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10 Tech How-To

Stream PC Games to Android with Low Latency

Guide 10-33808 · Updated · Step by step

Streaming your PC games to an Android phone lets you play your full library on the couch, in bed, or on the go, without sacrificing the graphics and performance of your desktop. This guide walks you through the best methods to get a responsive, near-lag-free experience, covering both NVIDIA and AMD setups, plus a universal option. You’ll need a decent PC, a strong network, and a few free tools.

What You’ll Need

  • A gaming PC with a dedicated GPU (NVIDIA GTX 900 series or newer, or AMD RX 500 series or newer) and Windows 10/11.
  • An Android phone running Android 8.0 or later.
  • Both devices on the same local network (for in-home streaming) or a fast internet connection for remote play.
  • A stable 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection for your phone. Ethernet for the PC is strongly recommended.
  • A gamepad (like an Xbox or PlayStation controller) for most games, though touch controls work for some titles.

Step-by-Step

  1. Set up your PC for streaming. If you have an NVIDIA GPU, open GeForce Experience (or the new NVIDIA App) and enable GameStream under Settings > Shield. For AMD GPUs, open AMD Software Adrenalin and enable AMD Link under Settings > AMD Link. If you have neither, or want the most flexible option, install Sunshine (an open-source host) from its GitHub page.
  2. Install a client on your Android phone. For NVIDIA GameStream, download Moonlight from the Play Store. For AMD Link, download the AMD Link app. For Sunshine, use Moonlight as well—it works with both. Moonlight is generally the lowest-latency client available.
  3. Pair your phone with your PC. Open Moonlight on your phone. It should automatically discover your PC on the same network. If not, tap the plus icon and enter your PC’s local IP address. When prompted, enter the 4-digit PIN shown on your PC’s screen (for Sunshine, it’s in the web UI at http://localhost:47990). For AMD Link, follow the on-screen QR code pairing.
  4. Optimize your network. Connect your PC to your router via Ethernet cable. On your phone, make sure you’re on the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, not 2.4 GHz. If your router supports it, enable Quality of Service (QoS) for your PC’s MAC address to prioritize gaming traffic.
  5. Configure Moonlight for low latency. In Moonlight’s settings, set Video Resolution to your phone’s native resolution (e.g., 1080p or 1440p) and Frame Rate to 60 FPS (or 120 if your phone supports it). Under Advanced, enable Low Latency Mode and set Video Bitrate to something between 20-50 Mbps depending on your network. Start with 30 Mbps and adjust.
  6. Launch a game. In Moonlight, you’ll see your PC’s desktop or a list of games. Select the game you want to play. The stream will start, and you can use your gamepad or touch controls.
  7. Adjust in-game settings. For the lowest latency, disable vsync in the game and cap the frame rate to match your stream’s frame rate (e.g., 60 FPS). Lower graphics settings like shadows and anti-aliasing to reduce GPU load and encoding time.
  8. Test and tweak. Play for a few minutes and check for stutter or input lag. If you see network warnings in Moonlight, lower the bitrate. If the stream is smooth but input feels laggy, try enabling Game Mode on your phone and turning off battery saver.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. This band is crowded and slow, causing constant stutter and high latency. Always use 5 GHz or Wi-Fi 6.
  • Leaving vsync on in the game. This adds a frame of latency and can cause micro-stutter. Turn it off.
  • Streaming at too high a bitrate. If your network can’t handle it, you’ll get buffering and input lag. Start low and increase gradually.
  • Not pairing correctly. If Moonlight can’t find your PC, check that your firewall isn’t blocking it. You may need to allow Moonlight through Windows Defender Firewall.
  • Using the phone’s touchscreen for fast-paced games. Touch controls are fine for turn-based or slow games, but for shooters or platformers, a physical controller is essential.

Tips

  • Use a USB-C to Ethernet adapter for your phone if you’re playing competitive games—this eliminates Wi-Fi jitter entirely.
  • Set your PC’s power plan to High Performance to prevent the CPU or GPU from downclocking during streaming.
  • In Moonlight, enable Hardware Decoding in settings (it’s on by default) to offload video decoding to your phone’s GPU, reducing battery drain and latency.
  • If you’re streaming over the internet, make sure your PC is wired and your upload speed is at least 10 Mbps. You’ll also need to forward ports 47984, 47989, 48010, and 47998-48000 on your router for Moonlight/Sunshine.
  • Use a phone clip for your gamepad to create a handheld console feel.

Troubleshooting

  • Moonlight can’t find my PC. Ensure your PC and phone are on the same subnet. Temporarily disable Windows firewall or add an inbound rule for Moonlight (port 47989). For Sunshine, check the web UI at http://localhost:47990 to see if it’s running.
  • Stream is stuttering or freezing. Lower the bitrate in Moonlight. Check for other devices hogging bandwidth. If using Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or switch to Ethernet.
  • Input lag feels high. Turn off vsync in the game, disable any frame limiters, and make sure your phone isn’t in battery saver mode. Also, try lowering the stream resolution to 720p.
  • Audio is out of sync. This usually indicates network congestion. Lower the bitrate and close any background apps on your phone that might be using the network.
  • Controller not working. Make sure your controller is paired to your phone via Bluetooth, and in Moonlight, go to Settings > Controller and select Xbox Wireless Controller or similar. Some games require you to enable controller input in their settings.
  • Games launch but show a black screen. This often happens with games that run in exclusive fullscreen. Try setting the game to Borderless Windowed mode. Also, update your GPU drivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stream games over the internet, not just my home Wi-Fi?

Yes. Moonlight and AMD Link both support remote streaming. You’ll need a fast upload speed on your home connection (at least 10 Mbps) and a good download speed on your phone. You’ll also need to forward the appropriate ports on your router for Moonlight.

What’s the best bitrate to use?

For 1080p at 60 FPS, a bitrate of 20-30 Mbps is usually enough on a stable network. For 1440p or 4K, you’ll need 50-80 Mbps. Start low and increase until you notice no visual artifacts.

Does this work with any game?

Yes, as long as the game runs on your PC. Moonlight and Sunshine stream the entire desktop, so you can even stream non-Steam games or emulators.

Will this work with a non-NVIDIA GPU?

Yes. Sunshine works with any GPU that supports hardware encoding, including AMD and Intel. AMD’s own AMD Link is also an option for AMD GPUs.

How much latency should I expect?

On a good 5 GHz Wi-Fi network with a wired PC, you can expect 5-15 ms of network latency, plus encoding/decoding time, totaling around 20-40 ms. That’s low enough for most single-player games and even competitive shooters, though not as good as a wired monitor.

Can I use my phone’s touchscreen as a mouse?

Yes, Moonlight has a built-in touch mouse mode that appears when you tap the screen. You can also enable Touch Controller in settings to get on-screen gamepad buttons.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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