Steam Remote Play and Steam Link are both great options for streaming content from your gaming PC to another device. However, there is another alternative duo that offers even better performance called Sunshine and Moonlight. These two tools are a powerful combination for streaming games and your desktop from one PC to another device with low latency and high image quality. Sunshine acts as the host application on your gaming PC, while Moonlight is the client used to connect from another computer, handheld, phone, or TV. So follow along as we take you through the setup process.

Installing Sunshine on Windows 11 for Game Streaming

• Go to the official Sunshine GitHub releases page from the Sunshine project repository. Be prepared to land on the worst Github page you've ever seen...
• Download the latest Windows installer. The downloads are at the very bottom of the page. All the Windows downloads are at the top of the list. Most people will need to use one of the AMD64 versions. I got the Sunshine-Windows-AMD64-installer.exe download.
• Launch the installer and follow the setup wizard.

During installation, you can do a few things. Though you should keep the list of recommended options enabled.

• Choose the installation directory
• Select a Start Menu folder
• Enable optional components

Recommended options to keep enabled:

DXGI and Audio Info Tools: These diagnostic tools help Sunshine detect your display and audio hardware correctly.
Virtual Gamepad Support: This is strongly recommended. It allows connected clients to use controllers properly during streaming sessions.
Firewall Rules: Enable automatic firewall exceptions unless you plan to configure Windows Firewall manually.
Launch on Startup: Useful if you want Sunshine to be always available after booting your PC.

Setting up Sunshine Via the Web Interface

After installation finishes, Sunshine starts automatically and places an icon in the Windows system tray.

To open the interface:

• Right-click the Sunshine tray icon
• Select Open Sunshine, and your browser will open the local web interface.

Note: You may see a message saying the connection is not private. This is normal because Sunshine uses a local self-hosted web server.

• Proceed to the localhost address since the service is running on your own machine.
• On first launch, Sunshine asks you to create login credentials.
• After saving, sign in using the new credentials.
• Once logged in, you will see the main Sunshine dashboard.

Configuring Sunshine

There are quite a few different sections in this part, so work your way through them slowly.

Audio and Video Settings

• Open the Configuration section and navigate to Audio/Video.
• Most users can leave the default settings unchanged, but there are a few important options worth understanding.

Audio Output

• You can decide where streamed audio is routed. Options include:
• Physical speakers connected to the PC
• Virtual audio devices used only for streaming

Note: Using a virtual audio device prevents game sound from playing through the host PC speakers while still sending audio to the streaming client.

Performance Presets

Sunshine includes built-in presets for streaming quality and encoding performance. The defaults generally work well for most systems. Advanced users can later tune bitrate, encoder selection, and latency settings. Personally, I would start with the defaults, then tweak them if you think you can squeeze more quality out of the tool.

Available Streaming Modes in Sunshine

There are a couple of different streaming modes you can choose from, so pick the one that best fits your requirements. You can use either whenever, but you might find Steam Big Picture Mode the best for gaming.

Desktop Streaming

Sunshine includes a desktop mode that works like remote desktop software. This allows full access to your Windows desktop through Moonlight.

Useful for:

• Launching non-Steam games
• Managing files remotely
• General remote PC access

Steam Big Picture Mode

Sunshine also includes a Steam Big Picture shortcut. This provides a console-style interface designed for controller navigation and couch gaming. Combined with virtual gamepad support, this creates a smooth experience similar to a dedicated game streaming device.

Installing Moonlight on Windows 11 for Game Streaming

Install Moonlight on the device you want to stream to. Moonlight is available for a lot of different devices:

• Windows
• Linux
• macOS
• Android
• iPhone and iPad
• Apple TV
• Steam Deck

Download it from the Moonlight official website or one of the app stores if you plan on playing on mobile or TV.

How to Pair Moonlight with Sunshine

• Open Moonlight on your client device. If both devices are on the same network, your Sunshine host PC should appear automatically.
• Select the PC and enter the pairing PIN shown in Moonlight into the Sunshine web interface when prompted.
• Once paired, available applications such as Desktop and Steam Big Picture will appear in Moonlight.

How to Start Streaming with Sunshine and Moonlight

Pick either:

• Desktop.
• Steam Big Picture.

Moonlight will connect to your host PC and begin streaming. If everything is configured correctly, you should have:

• Video streaming.
• Audio streaming.
• Controller support.
• Low-latency input.

IMPORTANT STUFF!

As with streaming anything, your connections are going to play the biggest role in the quality of the experience.

• Use Ethernet whenever possible.
• Use 5 GHz or WiFi 6 if wireless is required.
• Keep the host and client on the same local network.

If streaming does not work correctly:

• Check that Sunshine is running.
• Check firewall permissions. (You might need to make exceptions).
• Restart both Sunshine and Moonlight.
• Check that virtual gamepad support was installed.
• Update GPU drivers.