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Gaming

Stream Games Between Two PCs With Steam Remote Play

The desktop renders, the laptop plays. Set up Remote Play over the local network with hardware encoding, a wired host and a resolution the client can actually decode.

by@guidox updated:10/30/26 time:20 min level:Intermediate tested on:Windows 11 24H2, RTX 3060 Ti host, wired gigabit works on:Windows 10, Windows 11, Steam client tools:Steam
TL;DR

Enable **Remote Play** on both machines, keep the **host on Ethernet**, and set the client to **1080p at 60 fps with hardware decoding**. Wireless on the host side is what makes streams look bad.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Steam on both machines, same account
  • Both PCs on the same network
  • Host with a GPU that supports hardware encoding
Step by step

Instructions

01

Turn Remote Play on

In Steam, open **Settings > Remote Play** and enable it on the host. The client finds the host automatically when both are signed in with the same account.

Steam > Settings > Remote Play > Enable Remote Play
02

Wire the host

The host must be on Ethernet. Upload from the host is what limits the stream, and Wi-Fi shares that airtime with everything else in the flat.

⚠ warningIf the client has to be wireless, use 5 GHz or 6 GHz on the same access point, not a repeater.
03

Set the client quality

On the client, open **Remote Play settings** for that host and choose the resolution and frame rate. Match the client's native resolution instead of streaming 4K to a 1080p laptop.

Client: 1920x1080, 60 fps
Limit bandwidth: 30 Mbit/s
04

Choose hardware encoding

On the host enable **hardware encoding** and let Steam pick the codec. NVIDIA and AMD encoders are far cheaper than the CPU path, especially at high frame rates.

Host > Remote Play > Advanced host options > Enable hardware encoding
tipIf the stream stutters while the game runs fine, the encoder is the bottleneck - lower the resolution before the frame rate.
05

Pair the controller

Connect the controller to the **client**. Steam forwards it to the host and shows the layout there, which keeps input latency on the machine you are sitting at.

06

Measure the stream

Enable the **performance overlay** in the Remote Play settings. Watch the network latency and the frame loss; anything above a few percent needs a lower bitrate or a cable.

Remote Play > Show performance overlay
Troubleshooting

Common issues

The host is not listed

Different Steam accounts, Remote Play disabled on one side, or the machines are on different subnets. Check the account first.

The picture is blurry during motion

Bitrate too low for the resolution. Lower the resolution or raise the limit - but only on a wired link.

Input lags by half a second

The client is decoding in software or on Wi-Fi. Enable hardware decoding and test with a cable.

The game launches on the wrong screen

Set the host's primary display or the game's window mode to borderless before streaming.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Does Remote Play work outside the house?

Yes, through Valve's relay, but quality depends on both upload speeds. Expect it to be the fallback, not the default.

Can two people play on the host at once?

Only with Remote Play Together for local co-op titles, not for two separate games.

How to undo this

Disable **Remote Play** on both machines and remove the host from the client's list. Nothing on disk changes.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-30
    First version
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