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Steam Link lets you play a game running on your PC on a supported TV, phone, tablet, or other device. The PC remains the host: Steam runs the game, sends its video and audio to the destination, and receives your controls back over the network. To get started, install Steam Link on the destination device and use the app to connect to a computer running Steam.
That makes Steam Link a way to use a different screen for a PC game—not a way to install the PC game on a phone or television. First check whether your destination device is listed as supported, then choose a screen and control setup that works for the game you want to play.
What Steam Link does—and what it does not do
Steam Link streams a game from a computer that is running Steam. It does not install or run the PC game natively on your phone, tablet, or TV. The host computer is still doing the game processing; the second device acts as the screen and a way to send input back.
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Valve describes the connection as real-time encoding over a custom low-latency network protocol. In practical terms, the PC sends video and audio to the destination, while remote input and multiplayer voice travel back to the PC. The official page does not give a universal latency figure for TV or mobile play, so no one number can predict how responsive it will feel in every home or on every device. [Valve’s Steam Remote Play page]
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This is useful when you want to play a PC game on a larger shared screen, or continue a session on a phone or tablet without moving the game to a different computer. Your experience still depends on your actual devices, network, and game; Valve’s compatibility list is not a guarantee that every title or setup will work equally well.
Think of the setup as three parts: a host PC running Steam and the game, a supported destination device running Steam Link, and a connection that carries the stream and your input between them. The app is on the destination, but the game remains on the PC. If you switch from a phone to a TV, for example, you are changing the screen and input arrangement rather than transferring the game to a new machine.
Check whether your destination device is supported
Valve lists the following Steam Link destinations and minimum platform versions on its Steam Remote Play page, checked October 13, 2026. App availability and requirements can change, so confirm the listing for your exact model and operating-system version in its app store before setting up.
| Destination | Valve’s listed support | What to know before setup |
|---|---|---|
| Android phone, tablet, or TV | Android 5.0 or newer | Install Steam Link from the device’s available app store, then use it to connect to a PC running Steam. |
| iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Apple Vision Pro | Apple platform version 11.0 or newer | Check the current app-store listing for the specific device and its supported OS version. |
| Amazon Fire TV | Listed as supported | Check the app listing available for your Fire TV device; Valve’s page does not provide model-by-model pairing steps. |
| Raspberry Pi | Models 3, 3+, 4, and 5 are listed | Valve’s page does not give device-specific installation or connection prompts. |
| Windows, Linux, or macOS computer | Listed as a destination | For PC-to-PC streaming, Valve says to sign in to Steam on both computers and open the Steam Library on the receiving computer. |
| Meta Quest headset | Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro are listed for Steam Link VR | VR has separate minimum requirements; see the VR section below. |
These are platform-support listings, not a claim that every model, game, or configuration has been tested. The minimum version shown for Apple devices is stated as 11.0+ on Valve’s page; check the store listing for the exact device rather than assuming that one version label applies identically across every Apple platform.
For an Android TV or Fire TV setup, the relevant question is whether the app is available for the specific television or streaming device you own. A TV with a large screen is not automatically a supported Steam Link destination. Similarly, a phone or tablet brand being familiar does not replace checking its current app listing and operating-system version. If the listing is unavailable for your model, Valve’s broad platform list does not provide a workaround or guarantee installation.
Set up Steam Link on a TV, phone, or tablet
Valve’s published setup outline is deliberately simple: install Steam Link on the destination, then connect through the app to a computer running Steam. The exact screens and prompts can differ by platform, and Valve’s page does not document them device by device.
- Choose the screen you want to use. Confirm that your TV, phone, or tablet appears in Valve’s supported-platform list and that its operating system meets the listed minimum. For a TV, check whether the relevant listing is for Android TV or Fire TV, as applicable to the device you own.
- Make sure the host PC can run the game. The computer must be running Steam, and the game you want to play runs on that computer. Steam Link is the streaming connection, not a way to install the PC game on the destination.
- Install Steam Link on the destination device. Find the app through the device’s app store or available app listing. Use the listing for your exact device to confirm current availability and requirements.
- Open Steam Link and connect to the PC. Follow the prompts shown by the app to connect to a computer running Steam. Valve’s general page does not specify the names of pairing buttons, codes, or individual screens, so follow the current instructions displayed on your device rather than relying on a menu path intended for another platform.
- Choose a way to control the game. Valve says control schemes are optimized for hundreds of popular titles. A physical controller is an optional choice for couch or mobile play, not a requirement stated on the official page. Consider how you will hold or operate the destination before starting a longer session.
- Launch and play from the connected setup. The game remains on the PC; the destination shows its streamed audio and video and sends your input back. If the app cannot connect or the session is not usable, check the basic connection and compatibility points in the troubleshooting section.
For a computer as the receiving device, Valve describes a specific PC-to-PC route: sign in to Steam on both computers and open the Steam Library on the receiving PC. That is the platform-specific detail available on the official page; other destination platforms may show different connection steps.
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There is no need to look for a separate phone or TV installation of the PC game as part of this setup. The host PC is where the game runs, while Steam Link handles the remote viewing and input path. Keep that distinction in mind if you are deciding whether an older computer or a mobile device can replace the gaming PC: Steam Link does not make the destination the host.
Choose the destination that fits how you play
The main choice is usually between a shared screen and a portable screen. Valve lists support for both, but does not publish comparative measurements for latency, image quality, or performance across TVs, phones, and tablets.
| Destination type | Best fit | Decision to make |
|---|---|---|
| TV or TV-connected device | Couch play or a game viewed by more than one person | Confirm the device’s app availability and decide whether you have a comfortable way to control the game from your seat. |
| Phone | Portable play on a small screen | Check the exact phone’s app and OS support, and consider whether the screen and your preferred control method suit the game. |
| Tablet | Portable play with a larger display than a phone | Verify app availability and weigh the larger screen against how easily you can hold or position the device. |
| Receiving computer | Streaming from one computer to another | Valve’s described route is to sign in to Steam on both computers and open the Library on the receiving PC. |
Do not treat a larger screen as proof of better performance, or a phone as proof of more lag. The official information establishes supported destinations and the direction of the stream, but it does not compare these outcomes. The most useful decision is the screen and control arrangement that suits the place where you want to play.
For a shared room, a TV-connected destination keeps the game visible to more than one person, but you will want to consider how you will send input from your seat. For portable play, a phone is easier to carry while a tablet offers a larger display; the tradeoff is the size of the device you need to hold or position. These are practical fit questions, not performance rankings. Valve does not publish a measurement showing that one destination category gives a sharper picture or a faster response than another.
If you already have a spare Windows, Linux, or macOS computer, Valve also lists computers as destinations. Its stated PC-to-PC approach is to sign in to Steam on both computers and open the Library on the receiving computer. This differs from the general install-and-connect description for mobile and TV devices, so use the instructions appropriate to the destination instead of assuming every platform uses the same steps.
Understand controls and the return path
Streaming is bidirectional in the practical sense: the PC sends game video and audio outward, while remote input travels back so the game can respond. Valve also says multiplayer voice goes back to the PC. A controller may make a TV or mobile setup more comfortable, but the official page does not make one mandatory or name a particular controller as required.
Valve says its control schemes are optimized for hundreds of popular titles. That statement is not a per-game guarantee. If a particular game does not feel natural with the available controls, the issue may be the control arrangement rather than whether Steam Link is connected. Decide how you will play before moving to a TV or smaller screen, especially if the game’s usual controls rely on a keyboard and mouse.
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A physical controller is an option to consider, not a purchase requirement established by Valve’s overview. On a couch, it can be a more natural way to send input than reaching for a keyboard or tapping a screen; on a phone or tablet, the right approach depends on how you prefer to hold and operate the device. The key is to think about the game and the place you will play before starting. The official page does not endorse a particular controller or promise that every title will have an equally suitable control scheme.
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Steam Link sends encoded video and audio from the gaming PC to another device and sends controls in the opposite direction. That means the connection is part of play, not just a way to download or launch the app. Valve describes its protocol as low-latency, but its public page does not provide a guaranteed latency, minimum ordinary-play router specification, or measured quality comparison for a TV versus a mobile device.
- Do not apply VR network requirements to ordinary streaming. Valve’s Wi-Fi 5, 5 GHz, and wired-PC-to-router requirements are listed for Steam Link VR, not as the baseline for TV, phone, or tablet play.
- Check the whole connection if a session is unreliable. A supported app alone does not establish that the PC and destination can communicate reliably in your particular setup. Confirm that the PC is running Steam and that the destination is using the connection and device you intended.
- Separate connection problems from game-control choices. If the app connects but a game is awkward to control, revisit the input method. If the app cannot connect, start with the host, destination support, and connection rather than assuming the game itself is incompatible.
It is tempting to look for a single network number that guarantees a good session, but Valve’s public overview does not provide one for ordinary TV, phone, or tablet use. The page does not say that every home router or connection will produce the same result, nor does it give a TV-versus-phone latency comparison. Treat the listed low-latency protocol as a description of the technology, not as a promise of a specific response time in your home.
When assessing an issue, separate the stages: first confirm Steam is running on the host and the destination can connect; then consider whether the streamed session behaves acceptably; finally consider whether the input method fits the game. A connection that works but feels awkward to control is a different problem from an app that cannot connect at all. The available guidance does not support prescribing a specific router upgrade, wired connection, or bandwidth threshold for ordinary play.
Steam Link VR has different requirements
Valve lists Steam Link VR separately from ordinary TV, phone, or tablet streaming. Its listed minimums are specific to the VR section and should not be treated as general requirements for playing on a conventional screen.
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| Host computer | A computer running Steam and SteamVR, with Windows 10 or newer |
| Graphics card | NVIDIA GTX 970 or better |
| Router and wireless connection | Wireless router with a 5 GHz channel and Wi-Fi 5 |
| PC connection to router | Wired connection |
| Headset | Meta Quest 2, Quest 3, or Quest Pro |
Valve also states that Remote Play Together is not supported for VR. If you are setting up ordinary TV, phone, or tablet streaming, these headset, graphics-card, Windows, and network specifications are not presented as its minimum requirements.
In particular, do not read the VR list as a shopping list for a living-room TV setup. The GTX 970-or-better graphics requirement, Windows 10-or-newer host, 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 router, and wired PC-to-router connection belong to Valve’s Steam Link VR section. The page does not establish them as prerequisites for a phone, tablet, or standard TV destination. Conversely, if you are setting up a Quest 2, Quest 3, or Quest Pro for VR, check each listed item rather than assuming the ordinary streaming outline is enough.
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Troubleshoot the basic setup
Valve’s public overview does not provide a device-by-device troubleshooting flow or exact pairing-dialog instructions. Start with the checks that follow from its setup and compatibility requirements, then consult current Valve support information for platform-specific prompts.
- The destination cannot find or connect to a PC: verify that the intended host computer is running Steam, that Steam Link is installed on the destination, and that the destination is one of the listed supported platforms. Then follow the pairing instructions currently shown in the app.
- The app is unavailable or will not install: check the destination’s current app-store listing and compare its operating-system version with Valve’s stated minimum. A platform appearing on the broad support list does not establish availability for every model or store region.
- The game appears, but controls are uncomfortable: reconsider the control scheme for that title and whether an optional physical controller would suit the room or portable setup. Valve’s statement about optimized schemes covers hundreds of popular titles, not every game.
- Play is not responsive or consistent: Valve supplies no universal latency target or ordinary-play network specification on the cited page. Check the connection in your own setup and avoid diagnosing the issue from the destination category alone; the official information does not establish that one type of screen is inherently faster.
- You are setting up a Quest headset: compare the PC, Windows, graphics card, router, wired connection, and headset against the separate VR minimums above. Do not substitute those VR requirements for general TV or mobile guidance.
For instructions that depend on the exact device or current app version, use the current listing and support information for that platform. Valve’s product overview is the source for the broad support outline, not a complete manual for every pairing screen.
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If setup stalls, avoid following a set of button names copied from a different kind of device: Valve’s overview does not provide exact prompts for every destination. Use the instructions currently displayed in Steam Link and check that the device you selected matches the supported platform and OS information. If the app opens but you cannot get comfortable gameplay, consider controls separately from installation or pairing.
Official compatibility and setup reference
Valve’s Steam Remote Play page lists Steam Link destinations, the broad install-and-connect flow, and separate VR requirements. It is the appropriate reference to recheck when platform support or app availability may have changed.
The key distinction is straightforward: Steam Link streams a game running on a Steam PC to a supported destination. Confirm the destination’s current compatibility, install and connect through the app, and choose a control method suited to the screen and game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Steam Link install PC games on a phone, tablet, or TV?
No. The PC remains the host and runs the game. Steam Link connects a supported destination to a computer running Steam, sending the game’s video and audio to that device and returning input to the PC.
What do I need to do to start using Steam Link?
Valve’s general outline is to install Steam Link from the destination device’s app store, then use the app to connect to a computer running Steam. Exact screens and prompts vary by platform, so follow the current instructions on your device.
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- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Which TVs, phones, and tablets support Steam Link?
Valve lists Android phones, tablets, and TVs on Android 5.0 or newer; iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro on 11.0 or newer; and Amazon Fire TV. Check the current app-store listing for your exact device because availability and requirements can change.
Do I need a controller to use Steam Link?
Valve’s overview does not state that a physical controller is mandatory or endorse a specific model. It says control schemes are optimized for hundreds of popular titles, so choose an input method that suits the game and where you plan to play.
Do ordinary TV or mobile streaming setups need Wi-Fi 5, 5 GHz, or a wired PC connection?
Valve lists Wi-Fi 5 on a 5 GHz channel and a wired PC-to-router connection as minimums for Steam Link VR. Its page does not present these as baseline requirements for ordinary TV, phone, or tablet streaming.
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Valve lists a Windows 10-or-newer computer running Steam and SteamVR, an NVIDIA GTX 970 or better, a wireless router with a 5 GHz channel and Wi-Fi 5, a wired PC-to-router connection, and a Meta Quest 2, Quest 3, or Quest Pro. Valve also says Remote Play Together is not supported for VR.
Does Valve guarantee a particular latency or picture quality?
No universal latency figure or comparative image-quality measurement for TV, phone, or tablet play appears on Valve’s public overview. It describes real-time encoding over a custom low-latency protocol, but results can depend on the devices and connection.
The Bottom Line
Steam Link lets a supported TV, phone, tablet, or computer act as the screen for a game running on a PC with Steam. Check the exact destination’s current app and OS support, install Steam Link, connect to the host through the app, and pick controls that suit the game. Keep Valve’s Steam Link VR requirements separate from ordinary TV and mobile streaming.
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