Remote Play on RetroArch

Playing RetroArch with remote play

Settings in Steam

Right click RetroArch in Steam and select Properties
Open the Controller settings
Set Override for RetroArch to Disable Steam Input

Settings in RetroArch

Launch RetroArch with your controller unplugged/disconnected
Open the steam overlay and send the remote play invite

If they have multiple controllers remove one controller by dragging it from their section to the X at the bottom.
The controller will vibrate when you click the icon if you need to identify it.
Remember the ID of the controller for the other person.
Your section should not have a controller icon in remote play settings.


This screenshot is using controller 2 on the other person's PC.

Close the steam overlay
Go to Settings > Input in RetroArch


Select Port # Controls where # is the other person's controller port.
(ex: Port 2 Controls for player 2)


Open Device Index settings

Select the controller you assigned in the remote play settings.
This may show as "Xbox 360 Wireless Controller" even if it's a different controller.
Controller 2 in the remote play settings will have a (2) at the end of the name.

Go back to the input settings page then plug in/connect your controller.
You'll see a "<device name> configured in port #" notification in the bottom left corner.

I'm using a PS5 controller in this screenshot which has a device name "DualSense"

Select Port 1 Controls then Device Index and select your device.


The device index settings can change when launching cores. If you lose controls after launching a game open the menu (F1 by default) and to change the input settings without closing the content/core.

No Audio?

Check the sample rate of your sound device

Open mmsys.cpl and double click your sound device.
If you have multiple devices select the one with a green check.

The name and picture of your device(s) might be different.

Select the Advanced tab.
Make sure the sample rate under Default Format is set to 16 bit or lower.

You might have different options than this screenshot. It should be fine as long as it isn't above 16 bit.
You may need to restart other programs (discord, web browser, etc.) if you don't hear audio from them after making this change.

Remote Play Settings

Open the Remote Play Settings in Steam.
Enable Advanced Host Options
Enable Play audio on host

[Mamin_Boy]

Why you disable steam input if it will always be enabled in remote play?

[Dr. Dabs]

Thanks for helping to resolve the issue!

[Vari[X]x]

Thanks to Smoke for going through this with me at 2AM