Level Up Your Living Room: A Complete Guide to Streaming PC Games on Your TV Using Raspberry Pi and Steam Link

Level Up Your Living Room: A Complete Guide to Streaming PC Games on Your TV Using Raspberry Pi and Steam Link

Streaming games from your PC to a TV using a Raspberry Pi via Steam Link is a great way to enjoy gaming on a larger screen. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set it up:

What You Need:

  1. Raspberry Pi (3B or later is recommended for better performance)
  2. MicroSD Card (8GB or larger recommended)
  3. Power Supply for Raspberry Pi
  4. HDMI Cable to connect Raspberry Pi to TV
  5. Ethernet Cable or Wi-Fi connection (Ethernet is recommended for better streaming performance)
  6. USB Keyboard and Mouse for initial setup
  7. Steam Controller or another compatible controller (optional, but recommended for gaming)
  8. PC with Steam installed and connected to the same network

Step 1: Prepare Your Raspberry Pi

  1. Download Raspberry Pi OS: Go to the Raspberry Pi website and download the Raspberry Pi Imager.
  2. Write OS to MicroSD Card: Insert your MicroSD card into your computer and use the Raspberry Pi Imager to write the Raspberry Pi OS to the card.
  3. Insert MicroSD Card into your Raspberry Pi, connect the keyboard, mouse, and HDMI cable to your TV, and then power it up.

Step 2: Initial Setup of Raspberry Pi

  1. Follow the Setup Wizard: When you first boot up, you'll go through some initial setup steps like setting your country, language, and password.
  2. Connect to the Internet: Make sure your Raspberry Pi is connected to the same network as your PC either via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
  3. Update Your System: Open a terminal and run the following commands to make sure your system is up to date:
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt full-upgrade
   sudo reboot
  1. Open Terminal on Raspberry Pi.
  2. Install Steam Link by running:
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install steamlink
  1. Launch Steam Link: You can find it under the Games menu or run it from the terminal:
   steamlink

Step 4: Connect to Your PC

  1. Open Steam on Your PC: Make sure Steam is running and you are logged in.
  2. Start Steam Link on Raspberry Pi: When you start Steam Link, it will search for computers on the network running Steam.
  3. Pair Devices: Once your PC appears, select it. You might need to enter a PIN on your PC that Steam Link on your Raspberry Pi provides.
  4. Adjust Settings: You can adjust streaming settings in Steam Link to optimize performance based on your network and preferences.

Step 5: Start Streaming

  1. Connect Your Controller: Connect a Steam Controller or another compatible controller to your Raspberry Pi.
  2. Choose Your Game: Once Steam Link is connected and streaming, you can control your PC's Steam library directly from your Raspberry Pi. Just select a game and start playing!

Tips for Optimal Performance

  • Use Ethernet Connections: If possible, connect both your PC and Raspberry Pi via Ethernet to minimize latency and improve streaming quality.
  • Adjust Streaming Quality: In Steam Link settings, you can adjust the streaming quality to match your network capabilities.
  • Keep Systems Updated: Regularly update both your PC's Steam client and your Raspberry Pi's software to ensure compatibility and performance improvements.

By following these steps, you should be able to enjoy a seamless game streaming experience from your PC to your TV using a Raspberry Pi and Steam Link. Enjoy your gaming!