Steam Deck: How To Enable Remote Play (2024)

The most prominent selling point of the Steam Deck is that users can take it anywhere and play a vast library of verified and playable games on the handheld. It is a clever device that can be used as a desktop with the right tools and applications.

Moreover, the machine can run some demanding Triple-A games without issues. The Steam Deck's portability goes even further than its handheld mode. Users can play it remotely on a PC screen, giving the machine more usability when it comes to compatibility.

Updated on December 18, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: The Steam Deck offers players several methods to play on a PC or a TV screen. One of the most convenient ways to play the device on a PC as a second screen is by using remote play. Steam Deck users must have a capable PC or laptop and a good connection to get the best out of remote play. This guide is updated to include new links for Steam Deck players and some extra tips to get the best out of the PC.

Playing The Steam Deck Remotely

Playing Steam Deck remotely is a practical feature for those who don't always want to play their games in handheld mode. However, some limitations apply to playing remotely, and getting it to work will depend on how capable a player's PC or laptop is at running games and how good their Wi-Fi connection is at the time. Assuming that users have a capable PC for the stream and a powerful internet connection with a good router, use the following steps to play Steam Deck remotely:

The Steam App On PC

• Ensure that Steam is installed on the PC.
• Launch the Steam app.
• In the Steam app, select Settings.
• Select Remote Play.

• Ensure to check the Enable Remote Play option.
• Ensure that the Steam Deck is showing up under Device Name - if the Steam Deck is switched on.
• Under Client options streaming to this computer, either select balanced or fast. It's a good idea to try selecting Fast if the user isn't confident in their connections and PC.
• Now, Select Advanced Host Options.

• Check Change Desktop to match the streaming client. This will prevent the PC or laptop from having strange upscaling issues and keep it in line with the Steam Deck's resolution.
• Check the Prioritize network traffic option if the user has a high-end router that can turn traffic prioritization.
• Ensure the Number of software encoding threads is set to Automatic.
• Press OK to confirm the settings.

More Recommended PC Settings

• In the Steam app on the PC, select Settings.
• Highlight and select Remote Play.
• EnableAdvanced Host Options.
• Disable NVFBC capture on Nvidia GPU.
• Set the games to borderless fullscreen mode.
• Increase the time for the PC to go into sleep mode. Some PCs have a habit of going to sleep when operating remote play.

Steam Deck

• Power on the Steam Deck.
• Press the Steam Button.
• Scroll down and highlight Remote Play.
• Switch on the Enable Remote Play option.

• The PC or laptop should appear under Computers & Devices.
• Select Enable Advanced Client Options.
• Under Video, select Fast, balanced, or Beautiful. Select Fast first to see how the stream performs.
• Scroll down to ensure that Framerate and Bandwidth limits are set to Automatic.
• Under Resolution Limit, users can select a range of resolutions from standard 480p up to 8K. Experiment with the lower resolutions first.
• Head into the game library and select the desired game - not all games work with remote play.

• Instead of selecting play, press the dropdown arrow and click on the paired PC or laptop to play the game.

That's everything a player needs to know about playing games remotely with the Steam Deck. It isn't perfect and will depend on how well a user's PC or laptop performs with games.

The Steam Deck is available now from the official Steam Store.

Steam Deck

Screen

7" diagonal 1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio) 60Hz

Storage

64 GB - 512 GB

CPU

AMD APU Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz

Battery

40Whr battery. 2 - 8 hours of gameplay

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.0 and Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz

Ports

1x USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 Alt-mode support; up to 8K @60Hz or 4K @120Hz, 1x USB 3.2 ,1x Micro SD slot, 1x 3.5 audio jack

Dimensions

298mm x 117mm x 49mm

Weight

Approx. 669 grams

Audio

Stereo with embedded DSP for an immersive listening experience and Dual Microphone Array