Guide to Play Steam Games on Android or iPhone Without PC

While it is a different experience playing games on a gaming console plugged into your big screen TV, having a handheld device that you can use to play your favorite games on the go is a rage now. Android has ported and brought multiple AAA gaming titles to its arsenal of games, but they aren’t enough to lure hardcore gamers. In such cases, you would want to be able to play the best PC games on your Android or iPhone. If that’s what you are looking for, then you have landed in the right place.

Steam is a popular name when it comes to PC gaming. It has become the go-to place to purchase and download PC games, as this digital source negates the need to purchase a physical copy of the game to play. But since TechPP is always here to provide great insight to its readers, we have a guide that lists some of the best websites that you can use to download free games.

This guide will give you the steps you would need to play Steam games on Android or iOS devices. The process of playing Steam games on any mobile phone is similar to popular cloud-gaming sources such as GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud. However, there are a few things that require your attention. So, let us jump right into it.

Why should you play Steam games on Android or iPhone?

Even though you have purchased a handheld gaming device, there is a better chance that you will be carrying your smartphone with you all the time than with your handheld gaming device. It makes your smartphone a better option for killing boredom, and why not kill boredom by playing your favorite PC games on Steam?

Moreover, there is an absence of better AAA gaming titles for iPhone or Android devices, which is another reason why you should play Steam games on Android or iPhone. To play your favorite PC game, you need to make use of the Steam Link app. The app lets you stream PC games from your Steam library straight to your Android or iPhone. The Steam Link app supports 28 languages and also supports a host of wireless and Bluetooth controllers for a great gameplay experience.

Does the Steam Link app support all devices?

The Steam Link app supports all Windows, Android, and iOS devices, along with Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro, and Raspberry Pi 3, 3+, and 4. There are a few hardware requirements that your devices should meet before you can start using them to stream games on your smartphone.

• Your computer should run any of the following: Windows, SteamOS, macOS (Yosemite or newer), and Linux.
• Since your computer will act as a host, you need to have a dual-core processor PC.
• It should have a minimum of 8GB of RAM.
• You should have a fast and reliable internet connection (5GHz) for an uninterrupted gameplay experience.
• Better to have the latest Android or iOS device.

Related Read: How to Get to Desktop Mode on Steam Deck

How to play Steam games on Android or iPhone

We have divided this section into multiple sub-sections for your better understanding. Let us go through each section to understand how you can play or stream Steam games on your Android or iOS device.

1. Enable Remote Play on your PC or Mac

To play Steam games on Android or iOS, you first need to enable remote play on the Steam client on your Windows PC or Mac. The feature allows you to stream games from your Steam library to your Android or iOS device, but it isn’t necessarily turned on by default. Here are the steps that you need to follow to turn it on.

1. If you don’t have the Steam client installed on your PC, then head over to this link and click the Install Steam button at the top to get the Steam client on your PC.
2. Launch the Steam client on your PC and log in with your credentials.
3. You need to click on Steam on the top-left corner of the Steam client homepage and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
4. Select Remote Play from the left pane.
5. Toggle on the Enable Remote Play button.
6. When you turn on the Enable Advanced Host Options toggle, you will be shown a lot of options that you can toggle on as required. Some of the options are Play audio as host, Change desktop resolution to match streaming client, Enable hardware encoding, etc.
7. There is an option to Set PIN, which will allow you to limit the number of people who can play games on your network.
8. After you are done tweaking the settings, you can exit the menu.

2. Install and setup Steam Link on Android or iOS

Once you have enabled Remote Play on the Steam client on your desktop, you are now all set to install the Steam Link app on your Android or iOS devices. For instructions’s sake, we will be demonstrating the steps on an Android device.

1. Search for Steam Link on the Google Play Store and download the app.
2. Open the Steam Link app on your phone and tap on Get Started.
3. Your PC or Mac is listed on the Connect to Computer page. Select your computer and head over to the next page.
4. You will be shown a PIN on your smartphone, which you need to enter in the prompt that appears on your selected computer. Tap on Confirm.
5. On your phone, the Steam Link app will test the network and other aspects of connection and support.
6. Once the tests have been done, you will be given a report where you can check whether your computer is good enough to stream Steam games on Android or iPhone, if your device supports a touch controller, and if you have a good internet connection. If everything is good, you will see a green tick mark next to each option.
7. Hit the Start Playing button.
8. You are set to choose your favorite game from the Steam library and play the game on your Android phone.
9. Steam will launch on fullscreen on both your desktop and smartphone. You can use the on-screen controls on your smartphone or the mouse on your desktop to navigate through the menu.
10. To exit, you can hit the three-dot menu icon at the top-left of either of both screens and select the Power option. Choose the Stop streaming option.

How can I connect a Bluetooth controller to my device for Steam Link gameplay?

On-screen controls can be a bit janky when you want to play games using Steam Link on your Android or iOS device. This is because the screen real estate on a smartphone is pretty limited, and it has to show not only the controls but also the game as well. So, in such a case, it is a better idea to connect a Bluetooth controller to your phone and enjoy your games.

The best part is that the Steam Link app supports both PlayStation and Xbox controllers. You can use either the PS or Xbox controller or any of your Bluetooth controllers to play games on your smartphone using Steam Link. Here is what you need to do:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and also turn on your Bluetooth controller.
2. On your phone, open the Bluetooth settings menu and search for nearby devices.
3. Place your Bluetooth controller in pairing mode by taking the appropriate steps. We have a dedicated guide that will help you with connecting the most popular gaming controllers to Android.
4. Select your controller from the list of available devices in the Bluetooth menu on your smartphone.
5. Follow the steps to pair your controller to your device.
6. The Steam Link app will automatically fetch the controller, and it should be ready to use. In case it doesn’t, then tap on the gear icon in the Steam Link app.
7. Select the controller and play games using it. You also have the option to test the controller, pair the controller, and set up the controller.

Enjoy Steam games on Android or iPhone

This method is good if you are a gamer and don’t have your gaming PC or laptop with you. You can easily connect your smartphone and enjoy your favorite Steam games from your library on your phone. Connecting a controller also elevates the gaming experience. In our test, we found out that the gameplay was superb, but you should remember that it depends on your network speed and the devices that you are using.

FAQs about streaming Steam games on Android or iOS

1. What are some of the Steam Link alternatives?

Steam Link isn’t the only app that lets you remotely play games from your PC on your Android or iOS device. There are multiple alternatives that you can check out. Some of them are listed below:

• Parsec
  • Supports Windows, Android, Mac & Linux
  • Available for free
  • Comes with features such as low latency streaming, 60 FPS, and HD support
• Moonlight
  • Offers you the option to stream games up to 4K with HDR support
  • Supports 120 FPS streaming
  • It supports almost all operating systems, including Android, iOS, Apple TV, PC or Mac, Chromebook, PS Vita, Wii U, Raspberry Pi, or even an LG webOS TV
  • It is open-source and completely free
• Xbox Cloud Gaming
  • Lets you play games from over 100 consoles on devices you have with Xbox Game Pass
  • Supports Xbox, PlayStation, and other controllers
  • It supports Android, iOS, Windows, Xbox consoles, Samsung Smart TV, handheld gaming devices, Meta Quest, etc.
• NVIDIA GeForce Now
  • You can play games you have purchased from stores such as Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft, EA, etc.
  • There are over 100 free-to-play games available
  • Play multiplayer with anyone around the world
  • Supports platforms such as macOS, Microsoft Windows, ChromeOS, Android, iOS, Tizen, and webOS

2. Will playing through Steam Link drain my smartphone’s battery?

Yes. Since you will be constantly connected to the internet and using all of the resources for a better experience, you can expect the battery of your smartphone to drain out faster. However, you can apply some of the tips mentioned in our guide to extend the battery life of your device.