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“No Host Computers Found” means Steam Link cannot discover the computer running Steam on your local network. The usual fixes are to start and sign in to Steam, enable Remote Play, put both devices on the same unrestricted home network, and allow Steam through the host PC’s firewall.
Fastest troubleshooting path
- Turn on the host PC, prevent sleep temporarily, open Steam, and sign in.
- In Steam > Settings > Remote Play, enable Remote Play. Older clients may call this In-Home Streaming.
- Connect the host and Steam Link client to the same main home router, not a guest network, hotspot, or captive-portal network.
- Set the trusted Windows home connection to Private.
- Allow Steam through Windows Firewall on the Private network.
- Turn off VPN routing for the test and check that router client isolation is disabled on the trusted home network.
- Restart Steam, the client, the host PC, and network equipment, then scan again.
- If discovery still fails, test with the host and client connected directly to the main router, preferably by Ethernet.
What the message means
The error appears before a game stream starts: the client has not found a discoverable Steam host. It is therefore mainly a host-state, local-network, discovery, or firewall problem—not a graphics-performance problem.
- Host found but offline: Steam Link can see the PC, but Steam is unavailable, asleep, logged out, or blocked.
- Pairing failure: The PC appears, but PIN or authorization fails.
- Black screen, lag, low frame rate, or audio trouble: The connection succeeded; investigate bandwidth, encoding, display, or controller settings instead.
1. Check the host PC and Steam
Steam’s host guidance requires the computer to be powered on, running Steam, and signed in. Leave the desktop client open while testing and temporarily prevent Windows from sleeping. Make sure the client is signed in to the account normally used for Remote Play.
In current Steam versions, open Steam > Settings > Remote Play. If your client uses older terminology, look for In-Home Streaming or Enable streaming. Menu names differ among Steam versions and Steam Link hardware, mobile, TV, handheld, and VR clients.
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2. Toggle Remote Play off and on
- Open Steam > Settings > Remote Play on the host.
- Disable Remote Play and save or apply the change.
- Enable Remote Play again.
- Completely exit and relaunch Steam.
- Restart the Steam Link client and scan for computers.
Steam specifically recommends rechecking the streaming option when a host is not found. Steam’s host-offline instructions use legacy wording, but the current setting is generally labeled Remote Play.
3. Verify that both devices use the same network
Discovery normally requires the host and client to be connected to the same router or local network. Wired-to-Wi-Fi is fine when both connections terminate on the same unrestricted home LAN; sharing a Wi-Fi name alone does not prove that devices can communicate.
Look for these blockers
- Steam Link is on a guest SSID.
- The PC is connected to a different router, extender network, or phone hotspot.
- A VPN or virtual adapter is routing or filtering local traffic.
- A mesh node or access point is creating a separate VLAN or isolated segment.
- A captive-portal network requires browser sign-in.
- The router has AP, client, wireless, or guest isolation enabled.
Steam says the devices must use the same router. Its quick IP comparison is only an indication: if the first three IPv4 groups match, the devices are probably on the same network, but subnetting and isolation can still block discovery. See Steam’s host-discovery guidance.
Compare the host address
- On Windows, press the Windows key, type cmd, and open Command Prompt.
- Run
ipconfig. - Record the host’s IPv4 address and default gateway.
- On the client, open its network details, commonly Settings > Network, and compare the address and router.
A known client address can also be tested with ping <Steam-Link-IP-address>. A failed ping is useful evidence but not conclusive because some devices block ICMP. ipconfig /flushdns is low priority; DNS is rarely the cause of local Steam Link discovery failure.
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- 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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4. Set a trusted Windows connection to Private
Windows may restrict local discovery and app permissions when the connection is classified as Public. On your trusted home network, change the active network profile to Private in Windows network settings. Do not classify an unknown, hotel, school, work, or public network as private just to make Steam Link work. Steam identifies a Public profile as a possible streaming-connection problem. Steam’s network-profile guidance explains the issue.
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 shown on the trusted Private network.
- Save, restart Steam, and test discovery.
Names vary; entries may include Steam, Steam Client Bootstrapper, and related Steam processes. Do not allow every application on every network. Steam notes that updates can cause a previously permitted application rule to be blocked again.
Temporarily disabling the firewall can confirm that it is responsible, but it is only a diagnostic. If the host appears, turn protection back on immediately, create the narrow Steam exception, and test again. Third-party security suites can block Steam independently; Steam specifically mentions ZoneAlarm as a possible cause. Steam’s firewall troubleshooting covers this sequence.
6. Remove network isolation and unsupported network types
Remote Play may not work on guest, public, hotel, apartment, workplace, school, university, or captive-portal networks because device-to-device traffic is intentionally restricted.
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On a trusted home router, inspect wireless or advanced settings for:
- AP isolation
- Client isolation
- Wireless isolation
- Guest isolation
- Intra-BSS blocking
- Access-point isolation
Disable isolation only on the home network where you understand the security trade-off. Keep guest-network isolation enabled when it is protecting visitors or untrusted devices. Steam’s recommended Remote Play network settings describe these restrictions.
7. Check Remote Play firewall traffic
Steam lists the following Remote Play ports:
| Protocol | Ports | Use |
|---|---|---|
| UDP | 27031, 27036 | Remote Play traffic |
| TCP | 27036, 27037 | Remote Play traffic |
| UDP | 10400, 10401 | VR streaming |
These numbers are primarily relevant to the host firewall and network policy. Do not automatically forward them from the internet to your router for a same-home-LAN discovery problem. First fix local firewall permissions, isolation, VPN filtering, or segmentation. Steam’s port and network guidance lists the requirements.
8. Power-cycle the network in a controlled order
- Exit Steam completely.
- Turn off or restart the Steam Link app or hardware.
- Restart the host PC.
- Restart the router.
- If present, restart the modem, mesh nodes, switches, and powerline adapters.
- Allow the network to return fully, then start Steam on the host.
- Start Steam Link and scan again.
Steam suggests unplugging network equipment for about 30 seconds and allowing roughly 60 seconds for restart, although timings vary by device. See Steam’s wired-connection restart guidance.
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9. Simplify the network for a decisive test
Temporarily connect the host directly to the main router by Ethernet and connect the client to that same router, preferably by Ethernet as well. Remove the guest SSID, VPN, secondary router, extender, and powerline adapter from the test path. Steam recommends Ethernet for stability and notes that wireless and powerline links can suffer interference; the simplified layout also isolates discovery faults. Steam’s network recommendations provide the rationale.
If discovery works in this layout, restore one component at a time. The component that makes the host disappear is the likely source of isolation, routing, packet loss, or filtering.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the symptom to choose the next fix
The host never appears
Work through host state, same-router placement, Remote Play, the Private profile, firewall permissions, VPN and third-party security software, router isolation, and the simplified Ethernet test. A computer with multiple network adapters can advertise through the wrong interface; temporarily disconnecting unused adapters can help identify that condition.
The host appears as offline
Check that Steam is still signed in and awake, restart Steam, toggle Remote Play, and verify firewall permissions. This is no longer a pure discovery problem.
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The host appears but pairing fails
Restart both sides and run the client’s pairing process again. Confirm that the intended Steam account is in use. Remove stale authorization only if the current client interface provides that control; menus differ among Steam Link implementations.
The stream connects but is poor
Investigate Ethernet, 5-GHz Wi-Fi, network congestion, router firmware, bandwidth and resolution limits, and hardware encoding. Steam documents these separately from discovery: bandwidth controls and hardware-encoding options will not normally make an undiscovered host appear.
When the network is not yours to change
On managed school, office, hotel, apartment, or public networks, local discovery may be deliberately blocked and you may not have permission to alter firewall or isolation policies. Ask the network administrator whether peer-to-peer LAN traffic is allowed, or move both devices to a trusted private network. Contact Steam Support when the host remains undiscoverable on a correctly configured home LAN after the controlled restart and direct-router test.
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