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Start by identifying where the connection fails
“Not connecting” can describe several different problems. Use the symptom to choose the relevant checks:
- Linux PC missing or shown offline: check host availability, Remote Play, local network discovery, and firewall rules.
- Host is visible, but the stream will not start: check network isolation and firewall permissions.
- Stream starts but stutters or freezes: diagnose network timing and stream quality.
- Stream starts with black video: investigate the Linux display session and graphics setup.
- Video works but a controller does not: check Steam’s Linux input-device access.
Steam’s [Remote Play FAQ](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4C03-C8BA-3EA1-B26A) and [discovery and offline guidance](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/2EA8-4D75-DA21-31EB) describe host, network, and port requirements. The checks below distinguish those connection stages so you can change one thing at a time.
If Steam Link cannot find the Linux PC
Make sure the host is available
- Wake or power on the Linux PC.
- Launch Steam on that PC and sign in.
- In Steam’s settings, confirm that Remote Play is enabled. Steam support pages may use the older term “In-Home Streaming”; look for the current Remote Play setting rather than relying on an outdated tab name.
- Confirm that Steam Link and the host are connected to the network. For initial discovery, put both on the same local subnet and router.
Steam’s [discovery guidance](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/2EA8-4D75-DA21-31EB) specifically calls for the devices to be on the same subnet. A PC that is asleep, not signed in, or not running Steam cannot serve as an available host.
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Check network isolation
Guest Wi-Fi, access-point or client isolation, captive portals, and many public, workplace, or school networks can prevent devices from discovering or connecting to one another. For a clean test, connect both devices to the same trusted home network and temporarily avoid guest networks. Steam’s [suggested network settings](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/418E-7A04-B0DA-9032) note that some network types are unsupported for Remote Play.
Allow Steam’s Remote Play traffic through the Linux firewall
Steam lists these ports for Remote Play:
| Protocol | Port | Use in this troubleshooting |
|---|---|---|
| UDP | 27031 and 27036 | Allow for Remote Play on the host’s local network. |
| TCP | 27036 and 27037 | Allow for Remote Play on the host’s local network. |
Use your Linux distribution’s existing firewall manager to add appropriately scoped rules for your trusted local network. Firewall tools and rule syntax differ between distributions, so there is no single safe command sequence for every Linux PC. Do not copy Windows firewall steps to Linux, and do not leave the firewall disabled: Steam’s [network and firewall troubleshooting guide](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/2EA8-4D75-DA21-31EB) says it does not recommend that.
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Also check whether another program is using UDP 27036. Steam identifies this as the initial discovery port and advises that another program should not use it. If you cannot identify the program or adjust the conflict safely, consult your distribution’s firewall or networking documentation rather than opening unrelated ports.
If the host appears but streaming will not start
Keep the devices on the same trusted local network and check that its router is not isolating wireless clients from one another. Then verify the host firewall allows the Remote Play ports above. If possible, connect both devices to the same router with Ethernet for a test; this can help separate Wi-Fi or isolation problems from Steam configuration. A known-good Ethernet cable is useful for this test, but it cannot fix a Steam sign-in, Remote Play setting, or firewall-rule problem.
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Steam’s [network guidance](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/418E-7A04-B0DA-9032) recommends wired networking as a way to improve reliability and isolate wireless interference. Change one condition at a time—for example, first test on the same non-guest network, then test with Ethernet—so the result points to a specific cause.
If the stream stutters or freezes
Once a stream starts, focus on connection quality rather than discovery. Enable Steam’s Remote Play performance overlay and watch its cyan network-time line. Steam identifies large spikes in that line as a sign of variable network timing, which can accompany stutters or freezes.
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- Test with Ethernet if available, especially on the Linux host.
- Reduce competing traffic on the network and, if using Wi-Fi, try a 5 GHz network when its signal is strong enough.
- Lower streaming quality or bandwidth, or try Fast or Balanced quality.
- Check whether router firmware updates are available.
Make one change at a time and compare the stream. Steam’s [suggested network settings](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/418E-7A04-B0DA-9032) support these network and quality checks; they do not establish a universal latency threshold or promise that a particular router change will fix every stutter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the stream has a black screen on Linux
A black screen is a different symptom from a host that cannot be discovered. 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 report shows that a Linux display-session issue can occur; it does not establish that Wayland causes every black screen.
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- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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If you report the problem, include your Linux distribution, whether the desktop session is Wayland or X11, GPU and driver, Steam version, whether audio or input still works, and relevant Steam logs. This helps distinguish video capture from a broader connection failure. The issue report is available at [ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux issue 12264](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/12264).
If the video works but controller input does not
Linux hosts have a specific controller-input requirement: Steam needs read and write access to /dev/uinput or /dev/input/uinput. Steam states this in its [Remote Play FAQ](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4C03-C8BA-3EA1-B26A). This permission concerns streaming game-controller input; it is not a general prerequisite for discovering the Linux host. Check your distribution’s documented device-permission approach rather than applying a permission command intended for a different Linux setup.
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