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!

[roughnecks]

Originally posted by ZED_10:

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.

Do you mind sharing what key did you tweak?

[roughnecks]

First google result gives this: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-windows-10-lock-screen

Guess it's the one you used.

[alexankyr]

Originally posted by roughnecks:

First google result gives this: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-windows-10-lock-screen

Guess it's the one you used.

I performed the mod as indicated but the issue persists in my case. It is either another key or something more that needs to be further modified.

[roughnecks]

What happens when you lock PC? Do you see userlist or background with time and date?

[alexankyr]

Originally posted by roughnecks:

What happens when you lock PC? Do you see userlist or background with time and date?

I only see my user account name and below the password field empty waiting to enter a password.

As I have mentioned before, even this screen cannot be streamed on my TV via Steam Link.

[roughnecks]

Ah, you've never seen confirmation screen, that's why; I think yours is a different issue though. I'm gonna try and disable lock screen as soon as I can and report back.

[alexankyr]

Originally posted by roughnecks:

Ah, you've never seen confirmation screen, that's why; I think yours is a different issue though. I'm gonna try and disable lock screen as soon as I can and report back.

What do you mean by "confirmation screen" ?

[roughnecks]

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/3288067088129372150/?tscn=1529185009#c1696049513777426640

This ^
If you haven't allowed that (for whatever reason), it's not going to work.

[roughnecks]

I just tried the registry tweak and it's working fine.

@alexankyr: Try moving gamepad's sticks when you're in the black screen, that's how I did it and Windows dialog came up.

[alexankyr]

Originally posted by roughnecks:

I just tried the registry tweak and it's working fine.

@alexankyr: Try moving gamepad's sticks when you're in the black screen, that's how I did it and Windows dialog came up.

Thanks! I got it finally working... in non-Administrator-running mode..

I used to run Steam Client as Administrator all the time, because otherwise I cannot click at some other applications while streaming via Steam Link (e.g. NordVPN).

I re-stared Steam in normal mode and then when I tried to connect to my locked PC, i came up with the desired Windows dialog. I clicked "OK" and I was finally able to see my lock screen streamed on my TV.

However, if I still run Steam as Administrator, I am still not able to stream my Windows lock screen.

Any idea on how to overcome the issue with administrator privileges, would be much appreciated.

[roughnecks]

Not sure but what do you mean you "cannot click at some other applications while streaming via Steam Link (e.g. NordVPN)"?

I think it'd be better to run Steam without Admin priviledges and try to fix whatever issue you have.

[alexankyr]

Originally posted by roughnecks:

Not sure but what do you mean you "cannot click at some other applications while streaming via Steam Link (e.g. NordVPN)"?

I think it'd be better to run Steam without Admin priviledges and try to fix whatever issue you have.

I mean that if I do not run Steam as Administrator, I am not in a position to interact with programs running with admin privileges via Steam Link while streaming on my TV. But that is probably normal in MS Windows. Please see below:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions/0/490123197948586412/?ctp=2

For some reason in my case, Nord VPN was a program running with administrator privileges, and unless Steam itself was running with admin privileges, I could not interact with Nord VPN on my TV via Steam Link.

I resolved the latter issue by unistalling Nord VPN and installing it again without Admin rights. I also ensured that all of Nord VPN's processes run as normal too (not as Administrator) .

Finally, both the lock screen streaming issue and the Nord VPN admin privileges issue have been resolved by running Steam (and NordVPN) as normal.

The takeaway though from this experiment is that unless you run Steam as normal (not as Admin), the Windows lock screen cannot be streamed at the TV via Steam Link.

Although running Steam as Admin turns to be an attractive solution because it allows interaction to any windows application when streaming, it causes issues such as this I experienced above.

[Spongman]

yeah, this is pretty lame. windows remote desktop is able to view my desktop without unlocking the session on the main monitor. this stuff is built in:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/winstation/window-station-and-desktop-functions

[BearJew]

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.
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

Anyone have that Powershell script for fully closing from RDP session.
I used to use it when Streaming Steam games to my laptop.
Now I need it for using Virtual Desktop w/VR remotely after an RDP session.
I can't find it.

[Uncovery]

You need to unlock your PC. This is possible when using a remote client that does NOT automatically after the session. I personally recomend VNC server for this. Teamviewer should work the same.

You can RDP into your PC, install VNC, connect from your client to the host and then play.
I know this is not ideal since you have an additional client on your machine, but it's still better than leaving the PC without a password.