[Suggestion] PC Screen Off while playing via Steam Link [for Steam Link Android]

[eiion]

Feature Suggestion for the Android version of Steam Link: PC Screen Off while playing

Parsec can do it, AMD link can do it and Nvidia's streaming tool can do it as well. Surely other PC Screen streaming tools can do it well.

Hence I'd like to suggest adding a feature within the settings of steam link that let's us choose to turn the PC screen of (or display a 100% black frame) while streaming the game.
[Steam link could emulate a second screen (e.g. the mobile device's screen that we're playing on) to use as the main screen - that might help realizing a feature like this... Or just looking up open source solutions like moonlight streaming/sunshine streaming.]

The reason I'm suggesting this is that it just feels like a huge energy waste to have the monitor on and display everything that we see on the remote screen.
Plus, when in the same room it's terribly irritating.
(Sure, I guess most people are in other rooms or places and my situation might be a bit specific, but since I'm recovering from several surgeries and cannot sit in front of my PC screen for almost two months already I'm indeed in the same room as the PC and only able to get some diversion by playing on my PC via Steam link on my tablet while lying in bed.)
Also, if other tools can do it, it is technically possible to do and steam link should offer it as well.

One issue with such a feature I'd like to mention though is that typically turning on the monitor again by hand does nothing but letting it turn off again by itself since there's no signal (as long as the streaming tool has it turned off). So there should be a safety feature (e.g. in cases where steam link crashes) that let's us manually or from the home button menu turn on the screen again.

Overall I'm pretty happy with Steam link (I'd be indescribably bored by now without it, having nothing to do but to stare at the room's ceiling without it) and even the current beta version runs well (though there are more occasions where I'm getting yellow and orange connection symbols and short lag spikes than before - but that could be caused by anything).
I just feel like that "screen off while streaming" is the last major feature that other solutions offer but steam link does not, yet.

Thanks for considering to adding the feature to steam link.

Edit (20.6.2022): I've corrected a few typos and made it more obvious by adding it to the title and the first sentence that this is a suggestion for the Android Version of Steam Link.
I'm also debating if I should delete/copy this over on the android section of the discussion.
Originally I thought the issue I'm making a suggestion for was a general problem but apparently it's only one for the app version. For now I just hope that @slouken will take notice of this post of mine.

[KillerKomodoOhNo]

Which Steam Link are you using? I regularly use the hardware one and it lets me stream with my monitor off...

[eiion]

Originally posted by KillerKomodoOhNo:

Which Steam Link are you using? I regularly use the hardware one and it lets me stream with my monitor off...

I'm using the Android version, currently its current beta version. I implied that by mentioning it being the beta version but I guess I should make it more obvious.
I wasn't aware that 'screen off' already is a feature for the hardware Steam Link so I'll add an edit in the original post. Thanks for pointing it out!

[KillerKomodoOhNo]

Originally posted by eiion:

Originally posted by KillerKomodoOhNo:

Which Steam Link are you using? I regularly use the hardware one and it lets me stream with my monitor off...

I'm using the Android version, currently its current beta version. I implied that by mentioning it being the beta version but I guess I should make it more obvious.
I wasn't aware that 'screen off' already is a feature for the hardware Steam Link so I'll add an edit in the original post. Thanks for pointing it out!

All hardware/software versions of the Steam Link include a beta version.

"Screen off" is not exactly a feature, it just is something that you can do. I have not used the Android version in a bit but I'll check it out to see.

Edit: OnePlus 6 and I can turn off my monitor and browse my desktop or game without an issue. Something is going on in your setup that you cannot turn off your monitor. Reinstall the mobile app or mess around with some Remote Play settings in the Steam settings on PC.

[eiion]

Originally posted by KillerKomodoOhNo:

All hardware/software versions of the Steam Link include a beta version.

"Screen off" is not exactly a feature, it just is something that you can do. I have not used the Android version in a bit but I'll check it out to see.

Edit: OnePlus 6 and I can turn off my monitor and browse my desktop or game without an issue. Something is going on in your setup that you cannot turn off your monitor. Reinstall the mobile app or mess around with some Remote Play settings in the Steam settings on PC.

I have questions:
1, Are you turning your monitor off manually (using steam link on your oneplus)?
2, Are you using a Nvidia card?

I've played around with all those settings already, there's none related to what I'm suggesting/that works make it work. Steam link was reinstalled before as well.

The reason I'm asking the above questions is because for 1 - that's not what I'm suggesting. I'm talking about the monitor getting switched off automatically (well, 'off' to standby) once steam link has been connected. (And turn on again one stream link gets disconnected.)
And for 2 - Nvidia cards work differently. You can e.g. manually edit a config for so that you screen resolution doesn't change once the monitor gets manually turned off. For AMD there was a registry workaround which let you set a specific screen resolution for when no monitor is connected (i.e. screen off). But that doesn't work anymore. And again, this would only work if the screen gets turned off manually. I'm taking about it happening automatically, just like it does with the other streaming tools mentioned in the op.

[KillerKomodoOhNo]

Originally posted by eiion:

Originally posted by KillerKomodoOhNo:

All hardware/software versions of the Steam Link include a beta version.

"Screen off" is not exactly a feature, it just is something that you can do. I have not used the Android version in a bit but I'll check it out to see.

Edit: OnePlus 6 and I can turn off my monitor and browse my desktop or game without an issue. Something is going on in your setup that you cannot turn off your monitor. Reinstall the mobile app or mess around with some Remote Play settings in the Steam settings on PC.

I have questions:
1, Are you turning your monitor off manually (using steam link on your oneplus)?
2, Are you using a Nvidia card?

I've played around with all those settings already, there's none related to what I'm suggesting/that works make it work. Steam link was reinstalled before as well.

The reason I'm asking the above questions is because for 1 - that's not what I'm suggesting. I'm talking about the monitor getting switched off automatically (well, 'off' to standby) once steam link has been connected. (And turn on again one stream link gets disconnected.)
And for 2 - Nvidia cards work differently. You can e.g. manually edit a config for so that you screen resolution doesn't change once the monitor gets manually turned off. For AMD there was a registry workaround which let you set a specific screen resolution for when no monitor is connected (i.e. screen off). But that doesn't work anymore. And again, this would only work if the screen gets turned off manually. I'm taking about it happening automatically, just like it does with the other streaming tools mentioned in the op.

Ooh, no I was turning it off manually. I know some people had issues with their phone or TV not being able to stream their desktop but that it was a thing that was possible. I've just misunderstood then, nvm lol.

[_I_]

it has to do with the host, since windows is not taking k/m inputs directly its following its power settings timers to turn off displays

[eiion]

Originally posted by _I_:

it has to do with the host, since windows is not taking k/m inputs directly its following its power settings timers to turn off displays

Im doubt that's the reason because the issue is when turning the display off, windows goes to a small native resolution. That's the main issue here (or else I also could manually turn off the screen). Also, considering all the other mentioned streaming tools have no issue turning the screen off while they run, this can't really be it.

[Silicon Dystopia]

In addition, having your computer open while not present is a security risk. I have no idea if this is possible since I haven't used the AMD or Nvidia versions but it would definitely be nice to have.

[eiion]

Originally posted by sd:

In addition, having your computer open while not present is a security risk. I have no idea if this is possible since I haven't used the AMD or Nvidia versions but it would definitely be nice to have.

Indeed it is. As I've tried other solutions I know that it, generally speaking, is possible. At least after steam link is connected. So there is a short period when booting and shutting down where the screen is on.