Steam Link immediately disconnects

[John Nada, sans bubblegum]

I have searched and found numerous disconnection threads, but every one of them either doesn't exactly match my symptoms or has a resolution which does not apply in my case.

When I connect to my computer, Steam switches to Big Picture mode, and then immediately (1-2 seconds later) disconnects. The TV screen is black the entire time, then a few seconds later the "connecting to network" screen appears, then I am brought back to the Start Playing menu, which shows my computer as "Ready" once again.

*I do not use Windows firewall or any other firewall, so this is not the problem.

*The issue persists whether using ethernet, wifi, or directly connecting my PC to the Steam Link via ethernet.

*Changing from my USB wireless controller to a USB wired mouse does not resolve the issue.

The only thing I noticed which seemed odd was that, on first connect, it asked me to install an audio driver, and when I agreed noting appeared to happen. Not sure if that install happens in the background with no visual indicia, or whether it failed.

Any ideas what's going on here?

[Got Kevlar™]

Are you running the
Beta client or stable release ?

[John Nada, sans bubblegum]

I have tried both; neither works.

[_I_]

can you stream to another pc?
sounds like the steam streaming audio driver for captureing audio isnt installee

[alexankyr]

Similar issue here mate:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/3288067088129372150/

Confirmed from my side too that neither Firewall nor connection type or wired/wireless keyboard appear to be the source of the issue.

[John Nada, sans bubblegum]

The issue is definitely host hardware encoding for my AMD video card (Radeon R9 390). God forbid any valve customer not be a sheeplike NVIDIA fanboy gamer kid.

I'm glad I only paid $5 for the steam link device. Though that's still about 500% too much.

[Wagz]

I've been complaining about this since the update that hit my steam client around may 17th/18th. My steam link worked fine before that. I connect, get a black screen for a couple of seconds and then disconnect. Unlike you I have an Nvidia card, so that's not it I don't think. beta doesn't help either.

one thing you might try is in steam link streaming settings. set your steam link to only stream audio and input and turn off video streaming and see if it maintains connections instead of disconnecting and taking you back to the conenction screen.

[John Nada, sans bubblegum]

No, it crashes outright whenever it tries to use hardware encoding. I'm 100% certain.

[alexankyr]

Could you please check if you run Steam with Administration rights?

I was running Steam Client as Admin, and when I started running it as
normal (without hitting "Run as Administrator" anymore), then my issue was resolved.

[John Nada, sans bubblegum]

Yes, I tried that before -- I should have mentioned it. That did not resolve the issue.

[Babadook]

I'm having the same problem, running steam as admin is causing this.

[Drako]

same issue, ubuntu 18.04 / steamlink, version 663, i select my computer, see library, and come back to computer is ready screen after 5 seconds :(

[Mojo]

Hi,

I got it working in a weird way: while running rainway (streaming was running), I tried to connect my PC using steam link and it works.
Repeated several times, it currently only works with rainway running on my remote Windows 10.
I can even close the streaming from my local browser and steam link still continue to work.
I guess some video encoding initialization was performed by rainway.

Steam link version: 683

[Kyuketsuki]

Hi, I have exactly the same issue, as described the first time ask me to install audio drivers to which never said success/fail but on the device manager on Audio inputs and outputs are 3 steam audio drivers, 1 for microphone, 2 for speakers (although one is call streaming microphone)

Every time I try to connect it loads the big picture and fail almost right away and goes back to normal window screen, the steam client does crash, I have tried from a steam link hardware, from another pc and steam link android app and the result is the same. the other clients says the pc went offline and a few seconds afterwards without any help it's available again to retry and start this loop.

important remarks:
I'm not using the beta versions on any of both PCs
on the other PC the steam link works fine but is an old Win7 560GTX
the pc with the issue is Win10 Pro/ 2080Ti
and yes I have crack out any firewall security posible even windows sharing and media sharing
even uninstall GeForce experience to confirme the shadow play wasn't the issue.
steam client on both pc version Built Jan 4,2019

one thing worth mentioning, originally it wasn't even finding the pc and after t/s found out the necessary port for initial discovery UDP 27036 was used by steam (as it should) listening BUT on UPDv6....so currently my IPv6 is disabled for all adapters (even BT)

if someone finds the fix for this would be greatly appreciated

[Vic]

I have a gtx 960 with Win 7. Streams flawlessly to the steam link. I installed another Win 7 on a separate disk. Same machine, same network connection, but this new installation has this issue. Then, following this thread, I tried disabling video streaming from the link and it didn't disconnect (it stays connected streaming audio only).
Checking differences between both Windows I found the old installation (the working one) is using an old driver 397.93
The new Win 7 has 419.35
I'll try downgrading and will let you know...

Update: here's an interesting post pointing at the same direction. But it suggests uninstalling geforce experience first:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/1734339901240570843/

[GTABjr.]

I don't know if it helps anyone, but I found what worked for me.

I had just moved so my gaming PC was faceless. I used my laptop to RDP into it to get it logged in and steamlink kept immediately disconnecting. Apparently an RDP login doesn't count as a true login and wouldn't work. Once I logged in directly to my pc with a direct mouse and keyboard, steamlink started to work.

I ALSO removed GFE prior to that. I haven't re-installed it to see if it still works, but for me, it was because I didn't have a direct login to my gaming PC, just a remote desktop connection.

I've heard that the beta client for steamlink allows for you to connect to a locked pc and input credentials if you have a mouse/keyboard connected to enter password.

Hope that helps someone!