Steam Link App - Steam Controller not working on PC

[Karnaaj]

I installed the Steam Link app last night (Android, Galaxy Tab S7 FE), and it connected to my PC (Win10) and let me poke around Steam just fine. (Didn't try any games with the touchscreen controller.)

Dug out my Steam Controller, paired to the tablet, connected to the PC Steam fine. Started up GTA5 as a stress test, and the controller stopped working. Exited the game, and now the controller isn't working in Steam itself. (Still works in the app, but not when connected to the PC.) Touchscreen controller still works, but it's a PITA to use.

Controller is bluetooth'd, but the cheap bluetooth dongle on the PC doesn't see it. (Tablet finds and connects just fine.) USB cable connect is recognized, but just as "controller", not Steam Controller; it does work, both in Windows and in Steam (regular and Big Picture mode).

Steam started in Admin mode makes no difference. No error messages or alerts seen, and I can't easily find anything suggesting the remote inputs are being blocked.

Steam and Windows are up-to-date, as are the Steam Link app and Android. GTA5 updated itself wnen it started, but that shouldn't have broken the remote inputs. Also freshly installed Destroy All Humans, and still nothing.

Any ideas? I'm thinking Windows got all snippy about a remote gaming session, but I'd done it using the Steam Link hardware before so... <puzzled shrug>

Might haul the Link box out and try that, but I really want to flake out in bed and smash robbits on the tablet.

Thanks!

[Karnaaj]

Update: tried an itty-bitty Steelseries Free controller, and not onlyvdid it work, but when starting GTA5, I got an alert! Popup on the PC asking if I wanted to trust secure input from Steam, told it yes and bam, in the game randomly shooting as the controller wasn't really configured properly.

Also, that alert wasn't able for interaction until I got up and went out to the desktop, so I've no clue what happened last night.

Now, to figure out how to set the Steam Controller input as trusted..,

[Karnaaj]

Update 2: dug out my NIB Steam Controller, got it going (and found out the Link/Controller dongle worked fine on the PC, fully functional SC in-game), Bluetooth'd it, and it still isn't working via the Steam Link app. (Even installed Link on my phone to try - no bueno.)

So, somewhere in Windows the Steam Controller via Steam Link app appears to be blocked. Any ideas on how to fix this are appreciated...

[Karnaaj]

Update 3: borrowed an Xbox controller, no problems; didn't even pop that "trust" alert.

Dug around in settings and system alerts, can't find anything that stands out. Also reinstalled Steam, just to be sure, and no luck there either.

[Karnaaj]

Update 4: connected via Steam Link hardware - wired controller recognized fine, Bluetooth connect still ignored.

Also tried Sunshine (PC) and Moonlight (tablet). Still BT connect to tablet, table wifi to PC. Connect to Steam, no inputs recognized. Opened the Destroy All Humans demo through GoG Galaxy, and got right-pad mouse movement, right trigger select/fire, but nothing else. (Didn't do anything to make the SC work properly - the DLL renames/deletes; might try thst later.)

[_I_]

steam link android forum
https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/4/

each controller (on each device) can have its own mappings for desktop/chord/bpm and each game
after you start streaming, config the controller, or browse configs and pick defaults

[Karnaaj]

Can't config the controller if the inputs are being blocked.

Steam can see there's a Steam Controller connected, but cannot see *any* inputs from it when connected wirelessly to either the Steam Link hardware or the app, for a remote session.

Other Bluetooth controllers function through the app.

The SC functions via USB or BT directly connected to the PC, or via USB to the Link hardware; it will not be seen by Steam on the PC if it's connected wirelessly to the Link hardware.

The SC did function with wireless remote connections when I first used it with the Link hardware, and during the first test run using the Link app.

I've tried five different games, with different controller configs, and consistently have had no function of the Steam Controller, except for the first test run; this is also when I stopped being able to navigate Steam using the controller.

I did get a non-Steam popup on the PC when I first tried the Steelseries controller (and had to go clear it on the PC), regarding "trusting remote inputs" or the like, but only that time.

This smells like Windows "protecting" me from potentially harmful remote inputs, specifically anything from the Steam Controller, but I just don't know where Windows hides the digital jimmy that I need to kick to un-protect my computer, so I can get back to rotting my mind with vidyagamez.

Thank you for being the first to respond, however.

[_I_]

go to the host pc after you begin streaming

[Karnaaj]

And there's no change if I'm out at the host PC, unless I re-pair the controller to the PC. But I already know it works there, and I need it to work remotely, through the tablet, like it did originally.

If I connect directly to the PC with the spare controller at the same time, it'll see two Steam Controllers, but will only take input from the local one. Both will work connected to the PC, both will connect to the tablet and be seen by Steam via the Link app, and both will not have inputs recognized/accepted via that remote connect.

[_I_]

its seen as a different controller at host or remote client

choices are to use a k/m at the client, or go to the host and bind the remote controllers controls using the hosts k/m

[Karnaaj]

Inputs are still not being seen by Steam *at all*. Doesn't matter what configs or bindings are being used if the inputs aren't being seen... and they *were* being seen, bone stock, by Steam that first connect - I was able to navigate the Steam Big Picture screen just fine, remotely, using Steam Link from the tablet.

And Steam is still seeing there's a Steam Controller connected remotely. Just no inputs. And if Steam can't see the imputs, it can't pass them to whatever game I'm trying to play.

[Kung Fury]

I am having this exact issue, once steam link (running on android phone) connects to pc, my steam controller (bluetooth connected to phone) inputs no longer register.