Black screen of death on android TV and steam deck

[O.B.L.]

I have steam link installed on my android tv box and I used it to stream my steam deck games my tv. Back with Steam OS 3.4 it worked like a charm, every time no issues.

Ever since 3.5 came out I just get a black screen with the audio working fine. If I try enough times eventually it will display the video feed but mega choppy and freezes pretty quickly. But 99% of the time it's just the black screen with the audio working.

On my Pixel 7 steam link works fine. So it's just for the TV. I tried with another android box on a different wifi network and I had the same black screen of death. Super annoying since that is my only use case for it. To stream from the deck to the TV.

I tried changing resolutions, enabling, disabling hardware encoding. Basically all possible options with no luck. Reinstalling the app also does nothing.

Has anyone seen this or have a solution to this?

I know about sunshine and moonshine. I use them as well but I want the convenience of remote play + steam link ready to go all the time in gaming mode.

[Clara M0rgane]

Hey! Same here. If you get any luck with that (except by downgrading to Steam OS 3.4) I take it! Thanks a lot.

[STEKLOBETON]

Ut

[weoka]

I have the same issue. Have you been able to sort this out?

[bobby tables]

Same issue here... hoping for a fix soon

[Fushimi]

Same here...

[fejnartal]

WORKAROUND:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode

2. Locate file localconfig.vdf
(It is inside a hidden folder so the easiest way to find it might be the file explorer's search bar)
(Usually, the path would be
/home/deck/.steam/steam/userdata/<youruseridnumber>/config/localconfig.vdf)

3. Search inside localconfig.vdf file for the text EnableHardwareEncoding

4a. If you find it, chances are it is immediately followed by a "1". Replace the "1" with a "0" and save the changes. You are done.

4b. If you don't find it, you need to manually add it immediatelly below "streaming_v2". Something along the lines:
"EnableHardwareEncoding" "0"
(The number of spaces might be relevant, but I haven't checked)

4c. If you can't find "streaming_v2" either, try enabling Advanced Client Settings in Steam's Remote Play settings and change some of the dropdowns, then try opening "localconfig.vdf" again. "streaming_v2" should appear now. Retry step 4b.

[Hewertton Avelar]

Thanks for the workaround! It solved perfectly for me!!

Originally posted by fejnartal:

WORKAROUND:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode

2. Locate file localconfig.vdf
(It is inside a hidden folder so the easiest way to find it might be the file explorer's search bar)
(Usually, the path would be
/home/deck/.steam/steam/userdata/<youruseridnumber>/config/localconfig.vdf)

3. Search inside localconfig.vdf file for the text EnableHardwareEncoding

4a. If you find it, chances are it is immediately followed by a "1". Replace the "1" with a "0" and save the changes. You are done.

4b. If you don't find it, you need to manually add it immediatelly below "streaming_v2". Something along the lines:
"EnableHardwareEncoding" "0"
(The number of spaces might be relevant, but I haven't checked)

4c. If you can't find "streaming_v2" either, try enabling Advanced Client Settings in Steam's Remote Play settings and change some of the dropdowns, then try opening "localconfig.vdf" again. "streaming_v2" should appear now. Retry step 4b.

[vetaso | 14th]

Originally posted by fejnartal:

WORKAROUND:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode

2. Locate file localconfig.vdf
(It is inside a hidden folder so the easiest way to find it might be the file explorer's search bar)
(Usually, the path would be
/home/deck/.steam/steam/userdata/<youruseridnumber>/config/localconfig.vdf)

3. Search inside localconfig.vdf file for the text EnableHardwareEncoding

4a. If you find it, chances are it is immediately followed by a "1". Replace the "1" with a "0" and save the changes. You are done.

4b. If you don't find it, you need to manually add it immediatelly below "streaming_v2". Something along the lines:
"EnableHardwareEncoding" "0"
(The number of spaces might be relevant, but I haven't checked)

4c. If you can't find "streaming_v2" either, try enabling Advanced Client Settings in Steam's Remote Play settings and change some of the dropdowns, then try opening "localconfig.vdf" again. "streaming_v2" should appear now. Retry step 4b.

Didn't work for me :(

[bobby tables]

Originally posted by vetafois:

Didn't work for me :(

The problem seems to be fixed in the current beta version of the Steam Link app, I installed it on my Android TV and it's working now.