Connecting to locked computer works!

[slouken]

The latest Steam client beta added support for connecting to a locked computer. You'll need to make sure Steam is running logged in and you have a keyboard connected to the Steam Link to be able to enter your password.

The first time you try this you'll get a prompt on the computer making sure you're really trying to stream the lock screen to the Steam Link, but after that it should be smooth sailing.

Cheers!

[Xjph]

This is huge.

[Yrouel]

It seems to still not work for when the computer is left after an RDP session (IE simply closing the RDP client). In this case is still locked and not accessible from the Steam Link.
I have a completely headless system that I access 99% of the time with RDP and when I forget to properly terminate the session with a PowerShell script and try to play a game with the Link I have to log back in with rdp and launch that script to unlock it which is really annoying.

When I saw the changelog of the latest beta I though FINALLY F* YEAH! but it seems that it covers only the scenario where the computer has been locked with the Lock function and not the other possible scenarios (where also Steam would be running in the background obviously).

Any chance this feature could be further expanded to cover the other scenarios, RDP especially?

P.S.: I'm using a fully updated Windows 10 Pro system with both latest Steam Client and Link firmware betas

[Xjph]

Originally posted by Yrouel:

It seems to still not work for when the computer is left after an RDP session (IE simply closing the RDP client). In this case is still locked and not accessible from the Steam Link.

Oh, that's disappointing. My machine isn't headless, but I do use RDP quite frequently. If unlocking after RDP doesn't work then that's fully half the time (at least) that I still won't be able to unlock directly from the Link.

[slouken]

The latest Steam beta client allows you to unlock the computer and close out an existing RDP session.

[Xjph]

Brilliant.

[savyzzyz]

Since this thread was started by Valve staff, I hope they're still following it...

I noticed this feature only after it went live and was mentioned in the latest official Steam Client. As someone who will NEVER leave a PC without a password/lockscreen, it meant I could finally consider Steam Link.

Since the Steam Link App was also just released, I thought I'd give it a try on my Android devices. Well, it ALMOST works perfectly.

When I connect to any of my Win 10 PCs, I just get a black screen with a mouse cursor and no input/mouse works. If on the host PC I click the mouse or a key to dismiss the initial "wallpaper/clock" to reveal the actual login box, suddenly it appears on my streaming device and I can provide remote input and login.

But until I dismiss the initial lock screen overlay, any input from the streaming device is ignored.

My workaround is to hack the Win 10 registry to disable the lock screen overlay (NOT the whole login process, just the swipe-away initial wallpaper). But this is not ideal, especially for hosts like tablets, where the swipe to reveal the login prevents accidental inputs during handling.

Is this a known issue? This is SO CLOSE to working now, I'm quite excited!

[alexankyr]

Hi slouken,

I was re-directed by steam support to the "developer" of this topic.

Following the recent update for Steam client (17 May) which promised unlocking a host computer via SteamLink (as long as Steam client is running and a keyboard is attached to SteamLink), I still cannot benefit from this feature.

My computer OS platform is Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (1803 build) and my Steam client's build is the latest one (8 Jun 2018 - steam package version 1528497815). I have also connected a Logitech K400r wireless keyboard on Steamlink and it is working fine.

While my Windows login/lock screen appears in my PC asking for a password in order to grant access, my Steamlink is running and showing my computer "Ready" for connection. The Steam Client is also enabled/running in the PC background.

If I now go to the SteamLink in my TV and hit the blue PC "Ready" icon, my TV gets a black screen for a couple of seconds as if SteamLink tries to connect to my PC. A couple of seconds later on, Steam Link goes back to the "connection" menu waiting for the user to select again a connection choice.
Unless I go in my room where my PC is located and manually unlock the computer via entering a password, I cannot connect to SteamLink. SteamLink connects and works fine as long as I have my computer fully unlocked and running my Windows desktop.

It is also worth mentioning that when trying to connect to the locked pc, Steam is likely starting an in-home streaming session and almost immediately stops it. This is because while hitting the connect button on steam link, the windows mouse arrow on my pc in the locked screen gets the arrow circle "turning/working".I quickly managed to unlock the PC while this happened and saw on the right bottom of the corner "In-home streaming started" and on top of that at the same time "In-home streaming stopped".

I also do not ever recall getting a specific prompt on the computer trying to stream the lock screen to the Steam Link.

Is there any specific setting either in Windows or in Steam client that prevents this functionality? Or is Steam still further developing the functionality of this feature?

Thanks

[Xjph]

The first time you try to connect to a locked computer you need to approve the request on the PC side. A window should pop up asking if you want to allow Steam ro access secure desktop sessions. Have you done this?

[alexankyr]

I have never done/seen this. Is there any way to force this prompt again?

[Wagz]

My computer is doing something similar and stopped working as of the may 17th/18th update. Though I'm running windows 2008r2 server as my desktop. I get connected with a black screen for a couple of seconds and then it disconnects and it returns to the connection menu. Though I'm having this problem whether the computer is locked or not. everything was working fine prior to may 17th. how do you force that prompt?

[alexankyr]

Quick update: After I uninstalled and subsequently re-installed Steam Client on my pc, I managed to get a prompt asking for a 4-digit pin in order to allow Steam Link stream my desktop's screen.

Nevertheless, the issue persists exactly as before: No way to stream Windows 10 lock screen on my TV via Steam Link.

After communication I had with Steam support, it appears that only the developer of this functionality (slouken ?) has deeper expertise on the issue in question and could potentially further provide a solution.

@slouken: Appreciated if you could spend some time in looking at the logs submitted to Steam Link support and finally resolve the issue that affects several users.

Thanks

[roughnecks]

I wanted to try this and it's half-working here.

Got the prompt in my login screen and accepted; now, when I lock my PC (WIN + L), it goes to the lock screen but it doesn't show the input field where you can type your password/pin; and here's my problem: I only see a black screen in my TV with BP running in background (I can hear it when using a controller's left stick).
If I click on my lock screen (PC) and make it so the user list comes up together with pwd input field, my Link starts streaming it immediately and all the rest is fine.

To recap:
1) Lock screen with just background and apps info (like weather) gives me black screen on Link.
2) Lock screen with users list is fine and gets streamed by the Link.

So, in my case this feature is quite useless in current state because lock screen will go "idle" after like 10 seconds inactivity (whenever you leave your PC unattended) and there's no way to recover it from Link.

[alexankyr]

Another similar/overlapping issue here too:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/3559414588255314273/

It appears that more and more users experience this issue

[savyzzyz]

Yes @roughnecks, this is exactly the problematic behaviour that I was originally reporting. That initial lock screen BEFORE the windows login screen with user selection and password box is the problem.

For whatever reason, even after giving the elevated permission to Steam Link, it cannot stream that "wallpaper" lock screen.

The only workaround I have is to disable that wallpaper screen with the registry hack I mentioned above. This does work perfectly and really has few downsides, unless you really value that "pretty" wallpaper screen...

In fact, if devs at Valve are listening...I would say an interim "fix" for this would be to apply that registry change during the granting of elevated permissions, and let the user know that the wallpaper has been disabled to make things work....

[roughnecks]

Oh, sorry. I didn't re-read all thread and didn't remember your post...
Well, I'm glad I'm not alone with this issue but I'd rather not disable wallpaper screen (my preference). I know I won't be using this feature very much, so I'll wait for a proper fix, if any.