How to Play Steam Games on an Android TV

Cloud gaming streaming has certainly picked up in the last few years. Google Stadia has recently launched the Stadia for Android TV app and given gamers even more platform options. However, a current drawback of Stadia is currently its availability. Stadia is only available in these countries and as you can see the list is pretty low. But don’t worry we have a solution for gamers who want to use their Android TV for high-end gaming without spending a penny. Here’s how to play Steam games on Android TV.

Steam Games on Android TV

Steam Link is an app by Valve that lets users play their favorite Steam games on other platforms for free. We tried out Steam Link to play Steam games on an Android TV and were thoroughly impressed with the results. We have created a comprehensive guide that helps you set up Steam Link on your Android TV in no time.

The process to set up Steam Link on your Android TV is very straightforward and free. Moreover, if you’re stuck on how to connect a controller to your TV, don’t worry because that’s also included. Use the table below to jump to your desired section.

Enable Steam Remote Play on PC

Before you can play Steam games on your Android TV, you need to enable Steam Remote Play on the PC whose Steam library you’ll be using. Remote play is an especially useful feature that allows you to play local Steam multiplayer games with your friends or use Steam Link wirelessly. Follow the steps below to do so:

  1. On your computer, open the Steam desktop client.
  2. On the top left of the client, find and click Steam. A drop-down menu will open up. Click Settings.
Desktop Client Settings

3. A new window will open. Find and click Remote Play from the sidebar. You will see an empty checkbox with the words Enable Remote Play. Simply click it, press OK and you’re done.

Remote Play Checkbox

Connect a Controller to Android TV

Playing games on your TV through Steam Link will require a game controller if you want the best experience. Connecting a gamepad to your TV is a quick process and just requires a simple Bluetooth setup so make sure your controller supports it. For the complete steps on how to go about it, check out “tip 17” in our guide here. Remember, even if you’re using an Xbox Controller, the process remains the same. You can also connect a PS5 DualSense controller to Android TV if you want.

Now we begin the process of installing Steam Link on our Android TV. Follow the steps below to begin installing Steam Link:

  1. On your TV, navigate to Play Store.
  2. Search for Steam Link through the search bar.
Android TV play store search

3. On the Steam Links page, choose Install. 

Steam Link

Now that Steam Link is installed on your Android TV, we have to set it up, read on to find out how to do just that.

Let’s now set up Steam Link and connect it to the host PC. Follow the steps below to do so:

  1. Open the Steam Link app on your Android TV.
  2. You’ll be greeted by this screen. Choose Get Started 
Get Started Steam Link

3. The next screen will prompt you to connect a controller. You can connect a Steam controller, or a different Bluetooth controller if you want to. If you’ve already connected one by following our guide, just press Skip for now.

Controller Setup Skip

4. Steam Link will now look for computers running the desktop client. If your PC is connected to the same Wi-Fi network (local network), you shall see it here. In our case, the PC was on another network. If that’s the case for you too, press Other Computer.

Other Computer Steam

5. Whether you’re on the same or a different network, you will now get a PIN that you must enter on your Steam Desktop Client.

Steam Pin

6. Go back to your PC and the Remote Play window by going to Steam Settings.

7. Press ‘Pair Steam Link‘ and you’ll see a small dialog box. Enter your code here.

Remote Link Settings

8. Steam Link is now connected to your computer. You can confirm this by looking for your TV’s name under Devices.

My Devices

Steam Link will now perform some tests like scanning your internet speed for optimal gameplay and will then show you the library.

Now that Steam Link is set up and ready to go, simply follow the steps below to play games from your library.

  1. You’ll be greeted by your library that looks like this. Using your controller, choose and click any game you want to play. In our case, we chose Vanquish.
 Library Steam Link Android TV

2. You will then see another in-game menu that contains all the content for it.

3. Choose Your Game and then choose Play.

Link Menu

4. Give it a few seconds and in no time you’ll be able to start playing your game. Our experience with playing Vanquish was identical to being on a computer. There was some input lag (delay) from the controller from time to time but was fixed automatically.

Steam Link Android TV Gameplay

5. Steam Link also offers in-game features to optimize your experience. Hold the Select button on your Xbox Controller or Share Button on your Dualshock 4 to access it. From this menu, you can adjust settings such as the in-game volume, mic volume (select games), make your controller a cursor, and even access a virtual keyboard for typing.

Steam Link Android TV Options

Congratulations, Steam Link is now set up and enabled on your Android TV. Go ahead and browse through your gallery and play any games from your PC that you want to. Just make sure it’s installed on your PC!

Besides letting you play your favorite Steam games on your Android TV, Steam Link has a few other features that make it an all-in-one solution for the web.

Steam Chat

Steam Link Android TV Chat

If you’re used to communicating with your friends while you’re gaming, Steam Link for Android has an embedded chat that is identical to the desktop client. You can use it to text and type with your friends, set your online status, or even start a group chat.

Built-in Browser

Steam Link Android TV Browser

For the ones who are too lazy to close the app and open a browser, Steam Link has you covered. The in-app browser is a pretty neat one. Using only your controller you can go to any website you wish. So browse away.

Play Steam Games on your Android TV with Ease

We hope this guide helped you in setting up Steam Link on your smart TV. Steam has long been known for its customer-friendly policies. Whether it’s refunding a game easily or giving Chrome OS Steam Support, the company has been exceptional. We hope your experience with Steam Link is amazing. Run into any problems? Let us know in the comments below.

comment Comments 3
  • Aakash says:

    Cloud Gaming isn’t available in many countries yet, e.g. we don’t have any cloud gaming service in India. Steam link fits very well for my usecase. I’ve a gaming PC in the city where I work and I frquently travel to my hometown where I have Android TV, now with steam link I can play all my games at my home without need of carrying the PC around.

  • Harn says:

    The goal of cloud gaming with stadia and others. Is to play without a pc or console. Team link needs a very expensive PC tower, I don’t see the point of the article. If I play on stadia it’s because I don’t have a pc lolll

    • Toothless says:

      Steam Link is meant to be a tool to help people play games from their PC on another display without the need to lug said PC around the house. Stadia/Luna/XCloud/GeForce Now all fit a different need than Steam Link does. The point of the article is to help people set up Steam Link on their Android TV devices (say, their main living room TV or their bedroom TV) so that they can have access to their Steam Library while not requiring them to be at their PC. lolll

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