Streaming Steam Deck to TV Without a Dock: What You Need to Know

The Steam Deck is great for gaming on the go, but when you get home, you might want to play on a bigger screen. Normally, you'd use a dock, but that means dealing with wires. There's a way to cut the cord and stream your games wirelessly.

Finding Your Steam Deck's IP Address

First, you need to find your Steam Deck's local IP address. To do this, boot into desktop mode and click on the Wi-Fi icon. Look for the "IPv4 Address" in the details menu and make a note of it.

Setting Up Sunshine

Next, head to the Discover app on your Steam Deck. Use the search bar to find "Sunshine" and install it. Once installed, run Sunshine from your "Multimedia" applications. Your browser will open a setup page where you can create a username and password.

Connecting with Moonlight

On your TV, open the app store and download the "Moonlight" client app. This app is available on TVs running Google TV/Android TV and on the Apple TV box. Open Moonlight and tap the plus symbol to manually connect. Enter the IP address of your Steam Deck from the first step.

Optimizing Performance

If your stream is choppy, you can tweak the Sunshine settings on your Steam Deck. It's also a good idea to check for common mistakes that can affect performance.

Benefits of Sunshine/Moonlight

Enthusiasts love the Sunshine/Moonlight setup because it offers low latency and even supports 4K 120 FPS streaming with HDR. Plus, you can stream your entire desktop, not just games. However, the setup process is more involved, so it's best suited for tech-savvy users.

Using Steam Link

If you prefer something simpler, you can use Steam Link. It's easier to set up, but it's known for being laggy. To use Steam Link, launch the app on your TV, connect it to your Wi-Fi, and sign in to your Steam account. Make sure your Steam Deck is on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The app will show you a PIN, which you need to enter on your Steam Deck to pair the devices.

Eliminating Latency

While wireless streaming is convenient, it does come with some latency. If you want to eliminate latency completely, you'll need to use an adapter to connect your Steam Deck to your TV. Since the Steam Deck doesn't have a built-in HDMI port, you'll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Keep in mind that using an adapter won't let you charge your Steam Deck while you play, so you might want to use a powered USB-C dock.