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If Steam Link cannot find your Linux PC, first make sure the PC is awake, Steam is running and signed in, and Remote Play is enabled. Then check that both devices are on the same local network, review firewall access to Steam’s Remote Play ports, and rule out network isolation. If the stream connects but stutters, freezes, shows a black screen, or ignores your controller, troubleshoot that specific stage instead of treating every failure as a discovery problem.
Start by identifying where the connection fails
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- Host missing or offline: check that Steam is available on the Linux PC, Remote Play is enabled, both devices can see one another on the local network, and discovery traffic is not blocked.
- Host appears, but the stream will not start: check the network path and firewall rules, then retry on a trusted home network.
- Stream starts but stutters or freezes: diagnose network timing and bandwidth rather than host discovery.
- Stream starts with black video: investigate display capture and the Linux desktop session.
- Video works but controller input fails: check Linux input-device access; it is separate from finding the host.
Make sure the Linux host is ready
- Wake the Linux PC and confirm it has a working network connection.
- Launch Steam on the host and sign in to the account you use for Remote Play.
- In Steam’s settings, confirm that Remote Play is enabled. Steam support pages may use the older name “In-Home Streaming”; look for the current Remote Play setting rather than relying on that older label.
- Keep Steam running while you test discovery from the Steam Link device.
Steam’s Remote Play FAQ and Steam Link discovery and offline help both point to host availability and network reachability as early checks.
Check the local network before changing firewall settings
For discovery, Steam says the Link device and host should be on the same subnet. Start with both connected to the same trusted home router. A device on guest Wi-Fi, a captive portal, or a separate network may be unable to discover or reach the PC even when both devices have internet access.
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- Check that neither device is on guest Wi-Fi while the other is on the main network.
- Look in the router’s wireless settings for access-point isolation, client isolation, or a similarly named feature that prevents devices from communicating with one another. Disable it for the trusted local network if appropriate.
- Avoid using public, workplace, or school networks for troubleshooting; their network controls may prevent Remote Play connections.
- If possible, connect both devices to the same home router and test again before changing other settings.
Steam describes network isolation and supported network conditions in its Steam Link suggested network settings. Its discovery guidance is in the Steam Link discovery and offline help.
Allow Remote Play traffic through the Linux firewall
Steam lists these ports for Remote Play: UDP 27031 and 27036, and TCP 27036 and 27037. If the Linux PC’s firewall blocks the required traffic, the Link may fail to discover or connect to the host.
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| Protocol | Ports | Troubleshooting note |
|---|---|---|
| UDP | 27031, 27036 | Steam identifies UDP 27036 as the initial discovery port; check that another program is not using it. |
| TCP | 27036, 27037 | Allow the listed Remote Play traffic through the host firewall as appropriate for your local network. |
Use your distribution’s existing firewall manager to add narrowly scoped rules for the trusted local network. Linux firewall tools and configurations vary, so do not copy Windows firewall instructions or run a generic command that may not match your system. Do not leave the firewall disabled: Steam’s Remote Play FAQ and network and firewall troubleshooting provide the port guidance, and Steam does not recommend turning the firewall off as a lasting fix.
Check Linux controller access only if input is the problem
If the stream displays correctly but a controller does not work through a Linux host, Steam needs read/write access to /dev/uinput or /dev/input/uinput. Steam specifies this requirement for streaming game-controller input from a Linux host in its Remote Play FAQ.
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This is an input requirement, not a general prerequisite for detecting the host. Check your distribution’s device-permission setup rather than applying a permissions command intended for another Linux system.
If the stream connects but stutters or freezes
Use Steam’s Remote Play performance overlay to distinguish an unstable network from a host-discovery failure. Steam notes that large spikes in the overlay’s cyan network-time line indicate variable network timing, which can accompany stutters or freezes.
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- Enable the Remote Play performance overlay and observe the network-time line during a problem.
- If practical, test with Ethernet. A known-good Ethernet cable is useful for checking whether Wi-Fi is contributing to the problem, but it cannot fix a login, Remote Play setting, or firewall issue.
- Reduce competing network traffic and, if using Wi-Fi, try a 5 GHz network when signal strength is adequate.
- Lower streaming quality or bandwidth, or try Fast or Balanced quality.
- Check whether router firmware updates are available.
Change one thing at a time and repeat the same test so you can tell which change affects the stream. Steam’s suggested network settings explain its network-quality guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the stream starts but the video is black
A black video feed after a successful connection is a different problem from a missing host. A ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux report filed for Kubuntu described a black screen while streaming the desktop and was closed as a duplicate of a Wayland issue on April 1, 2026. That issue shows that Linux display-session problems can occur; it does not establish that Wayland causes every black screen.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf the problem persists, record your Linux distribution, whether the desktop session is Wayland or X11, GPU and driver, Steam version, whether audio and input work, and relevant Steam logs. These details help separate a display-capture issue from a network failure when asking for help. See the ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux issue tracker.
Retest after each change
After adjusting a setting or moving a device, try the same connection again before making another change. If the host remains unavailable, return to the discovery checks: Steam running and signed in, Remote Play enabled, same subnet, no client isolation, and the listed firewall traffic allowed. If the host is visible but a later stage fails, keep the diagnosis focused on that stage—stream quality, display video, or controller input.
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