How to fix Steam Remote Play feature not working - Complete guide

Having trouble with the Steam Remote Play feature? Don't worry! In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to fix a damaged system on Steam and get your Remote Play up and running smoothly again. So let's dive right in!

Re-enable Remote Play on Steam

To begin troubleshooting, make sure that Remote Play is enabled in your Steam settings. Here's how:

- Open the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to Steam > Settings > Remote Play.

- Check the box next to "Enable Remote Play."

Enabling Remote Play ensures that the feature is active and allows you to connect and play games remotely.

Unpair the Guest Steam Link Device

If you're encountering issues with a specific device, unpair it from your Steam account before proceeding further. Follow these steps:

- Open the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to View > Friends List.

- On the left panel, click on "Remote Play."

- Right-click on the guest device you want to unpair and select "Unpair Device."

Unpairing the device removes any existing connections and allows you to start fresh, potentially resolving any issues related to that specific device.

Update Steam Client and Games

Outdated software can often cause compatibility problems. Ensure that both your Steam client and games are up to date by following these instructions:

- Launch the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to Steam > Check for Steam Client Updates.

- Wait for any updates to download and install automatically.

- Additionally, update all games that you intend to play using Remote Play.

Updating both the Steam client and games ensures that you have the latest software versions with bug fixes and improvements, which can positively impact the performance of Remote Play.

Disable Steam Client Beta Participation

Being part of the beta program might introduce bugs or conflicts with certain features like Remote Play. To opt out of beta participation, do as follows:

- Open the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to Steam > Settings > Account.

- Under Beta Participation, click on "Change..."

- Select "NONE - Opt out of all beta programs" from the drop-down menu.

Disabling beta participation eliminates any potential compatibility issues that may arise from using experimental or unfinished software versions.

Disable IPv6

Sometimes IPv6 can interfere with network connectivity during Remote Play sessions. Temporarily disabling it might help resolve the issue. Here's how:

- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

- Type "ncpa.cpl" and hit Enter to open the Network Connections window.

- Right-click on your active network connection and select "Properties."

- Scroll down and uncheck the box next to "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)."

- Click OK to save the changes.

Disabling IPv6 can help ensure a stable network connection for Remote Play by eliminating any potential conflicts or disruptions caused by this protocol.

Disable and Re-Enable Steam Overlay

The Steam Overlay can sometimes cause conflicts with Remote Play. Disabling and re-enabling it could potentially fix any related issues. Follow these steps:

- Open the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to Steam > Settings > In-game.

- Uncheck the box next to "Enable Steam Overlay while in-game."

- Launch a game, then exit it.

- Repeat steps 1 and 2, but this time check the box next to "Enable Steam Overlay while in-game."

Disabling and re-enabling the Steam Overlay ensures that any potential conflicts with Remote Play are resolved, allowing for a smoother gaming experience.

Disable Hardware Encoding

If you're experiencing performance or streaming problems, disabling hardware encoding may help improve Remote Play functionality. Here's how:

- Open the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to Steam > Settings > In-home Streaming.

- Uncheck the box next to "Hardware encoding."

Disabling hardware encoding shifts the encoding workload from the hardware to the software, potentially improving performance and reducing streaming issues during Remote Play.

Restart the Steam Client on Your Guest Device

Sometimes a simple restart can do wonders for troubleshooting connectivity issues on guest devices. Close and relaunch the Steam client on your guest device.

Restarting the Steam client on your guest device ensures that any temporary issues or glitches are resolved, allowing for a fresh start when reconnecting to Remote Play.

Restart the Steam Client and Check if Remote Play is Working

Now that you've performed all necessary adjustments, restart your computer's Steam client as well. Open it up again after rebooting and check if Remote Play is working as expected.

Restarting the Steam client on your computer ensures that any changes made during the troubleshooting process are applied correctly. It allows you to verify if the Remote Play feature is now functioning properly.

Configure Overlay Shortcut Keys (if desired)

Customize your overlay shortcut keys for a better gaming experience during Remote Play sessions by following these steps:

- Open the Steam client on your computer.

- Go to Steam > Settings > In-game.

- Click on the "Steam Overlay Shortcut Keys" button.

- Assign your preferred shortcut keys for opening and closing the Steam Overlay.

Configuring overlay shortcut keys allows you to personalize your gaming experience, making it more convenient to access the Steam Overlay while playing games through Remote Play.

 Launch the Game You Want to Stream and Open Steam Overlay

Finally, launch the game you wish to stream and access the Steam Overlay using either the default Shift + Tab key combination or your custom key, if set in step 10.

By launching the desired game and opening the Steam Overlay, you can now enjoy streaming it through Remote Play, ensuring a seamless gaming experience.

By following these friendly guidelines, you should be able to troubleshoot and fix any issues preventing your Steam Remote Play feature from working correctly. Enjoy uninterrupted gaming sessions with friends and family wherever they may be!