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How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

Want to enjoy the latest Steam games on the biggest screen in your home? Valve may have discontinued its physical Steam Link product, but you can still use the software that powered that now-defunct set-top box. Here we will show you how to stream Steam games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link.

ContentsSteam and Raspberry Pi linkWhat you'll needSet up Steam for remote streamingEnable remote playbackSet up Raspbian on Raspberry PiStart your Raspberry PiInstall Steam Link on Raspberry PiTime to start streaming!

Today, Steam Link is available as an app for smartphones and smart TVs. It is also available as a software package for the Raspberry Pi.

If you have a compatible Raspberry Pi device and are tired of being confined to your laptop or computer screen, you can use Steam Link to stream any game from your Steam library. /P> How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

  1. In the next window, select "Remote Play".
  2. Look for the 'Enable Remote Play' checkbox and click it.
How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link
  1. Select "OK".

Steam is now configured to support remote play, including streaming games through your Raspberry Pi!

Configure Raspbian on Raspberry Pi

If you haven't done so already, then you'll need to flash Raspbian to your Raspberry Pi using your favorite image editing software.

For the purposes of this tutorial, I'll be using Graveur, as it's open source and cross-platform:

  1. On your laptop or computer, download the latest version of Raspbian Buster with desktop.
  2. Insert the SD card.
  3. Launch the Etcher app.
  4. In Etcher, click "Select Image", then choose the Raspian file you just downloaded.
How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link
  1. Click "Select Target", then choose your target bootable media.

Etcher will now write the Raspbian system image to your SD card.

Start your Raspberry Pi

The next step is to install the Steam Link application on your Raspberry Pi 4:

1. Remove the SD card from your laptop or computer and insert it into your Raspberry Pi.

2. Attach your Raspberry Pi to the screen you want to stream your games to:for example, your smart TV or external monitor.

3. Connect your keyboard to the Raspberry Pi device.

4. Plug your Raspberry Pi into a power source. Raspberry Pi should now start automatically.

How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

If this is your first time starting the Raspberry Pi, you'll be greeted with a welcome dialog where you can set your country, time zone, connect to Wi-Fi, and configure peripherals such as the keyboard .

5. Once you have completed the configuration dialog, launch the Raspbian Terminal by clicking the Terminal icon in the toolbar.

6. Make sure your version of Raspbian is up to date by typing the following command in Terminal:

sudo apt update

Now that you're running the latest and greatest version of Rasbian, you're ready to install Steam Link.

To install the Steam Link software on your Raspberry Pi, run the following Terminal command:

sudo apt install steamlink

Raspbian will now fetch the necessary Steam Link packages. As soon as these packages are installed, you are ready to start streaming from your PC or laptop to your Raspberry Pi.

To launch Steam Link, run the following Terminal command:

steamlink

You will now be guided through the process of setting up the game controller you want to use, so attach the controller of your choice to your external display. This process will vary from controller to controller, but by following the on-screen instructions, you should be able to connect your preferred controller to Steam Link.

Time to start streaming!

Once your controller is connected, you're ready to start playing:

1. Return to the main Steam Link screen and select the "Get Started" button.

How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

2. When your Laptop or PC appears, click on it. If your device doesn't appear, make sure it's connected to the same network as your Raspberry Pi.

How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

3. A code now appears on your external monitor or TV, which you can use to authorize the connection. Switch to your PC or laptop, and the Steam app should prompt you for a code; enter the code provided, then click "OK".

How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

Raspberry Pi will now check the quality of your network, and after a few moments it should successfully connect to your PC or laptop.

As this is your first time streaming via Steam Link, it's a good idea to select "Settings -> Controller" and then check that you are happy with your controller setup. You should also select "Steaming" and make any necessary changes to your video, audio, and input streaming configuration, including your stream quality.

Once this setup is complete, simply select the game you want to play, then enjoy some big-screen game time!

How to Stream Steam Games with Raspberry Pi 4 and Steam Link

When you're ready to end the session:

  • Quit the game you're currently playing, which should take you back to the main Steam screen.
  • On the toolbar, select the small "Power" icon.
  • Click "Stop Remote Play".

You are now returned to the Raspian desktop, where you can perform all sorts of non-game related tasks or shut down your Raspberry Pi.

Do you use Steam Link and Raspberry Pi to play games on the big screen? Alternatively, if you prefer retro games, you can also install Recalbox in Raspberry Pi to play retro games.