- Confirm Sunshine is running on the PC and both devices are on the same local network.
- Check that neither device is on an isolated guest network, and that the host firewall permits Sunshine traffic.
- Temporarily check whether VPN software is blocking local discovery.
- Try entering the PC’s network address manually in Moonlight.
The host appears, but pairing fails
- Enter the PIN in Sunshine’s configuration interface on the host and confirm you selected the intended PC.
- Check whether a firewall or security tool is blocking communication.
- If the old pairing state appears stuck, remove the existing client entry in Sunshine and pair again.
Pairing works, but a game is missing
Add the game executable or launcher through Sunshine’s application settings. Automatic detection may not include every game or launcher.
The stream starts with a black screen or fails immediately
- Check that the host has a usable display state and that the game is not opening on an unavailable or sleeping display. Headless PCs, monitor detection and resolution mismatches can affect capture.
- Try windowed mode, then check Sunshine’s encoder selection and whether HDR settings match across the stream.
- Close overlays or capture tools that may conflict with streaming.
- Check the game’s privileges: a game running with elevated permissions while Sunshine is not may cause problems. Review Sunshine’s application command configuration if the stream closes immediately.
The Deck controller is not recognized
- Restart the host after installing Sunshine; the setup guide notes that a reboot may be needed for controller emulation.
- Check Sunshine’s virtual gamepad support, the game’s expected controller type and whether Steam Input or another remapper is intercepting controls.
- If you launched a game through a launcher, check that input is reaching the game itself. Advanced features such as adaptive triggers or proprietary effects are not guaranteed and depend on the host, game, driver and input path.
The stream stutters, lags or looks poor
- Connect the host PC to the router by Ethernet if possible.
- Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi rather than 2.4 GHz, and test near the router to check for a weak wireless link.
- Lower Moonlight’s bitrate; if needed, lower resolution or frame rate as well.
- Turn HDR off temporarily to see whether it is contributing to the issue.
- Check that the host is using hardware encoding and pause heavy downloads or other network traffic while testing.
Stream away from home
First verify that local pairing and streaming work. Internet streaming is a separate networking setup: the PC must remain powered on and reachable, the host connection needs enough upload capacity, and remote access must be configured appropriately. The Moonlight guide’s internet-streaming section describes that separate path. Do not expose services to the public internet without understanding the security implications of the access method you choose; installing Moonlight alone does not make the host reachable from anywhere.
Moonlight and Sunshine versus Steam Remote Play
| Option | Best fit | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Moonlight with Sunshine | Streaming a desktop or applications beyond a straightforward Steam-library launch, or when you want dedicated streaming controls. | Requires separate host software and can involve additional pairing, firewall, controller and encoder troubleshooting. Remote access needs its own network setup. |
| Steam Remote Play | Streaming games already in Steam when you want to use Steam’s integrated host/client flow. | Less suited to desktop or non-Steam application use, and behavior and controls depend on Steam’s integration. |
Steam Remote Play is an alternative, not a prerequisite for Moonlight. Choose based on what you want to stream and how much host configuration you are willing to manage.
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