The Raspberry Pi is a versatile little single-board computer (SBC). Capable of serving as the backbone of many different do-it-yourself (DIY) projects ranging from a smart home hub or whole-home ad-blocker to a retro gaming console or basic desktop, the Raspberry Pi is a fantastic maker board. In particular. the Raspberry Pi is well suited for entertainment purposes such as watching videos, listening to music, and gaming. While retro gaming projects on the Raspberry Pi abound, the Pi is great for streaming PC games over your network using Steam Link for couch gaming. Learn how to install Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi for in-home game streaming!
What is the Steam Link App?
Steam Link is an app that lets you stream your Steam games from a PC running Steam to various devices. The Steam Link app is completely free to use and runs on a variety of platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Apple TV, Android and Android TV, Samsung Smart TVs, and the Raspberry Pi. Originally, Valve launched the Steam Link set-top box in November, 2015 for Steam in-home game-streaming. However, the Steam Link console was discontinued in 2018 in favor of Steam Link on third-party hardware.
Which Raspberry Pi Works Best for Steam In-home Streaming?
You can run the Steam Link app on the Raspberry Pi 3, 3 B+, and Raspberry Pi 4. I’d recommend using a Raspberry Pi 4 for the best experience. When compared with the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, the Raspberry Pi 4’s system-on-a-chip (SoC) features a faster 1.5GHz clock speed, up from the 1.4GHz CPU clock speed of the Pi 3 B+. Additionally, the Raspberry Pi 4 sports more, faster RAM with up to 8GB of DDR4 versus the Pi 3 B+’s 1GB of LPDDR2 RAM. Further, the Raspberry Pi 4 boasts better networking capabilities with Bluetooth 5.0 BLE alongside its 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
Which Raspberry Pi board should you use for Steam Link: Raspberry Pi 4
How to Install Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi
To run Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi, you’ll need only a few items. First and foremost, a Raspberry Pi board. I recommend a Raspberry Pi 4, but the Pi 3 and 3 B+ will do just fine. You’ll need a microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS installed. A compatible power supply unit (PSU) must be used to power the Pi. And you’ll need an HDMI cable or micro HDMI cable depending on whether you’re using the Pi 3/3 B+ or Pi 4. A case is optional, though I highly suggest using a case to protect your Raspberry Pi board. For some fun retro gaming flair, the RetroFlag NESPi comes in a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) style.
Additionally, you’ll need an HDMI-enabled PC monitor, TV, or projector. Peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse, and gamepad are necessary. Many game controllers work including the Steam controller, Xbox Series X or Xbox 360 gamepads, PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5) controllers, as well as many third-party options like the 8Bitdo SF30 Pro. And you’ll need a host PC running Steam. Plus, you’ll need to have the Steam Link app itself installed.
What you’ll need to run Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi:
- Raspberry Pi board (Raspberry Pi 4 recommend, but Raspberry Pi 3 and 3 B+ work as well)
- microSD card
- Case
- Power supply
- HDMI cable
- HDMI-enabled PC display (PC monitor, TV, projector)
- Active Internet connection
- Raspberry Pi OS
- Game controller (Xbox One/Xbox 360, PS4/PS5, Steam controller, third-party controllers, etc.)
- Host PC running Steam
- Steam Link app
Run an Update
Before any software installation, it’s best to perform an update. In a new command prompt, enter:
sudo apt-get update
This downloads package information for all installed software and their dependencies. After that, run:
sudo apt-get upgrade
An upgrade will download and install the newest versions of all packages installed on the system. Alternatively, you can string the update and upgrade commands together using:
sudo apt-get update && upgrade
Install the Steam Link App
With your Raspberry Pi board up to date, you’re now ready to install Steam Link. In a terminal window, run:
sudo apt-get install steamlink
Then, wait for the Steam Link app for the Raspberry Pi to download. Once installation finishes, you can launch Steam Link by navigating to Menu > Games > Steam Link. Alternatively, you can launch the Steam Link app using the terminal using:
steamlink
When you first fire up Steam Link, there’s a bit of initial setup such as unpacking the application. Steam may install additional packages. If you’re prompted to install new packages, press Y to allow installation to continue.
Wait for any additional packages to finish installing. Make sure you’ve got your keyboard, mouse, and game controller hooked up, as well as your host PC running Steam. After the Steam Link app finishes its updates, you’ll be greeted by a welcome to Steam Link screen. Click “Get Started.”
Now, under the “pair controller” screen, choose Pair a Steam Controller or Pair other controllers. You can also skip this step if you’d rather only use a keyboard and mouse.
Then, you’ll arrive at the Connect to Computer menu. If your gaming rig is on and running Steam, you should see it pop up. Choose your host PC, or select another computer. Should you not see your computer listed, you may need to restart Steam, then in Steam Link on your Raspberry Pi select Rescan. Once you see your gaming PC in the list of results, click on it.
Steam Link will give you a PIN that you’ll need to enter on your host machine.
Switch over to your computer running Steam and enter that PIN in the Authorize Device window.
Back on your Raspberry Pi, the Steam Link app will perform a network test. Press Ok to dismiss the results of the completed network test.
After that, you’re ready to begin using Steam Link on your Raspberry Pi. Choose Start Playing to launch Steam in-home streaming. Or, navigate over to the settings cogwheel if you want to make any tweaks.
Once you’ve successfully launched Steam, you should enter into Steam Big Picture mode on your Raspberry Pi. From here, you can navigate your library of installed games and select one to begin playing.
Play Non-Steam Games Using Steam Link
In addition to streaming Steam games with the Steam Link app, you may want to play non-Steam games over your network. And you can easily accomplish this using Steam Link by adding a non-Steam game.
Head to Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library in the Steam client on your gaming desktop or laptop. This brings up a list of programs currently installed on your PC. Tick the box next to whichever games you want to install and hit Add Selected Programs.
Then, you should see that title added to the list of games in your Steam library and you’ll be able to stream that game using Steam Link.
How to Stream PC Games to Your TV With Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi – Final Thoughts
While PC gaming at a desk is fun, game-streaming lets you enjoy your video games in the living room on a TV or projector. Steam Link is one of the easiest ways to start streaming your Steam library or even non-Steam games over your home network. With excellent Raspberry Pi compatibility, you can transform your single-board computer into a Steam game streaming client with ease. For more ways to make your gaming library portable, check out the best Steam Deck docks.
Your turn: What devices are you running Steam on and what games are you currently playing?
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