Hey everyone! I’ve got a gaming laptop, but I really enjoy using my Steam Deck for its portability. I often find myself doing work or watching YouTube on my laptop while taking breaks to game on the Deck. Recently, I started using remote play to stream more demanding games from my PC to the Steam Deck, but I noticed a problem. It seems like my PC display is just mirroring to the Deck. For instance, if I’m playing a game on remote play and then switch to YouTube on my laptop, my Steam Deck shows YouTube too, rather than just streaming my game. I’ve heard about other options like Moonlight and Sunshine that might help. So, is there a way to minimize the game on my PC and still keep remote play active on my Steam Deck while I work? Any tips would be amazing!
5 Answers
That’s pretty much how remote play operates, unfortunately. It mirrors your entire display, so if you switch to another app on your PC, it just shows that on your Steam Deck too. You might want to look into alternatives that can cast certain applications individually instead of mirroring your entire screen.
Nope, that’s basically how it functions. You’re using a more advanced version of something like TeamViewer, just without extra corporate features. It’s limited by design, so you’ll need different methods if you want to do both at once without mirrors.
You can create a virtual display on your PC! This lets you run the game without it occupying your main screen. Check this link for how to set up a virtual display driver, plus using Special K to keep your game running in the background even when you switch tasks.
Look into DuoStream! It lets you run your PC while streaming games. It’s supposed to keep your PC free for other things, which sounds like what you need.
Yes, you definitely can! Download Moonlight and install Apollo on your laptop. This combo will turn your Steam Deck into a virtual display, kind of like adding a second monitor. I’ve been doing this for a while, and it works great!
True, but some apps like Discord can be casted instead of mirrored. It’s not how all remote play setups work, so it’s worth checking into specific options!