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Can You Play Steam Games on a TV, Handheld, or Another PC?

Steam games can be streamed from a gaming PC to a TV, phone, tablet, or another PC. A Steam Deck can also run compatible games locally or connect to a TV.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Yes. You can stream Steam games from a gaming PC to a TV, another computer, or a phone or tablet using Steam Remote Play and Steam Link. A Steam Deck is different: it can run compatible games locally, or connect to a TV as an external display. The key distinction is whether the receiving device is streaming from a PC or running the game itself.

Play on a TV with Steam Link

With Steam Link, the gaming PC runs the game and sends its video and audio to the TV or connected streaming device. Your remote input—and multiplayer voice—goes back to the PC. Valve describes the process as happening “within milliseconds,” but that does not guarantee a particular latency or picture quality for every setup. Valve’s Steam Remote Play page lists platform categories including Apple TV, Android devices and TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Raspberry Pi, Windows, Linux, macOS, and Meta Quest headsets.

Support depends on the particular device. Check your TV’s app store or use a supported connected device; not every smart TV has a Steam Link app. You do not need a Steam Deck dock to stream to a supported TV device.

Play handheld: run games on Steam Deck or stream to a mobile device

Run compatible games on Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is a portable PC that can run games locally. Your Steam Library appears on the device with compatibility ratings to help set expectations for each game. Check a game’s rating rather than assuming every Steam title will work equally well on every Deck model or configuration. Valve’s Steam Deck page provides product details and compatibility information.

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Stream to a phone or tablet

A phone or tablet can act as a Steam Link receiving device, streaming from a computer running Steam. In this setup the computer, not the phone or tablet, runs the game. That is distinct from playing locally on a Steam Deck.

Stream between two PCs

Valve’s PC-to-PC setup uses Steam on both computers. Sign in on the gaming PC and on the receiving PC or laptop, then start streaming the game from the receiving computer’s Steam Library. The gaming PC remains the host and runs the game; the second computer receives the stream and sends input back.

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Connect a Steam Deck to a TV

For local Deck play on a larger screen, connect the Deck to an external display. Valve’s Steam Deck Docking Station supports external displays, wired networking, USB peripherals, and power. The Deck also supports DisplayPort output over USB-C, so a docking station is one optional connection route—not a requirement for every display setup.

Valve lists USB-C DisplayPort output capability of up to 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz. Those are device specifications, not a guarantee that a particular game, display, adapter, or complete setup will reach those modes. A dock connects the Deck to a display; it does not provide Steam Link streaming.

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Choose the right setup

Setup Where the game runs What you need
TV with Steam Link Gaming PC A PC running Steam and a TV or connected device that supports Steam Link
Steam Deck handheld Steam Deck A Deck and a game with a suitable compatibility rating
Phone or tablet with Steam Link Gaming PC A PC running Steam and a supported phone or tablet
PC-to-PC Remote Play Gaming PC Steam on both computers; start streaming from the receiving computer’s Library
Steam Deck connected to TV Steam Deck An external-display connection, such as the Docking Station or USB-C video output
  • Check the receiving device: For a TV, verify Steam Link availability on that exact TV or a connected streaming device.
  • Check game compatibility: Use the Steam Deck rating when you plan to play locally on the Deck.
  • Plan for input and network conditions: Remote Play sends input back to the host PC. Valve describes low-latency encoding, but its general Remote Play page does not set a universal bandwidth threshold or promise a particular resolution, latency, or lag-free experience.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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