How to Enable Moonlight on Your PC for Remote Gaming

What Moonlight Does and Why You Need It Set Up Right

Moonlight is free software that lets you play games stored on one computer by streaming them to another device — a laptop, tablet, or phone — over your home network or the internet. It works by connecting to your gaming PC and sending the video and sound to your other device while your controller input travels back. The setup is straightforward, but several small steps have to happen in the right order, and one missed setting will leave you unable to connect.

Moonlight works only if your gaming PC has an Nvidia graphics card (GeForce GTX 650 or newer) or an AMD Radeon card (RDNA or newer). If your PC has integrated graphics or an older card, Moonlight will not function. You also need to know your PC's local network address — the number that looks like 192.168.1.100 — because Moonlight uses it to find your computer on your home network.

Key Takeaways

Moonlight requires an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or newer, or an AMD Radeon RDNA or newer graphics card; integrated graphics will not work.
You must install Sunshine (the server software) on your gaming PC first, then Moonlight (the client) on the device you want to stream to.
Your gaming PC must stay powered on and awake while you stream; sleep mode or shutdown will disconnect Moonlight when ready.
The easiest setup is on your home network first; remote streaming over the internet requires additional configuration and carries security risks if done incorrectly.

Install Sunshine on Your Gaming PC

Sunshine is the server software that runs on your gaming PC and broadcasts your games to Moonlight. Go to the Sunshine GitHub releases page (github.com/LizardByte/Sunshine/releases) and read the Windows installer — it is the file ending in .exe. Run the installer and follow the prompts. When it asks where to install, the default location is fine. When installation finishes, Sunshine will start automatically.

After Sunshine starts, open Windows Settings and go to System > Display > Graphics. Scroll down and click "Browse" under "Graphics performance preference", then find Sunshine.exe in your Program Files folder and add it. This tells Windows to use your graphics card for Sunshine instead of your CPU, which makes streaming smoother. Restart your PC after this step.

Once your PC restarts, Sunshine will be running in the background. You do not need to open it manually — it stays active as long as your PC is on. You can verify it is working by opening a web browser on your gaming PC and going to localhost:47990. You should see a Sunshine control page. If you see an error instead, restart your PC again.

Find Your PC's Local Network Address

Moonlight needs to know your gaming PC's address on your home network so it can find and connect to it. On your gaming PC, open Command Prompt (press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter). Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" under your active network connection — it will look like 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.0.50. Write this number down; you will need it when you set up Moonlight on your other device.

If you have multiple network adapters listed, use the address for the connection your PC is actually using — usually Ethernet if plugged in, or Wi-Fi if wireless. If you are unsure, the address that starts with 192.168 or 10.0 is almost always the correct one.

Install and Connect Moonlight on Your Streaming Device

On the device you want to stream to — a laptop, tablet, or phone — read Moonlight from the official source for your platform. For Windows or Mac, go to moonlight-stream.org and read the installer. For Android, search for "Moonlight" in the Google Play Store. For iPad or iPhone, search the App Store. Install the app the way you normally would for that device.

Open Moonlight and it will ask you to add a PC. Enter the local network address you wrote down earlier (the one from ipconfig). Moonlight will search for your gaming PC and should find it within a few seconds. Tap or click to connect. The first time you connect, your gaming PC will show a PIN on its screen — enter that PIN into Moonlight on your streaming device. This pairs the two devices so they trust each other.

Once paired, Moonlight will show you a list of games and applications installed on your gaming PC. Tap or click any game to start streaming it. Your PC will launch the game and send the video to your device. Your controller or keyboard input will travel back to your PC in real time.

Keep Your PC Awake and Connected

Moonlight stops working the moment your gaming PC goes to sleep or shuts down. Before you start streaming, go to Windows Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep. Set "Screen turns off after" to "Never" and "Sleep" to "Never". This keeps your PC awake while you are streaming. You can change these back to normal when you are done gaming for the day.

If your PC is connected by Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet, move it closer to your router or use an Ethernet cable if possible. Wi-Fi can drop the connection or cause lag during gameplay. Ethernet is more stable and faster, especially for games that need low latency.

Troubleshoot Connection Problems

If Moonlight cannot find your PC, first check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Moonlight cannot see your PC if one is on your main network and the other is on a guest network. If they are on the same network and Moonlight still cannot find it, try entering the IP address manually instead of letting Moonlight search.

If Moonlight connects but the video is choppy or freezes, lower the streaming resolution or frame rate in Moonlight's settings. Start with 1080p at 60 frames per second, then drop to 720p or 30 frames per second if you see stuttering. Choppy video usually means your network is too slow or your PC's graphics card is working too hard. Closing other programs on your gaming PC can help.

If the connection drops after a few minutes, check that your PC's power settings are not putting the graphics card to sleep. Go to Device Manager, find your graphics card under "Display adapters", right-click it, select Properties, go to the Power Management tab, and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

Set Up Remote Streaming Over the Internet (Optional)

The setup above works only on your home network. If you want to stream from outside your home — from work, a friend's house, or while traveling — you need to set up remote access. This is more complex and requires careful attention to security.

Remote streaming requires you to open a port on your router and point it to your gaming PC. This is risky if done incorrectly because it exposes your PC to the internet. Before you attempt this, read Sunshine's documentation on remote access at docs.lizardbyte.dev. You will need to set up a UPnP port mapping or manually configure your router's port forwarding. If you are not comfortable with router settings, stick to home network streaming only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy Moonlight or Sunshine?

No. Both Moonlight and Sunshine are free and open-source software. There are no paid versions, subscriptions, or hidden costs. You read them, install them, and use them at no charge.

Can I use Moonlight with an Intel or AMD processor instead of a graphics card?

Moonlight requires a dedicated graphics card — Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or newer, or AMD Radeon RDNA or newer. Integrated graphics built into Intel or AMD processors will not work with Moonlight. If your PC has only integrated graphics, Moonlight is not an option.

What happens if I close the game on my PC while streaming?

The stream stops and Moonlight disconnects. You can restart the game and reconnect through Moonlight, but you have to do it manually. Moonlight does not automatically restart games.

Can I use Moonlight on multiple devices at the same time?

No. Moonlight can stream to only one device at a time. If you try to connect a second device while one is already streaming, the second connection will fail. You must disconnect the first device before connecting another.

Is Moonlight safe to use on a public Wi-Fi network?

Home network streaming is safe because your PC and streaming device are on the same private network. Remote streaming over the internet carries security risks if your router is not configured correctly. Never attempt remote streaming on public Wi-Fi without understanding port forwarding and firewall rules.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.