Issues with new steam deck

[76561199799724645]

So, I purchased a new steam deck. All I really wanted to do was play PC games on my PC using the steam deck. After hours of figuring out how to do this, I’ve hit brick walls every time.
Installed Steam Link…. Added non steam game to my Steam app on PC. Game launches but steam deck controls don’t work. I enabled Steam input on all my added games…. Steam deck controls never work.
Installed Moonlight, paired it with my PC running Sunshine. Opened up my remote pc and clicked on Steam…….you guesses it… Error,Host returned error. Failed to start specified application. Tried connecting to Desktop using Moonlight…..watched three YouTube videos. Never could get it to work
Ok.. two more hours of searching google, disabling firewalls and uninstalling anti virus, still no luck
I’m really close to sending this Steam Deck back. It should not be this hard, right?

[Mahjik]

You don't need Steam Link to do Remote Play on the Steam Deck. The Steam Client has it built in. i.e. you only need to install Steam Link on a device where you don't have the Desktop Steam client installed on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0OtXGQR8jE

[Haruspex]

Okay, so you're primary intent is for streaming from your desktop? Okay, but from what you've said, I think you're overcomplicating it, and that's why you're running into issues.

• PC should be on, logged in to Steam, connected to network.
  
  
• Steam Deck should be on, logged in to the same Steam account, connected to network. (No Steam link app via non-steam game needed. This is native Steam functionality.)
  
  
• Navigate to the game you want to play on your Deck. You'll see a blue "install" button. Don't pick it, instead pick the little down arrow next to it, and select "Stream From:Computer_Name".

That's it. You're streaming. Should be simple as.

[76561199799724645]

Originally posted by Haruspex:

Okay, so you're primary intent is for streaming from your desktop? Okay, but from what you've said, I think you're overcomplicating it, and that's why you're running into issues.

• PC should be on, logged in to Steam, connected to network.
  
  
• Steam Deck should be on, logged in to the same Steam account, connected to network. (No Steam link app via non-steam game needed. This is native Steam functionality.)
  
  
• Navigate to the game you want to play on your Deck. You'll see a blue "install" button. Don't pick it, instead pick the little down arrow next to it, and select "Stream From:Computer_Name".

That's it. You're streaming. Should be simple as.

I agree. It should be easy. I don’t see a blue install button and I don’t see the down arrow. Is there a way to submit a pic of what I see? I’m logged into Steam on my pc and I’m logged into Steam on my deck, I only see a green button that says “Stream”
I click it and it says “Stream Launch Failed”

[76561199799724645]

The other frustration is, when I actually am able launch the game from the deck, it asks me to log into my pc. The keyboard on the deck doesn’t open up so I can enter my PC password.

[Mahjik]

Did you "Pair" the Deck to your PC?

[76561199799724645]

Yes. Entered the 4 digit code on my pc and it paired

[Haruspex]

You can take a picture or screenshot and upload it to imgur.

Doing a quick search, if your Deck or desktop is currently on a Steam beta, try disabling that and going back to stable.
On your desktop that's under Steam > Settings > Interface > Client Beta Participation.
On your Deck that's Steam Button > Settings > System > Beta Participation
The thread I found with people experiencing a similar problem is from last year, but maybe it's still a problem.

Alternatively, if you're on stable, try enabling the beta on both your desktop and Deck. I'm reading reports that there was an update that requires you to input a code on both machines before streaming works. I think ensuring both clients are up to date and matching might help. So beta/beta, or stable/stable.

Also try rebooting your router.

A quick check on mine confirms that a request for a code comes up on my desktop when I try to stream on my Deck. After inputting the code, it works perfectly, and after I enter the code once it doesn't ask for the code again with successive attempts. The arrow next to install is to toggle between the "stream" and "install" options. I'm on beta on both my desktop and my Deck, if it helps.

[Mahjik]

Just to confirm, you paired the device using the Settings in the "Steam Deck", not "Steam Link"?

[76561199799724645]

Yes. I’m not using Steam link.
I think my main road block is that I can’t log into my pc from the deck. Here’s what I see. The keyboard won’t open for me to enter my remote computer’s password
{LINK REMOVED}https://imgur.com/a/93SBKA0

[Haruspex]

So just to confirm, will streaming work correctly if you are already logged in on your desktop?

What are you using to remote in?

[76561199799724645]

No. I’m logged into my computer. When I launch the game from my steam deck, it brings up the login page to my remote pc. I’m seeing the log in page on my Steam deck

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by btlz2000:

No. I’m logged into my computer. When I launch the game from my steam deck, it brings up the login page to my remote pc. I’m seeing the log in page on my Steam deck

By "logged in", I meant logged in and unlocked.

I'm also noticing that appears to be a non-Steam game you're trying to Stream. Can you manually log in to your desktop PC, then try and Stream a Steam game from your Deck and see if that works, just to rule out other issues?

Also run the pending update on your Deck to rule that out as a possible problem.

From there if the remote desktop login proves to be the final sticking point, you might consider a workaround. One would be setting your PC not to lock or log off, but there might be security issues with that depending on your environment. Another would be to remote in a different way first to get your computer unlocked, maybe with your phone, before you start streaming from your Deck.

Another test from my end. I can use the Steam Link app on my phone to unlock my PC with my pin. Then I can Stream from my Steam Deck just fine. It's an extra step, but not too bad.

Ooh! Another discovery just now. You can press the "..." button, when you are remotely on the lock screen, and at the very bottom is an option to bring up the keyboard, even when the Steam + X shortcut doesn't work.

[76561199799724645]

I took off beta mode on both Steam clients. When I hit the “apply”button to update the beta version, nothing happened
I the tried to stream a Steam specific game, Call Of Duty Warzone, and I got the login prompt to my remote pc again.
I hope you understand my frustration. This shouldn’t be this hard. I have already reset the Steam deck to factory defaults and restarted the whole process, but no luck. Fortunately I just got this yesterday, so I should be able to get a refund. Sucks though, as it was a great concept to play remote games from my pc.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by btlz2000:

I the tried to stream a Steam specific game, Call Of Duty Warzone, and I got the login prompt to my remote pc again.

The test I requested is for your remote PC to be logged in, unlocked, and on the desktop before you begin attempting to stream. I was trying to rule out other streaming issues so we could move on and solve your Windows lock screen issue. No matter.

I edited my last post with some things that might solve your problem.

Originally posted by Haruspex:

Another test from my end. I can use the Steam Link app on my phone to unlock my PC with my pin. Then I can Stream from my Steam Deck just fine. It's an extra step, but not too bad.

Ooh! Another discovery just now. You can press the "..." button, when you are remotely on the lock screen, and at the very bottom is an option to bring up the keyboard, even when the Steam + X shortcut doesn't work.

[Mahjik]

It does work. I do it every day so there is something unique about your setup. I understand your frustration but if you calm down a bit, we can try to help. Just FYI, you have 14 days from when you received the Deck to request a refund. Give it a day or two of some troubleshooting:

https://store.steampowered.com/hardware_order_terms