Level Up Your Gaming: A Comprehensive Guide to Moonlight Streaming on Steam Deck

The Steam Deck has revolutionized portable PC gaming, offering a powerful and versatile handheld experience. But what if you could expand your library beyond Steam and play your entire PC game collection on the go? That’s where Moonlight comes in. Moonlight is an open-source implementation of NVIDIA’s GameStream protocol, allowing you to stream games from your NVIDIA-powered PC to your Steam Deck over your local network. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from setting up your PC to configuring Moonlight on your Steam Deck, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable streaming experience.

Why Moonlight on Steam Deck?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why Moonlight is such a valuable addition to your Steam Deck arsenal:

• Play Your Entire PC Game Library: Stream games from platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, and more. No more being limited to Steam Deck Verified titles.
• High-Fidelity Streaming: Enjoy games at resolutions up to 4K (depending on your PC and network) with smooth frame rates.
• Low Latency: Moonlight is designed for minimal input lag, making even fast-paced action games playable.
• Free and Open Source: Moonlight is completely free to use and open-source, supported by a dedicated community.
• Expand Beyond Gaming: You can even stream your entire desktop, allowing you to use applications like video editing software or browse the web on your Steam Deck.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• A Powerful NVIDIA-Powered PC: Your PC must have an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series or higher graphics card and an NVIDIA GeForce Experience (GFE) version that supports GameStream. Generally, it’s recommended to have a GTX 900 series or higher for optimal performance.
• NVIDIA GeForce Experience (GFE): Make sure you have the latest version of GFE installed on your PC. This is the software that allows your PC to stream games.
• A Stable Local Network: A strong and stable Wi-Fi network is crucial for a good streaming experience. 5GHz Wi-Fi is highly recommended. Wired connections (Ethernet) for your PC will provide the best and most stable results.
• Steam Deck: Of course, you’ll need your Steam Deck!
• Moonlight: We’ll cover how to install this on your Steam Deck in the steps below.

Step 1: Preparing Your PC

The first step is to configure your PC to allow GameStream. Follow these instructions carefully:

1. Update NVIDIA Drivers and GeForce Experience: Ensure you have the latest NVIDIA drivers and GeForce Experience installed. Open GFE and check for updates in the Drivers tab. It’s crucial to have the most recent version for compatibility and performance.
2. Enable GameStream in GeForce Experience:
   1. Open GeForce Experience.
   2. Click the Settings icon (the gear icon).
   3. Select the Shield tab (formerly GameStream).
   4. Toggle the GameStream switch to the On position.
   5. If you’ve never used GameStream before, you may be prompted to create an NVIDIA account or log in.
3. Add Games to GameStream (Optional but Recommended):
   1. In the Shield tab of GeForce Experience, you’ll see a list of automatically detected games.
   2. If a game you want to stream isn’t listed, click the + button.
   3. Browse to the game’s executable file (.exe) and select it. This adds the game to the GameStream list.
   4. Repeat this process for any other games you want to stream.
4. Disable HDR (Highly Recommended): HDR can sometimes cause issues with Moonlight streaming. To disable it:
   1. Go to Windows Settings.
   2. Click on System.
   3. Click on Display.
   4. Toggle Use HDR to the Off position.

   You can re-enable HDR after your streaming session if desired.

5. Firewall Considerations: Ensure that your firewall isn’t blocking GameStream. While GeForce Experience usually configures this automatically, it’s worth checking. Make sure the following ports are open (both TCP and UDP): 47998, 47999, 48000, 48010. The specific steps for opening ports depend on your firewall software (e.g., Windows Firewall, third-party firewall). Search online for instructions specific to your firewall.

Step 2: Installing and Configuring Moonlight on Steam Deck

Now that your PC is ready, let’s move on to setting up Moonlight on your Steam Deck.

1. Switch to Desktop Mode: Press the Steam button, navigate to Power, and select Switch to Desktop.
2. Open Discover (Software Center): Click the icon that looks like a shopping bag in the taskbar. This is the KDE Discover software center.
3. Search for Moonlight: In the Discover search bar, type “Moonlight.”
4. Install Moonlight: Click the Moonlight application and then click the Install button.
5. Launch Moonlight: Once the installation is complete, you can launch Moonlight from the application launcher (the icon that looks like a Windows icon) or by searching for it in the launcher.
6. Pair with Your PC:
   1. When you launch Moonlight for the first time, it will scan your network for available GameStream-enabled PCs.
   2. Your PC should appear in the list. If it doesn’t, ensure both your Steam Deck and PC are on the same network and that GameStream is enabled in GeForce Experience. You can also try manually adding your PC’s IP address by clicking the ‘+’ button. To find your PC’s IP address, open Command Prompt (or PowerShell) on your PC and type `ipconfig`. Look for the IPv4 Address.
   3. Click on your PC in the Moonlight list.
   4. Moonlight will display a PIN code. Enter this PIN code into the prompt that appears on your PC (via GeForce Experience). This process pairs your Steam Deck with your PC.
7. Configure Moonlight Settings (Optional):
   1. Click the settings icon (the gear icon) in the top-right corner of the Moonlight window.
   2. Here, you can adjust various settings, including:
      • Resolution: Choose the streaming resolution. Match this to your Steam Deck’s native resolution (1280×800) or a resolution that your PC can comfortably handle. Experiment to find the best balance of visual fidelity and performance.
      • Frame Rate: Select the desired frame rate (30, 60, or 120 FPS). Higher frame rates require more bandwidth and processing power. 60 FPS is generally a good target. The Steam Deck’s screen is only 60hz, so 120 FPS is generally not useful.
      • Bitrate: Adjust the streaming bitrate (in Mbps). Higher bitrates result in better image quality but require more bandwidth. Start with a lower bitrate (e.g., 10 Mbps) and increase it gradually until you find a good balance between image quality and smoothness. A value of 20-30 Mbps is a good starting point for 1080p streaming.
      • Codec: Experiment with different codecs (H.264, HEVC). HEVC (H.265) generally provides better image quality at lower bitrates but may require more processing power on both your PC and Steam Deck. H.264 is more widely supported and might be a better choice for older hardware or networks.
      • Audio: Select the audio codec and sample rate.
      • Controller: Configure controller settings if needed. Moonlight should automatically detect your Steam Deck’s controller.
      • Advanced: Advanced users may want to explore options like enabling hardware decoding or adjusting the buffer size.

Step 3: Adding Moonlight to Steam as a Non-Steam Game

To easily launch Moonlight from Steam’s Gaming Mode, add it as a non-Steam game:

1. Open Steam in Desktop Mode: Launch the Steam application in Desktop Mode.
2. Add a Non-Steam Game: Click the Games menu at the top and select Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library…
3. Browse for Moonlight: Click the Browse… button.
4. Navigate to the Moonlight executable: The Moonlight executable is typically located in `/usr/bin/moonlight`. You may need to enable “Show All Files” in the file browser to see it.
5. Add Selected Program: Select `moonlight` and click Add Selected Programs.
6. Customize the Steam Entry (Optional):
   1. In Steam, right-click on the Moonlight entry in your library.
   2. Select Properties…
   3. Rename the entry to something more descriptive, like “Moonlight Streaming.”
   4. You can also set a custom icon by clicking the icon box and browsing for an image file.

Step 4: Return to Gaming Mode and Launch Moonlight

1. Switch back to Gaming Mode: Close Steam in Desktop Mode and double-click the “Return to Gaming Mode” icon on the desktop.
2. Find Moonlight in Your Library: Navigate to your Steam library. You may need to filter by “Non-Steam” games to find Moonlight.
3. Launch Moonlight: Select the Moonlight entry and click Play.
4. Select a Game or Application: Moonlight will display a list of games and applications available for streaming from your PC.
5. Start Streaming: Select the game or application you want to stream and click Play.

Troubleshooting Tips

Even with careful setup, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

• PC Not Detected:
  • Ensure both your Steam Deck and PC are on the same network.
  • Verify that GameStream is enabled in GeForce Experience.
  • Check your firewall settings on your PC.
  • Try manually adding your PC’s IP address in Moonlight.
  • Restart both your PC and Steam Deck.
• Poor Streaming Quality:
  • Reduce the streaming resolution, frame rate, or bitrate in Moonlight settings.
  • Ensure you have a strong and stable Wi-Fi connection. 5GHz is recommended. Use a wired connection for your PC for optimal results.
  • Experiment with different codecs (H.264, HEVC).
  • Close unnecessary applications on your PC to free up resources.
  • Update your NVIDIA drivers and GeForce Experience.
• Input Lag:
  • Reduce the streaming resolution, frame rate, or bitrate in Moonlight settings.
  • Ensure you have a low ping time to your PC.
  • Close unnecessary applications on your PC to free up resources.
  • Try using a wired connection for your Steam Deck (via a USB-C hub and Ethernet adapter).
• Controller Issues:
  • Make sure your Steam Deck’s controller is properly configured in Steam’s settings.
  • Try restarting your Steam Deck.
  • Some games may require specific controller configurations.
• Audio Issues:
  • Check the audio settings in Moonlight and ensure the correct audio device is selected.
  • Make sure your PC’s audio output is set correctly.
  • Restart both your PC and Steam Deck.
• Black Screen or Crashing:
  • This can sometimes be caused by driver issues. Ensure your NVIDIA drivers are up to date.
  • Try running the game in windowed mode on your PC.
  • Disable HDR in Windows display settings.

Advanced Configuration and Tips

Here are some additional tips to further enhance your Moonlight streaming experience:

• Sunshine (Alternative to GeForce Experience): Sunshine is an open-source GameStream host that can be used as an alternative to GeForce Experience. It’s particularly useful if you’re not using an NVIDIA graphics card or if you prefer a more lightweight and customizable solution. Setting up Sunshine is beyond the scope of this guide, but there are numerous online resources available.
• Parsec: Parsec is another popular streaming solution that offers excellent performance and features. It’s a good alternative to Moonlight if you’re having trouble getting GameStream to work.
• Optimize Your Network: Prioritize network traffic for your Steam Deck and PC using Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router. This can help reduce latency and improve streaming stability.
• Experiment with Different Games: Not all games stream equally well. Some games may be more demanding on your network or PC than others. Experiment with different games to find what works best for your setup.
• Use a USB-C Hub: A USB-C hub with Ethernet and HDMI ports can provide a wired network connection and allow you to connect your Steam Deck to an external display for a larger screen experience.
• Custom Resolutions: Advanced users can create custom resolutions on their PC to better match the Steam Deck’s display.

Conclusion

Moonlight streaming on Steam Deck opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to enjoy your entire PC game library on the go. By following this comprehensive guide, you can set up Moonlight, optimize your settings, and troubleshoot common issues. With a little patience and experimentation, you’ll be streaming your favorite games in no time!