Detailed Guide on How to Chromecast Steam Link

Many Steam players are looking for a fantastic gaming experience to play PC games on TVs, and Chromecast Steam Link should be one of them. In this article, you will be learning how to stream Steam Link to the TV from Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Part 1: What Is Steam Link & How Does It Work?

You might have heard about the Steam link and you are perhaps wondering what it is all about, particularly if you are new to the Steam PC gaming platform.

Initially, Valve made Steam Link a stand-alone hardware device and even integrated a Steam Controller gamepad for users to enjoy. That has been discontinued a long time ago. Fortunately, Valve has launched the software version, now commonly known as a Steam link. You can use Steam link to extend your gaming experience from PC to your mobile devices and even your TV.

Part 2: System Requirements & Prerequisites for Steam Link

Before you get started using Steam link you will need to ensure your device has the right specs. Here are the preferred specs:

1. For a Windows user, you will need Windows 7 or newer to run Steam Link.
2. For a Mac user, you are required Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) or later.
3. For a Linux user, you will need Ubuntu 12.04 or later
4. As for the TV, you need a TV capable of at least 720p resolution.
5. As for the network, You need stable network connectivity for your host computer and the device that has been installed Steam Link.

Part 3: How to stream Steam Link to TV- Chromecast?

Streaming Steam Link to the TV will bring you much fun while playing games. Try the solutions below according to your needs:

1Stream Steam Link to TV from Android

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to cast games from Steam Link to your TV from your Android phone.

2Mirror Steam Link to TV from iPhone/iPad

To mirror Steam from iPhone/iPad to TV, you will need to install a mirroring app like Replica.

3Cast Steam Link to TV from PC/Mac

f you would like to play games from your desktop or laptop and want to cast the game on your TV, try these steps:

You can also Chromecast with Google TV to stream games from your computer to your TV using the Steam Link app.

If you would like to play games from your desktop or laptop and want to cast the game on your TV, try these steps:

Part 4: How to Troubleshoot Steam Link Issues?

One of the most common issues you might experience while using Steam Link is lagging. While the latency is expected because you are actually playing the game on your phone or PC, it shouldn't be too much to interfere with your gaming experience.

It would help to connect your Steam Link and PC to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network to fix this issue.

If you are experiencing audio and video quality problems, we suggest you return to your privacy settings and change the video dimensions.

You can adjust encoding to “Best quality” so your graphics don't appear pixelated. This setting guarantees a good quality output without consuming too much data.

Disabling any ad blockers that will interfere with the website's functionality might also help.

Part 5: What Does Steam Link Do That Chromecast Doesn't?

Many of you may ask: What does Steam Link do that Chromecast doesn’t? How does Steam Link compare to Chromecast? Before answering this question, let's talk about the benefits and shortcomings of Steam Link, which you may be interested in.

1Pros and Cons of Using Steam Link

2What Does Steam Link Do That Chromecast Doesn't

Now let's dive in the discussion between Steam Link and Chromecast:

For beginners, Steam link is tailored for gaming while Chromecast is more or less a general-purpose solution for anyone looking to stream video and audio content from a wide variety of sources.

Generally speaking, Steam Link is more responsive. It has a lower latency compared to Chromecast which can lag a lot. This is why Steam link on Chromecast ideal isn’t that ideal for gaming.

Steam Link is also compatible with a wide variety of devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Last but not least, Steam Link is free to download and use with the Steam gaming platform. On the other hand, you must purchase Chromecast before downloading and installing it.

However, what can you do if you want to mirror games that are not from Steam? Well, why not think about trying third-party mirroring software? Keep on reading the next part to dive in.

Part 6: AirDroid Cast to Mirror Steam Link to TV [Best Alternative]

Steam Link and Chromecast have some wonderful features but as you have also seen they also have their shortcomings.

Luckily, there are some excellent alternatives you can use to Mirror Steam Link to TV. AirDroid cast is one of the good alternatives to using Steam link on Chromecast.

It is a feature-rich tool that allows you to mirror & control screens from Android, iOS devices and PCs.  You can use Airdroid Cast to play games and even cast movies on your TV.

How to Cast Steam Games to TV Using AirDroid Cast?

The beauty is that you can cast your Steam Link using the AirDroid Web Cast feature that makes mirroring screen to the TV easy!

You are now ready to enjoy the Steam games on your TV!

Wrapping Up

That’s it! You don't have to be restricted to your phone or PC screen when you can enjoy a better experience on a larger screen. You can use casting software tools like AirDroid Cast to mirror your screen to your Smart TV. It is one of the easiest ways to cast a Steam link and play your PC games on your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions About Steam Link

Q1: Does Steam Link work on Chromecast?

Elsa

Yes. Though the Steam Link app isn’t directly compatible with Chromecast, you can still cast the link. You can cast the Steam Link app from your phone or PC to a Chromecast dongle connected to your TV.

Q2: Can I cast Steam Link from phone to TV?

Elsa

Yes, you can cast Steam Link from your phone to the TV using a casting device like Chromecast or software like Airdroid Cast. You will need a Steam account and a host device running the Steam application to stream games from.

Q3: Is Steam Link on Android TV?

Elsa

Steam Link doesn't come with the Android TV, but you can download and install it as long as it is Android 5.0 and newer.

Q4: What devices support Steam Link?

Elsa

Here is a list of devices that support Steam Link: Windows PC, Linux, Android, iOS devices, Mac devices, and Smart TVs.

Q5: Is Steam Link free?

Elsa

Steam Link is free to download, and you don't need to pay a subscription fee. But if you want to play Steam games, it depends on whether the game charges or not.

Q6: Can I watch movies via Steam Link?

Elsa

People commonly use Steam Link to play games. However, you can also use Steam Link as a general streaming device to watch movies on Netflix or browse the Internet via the "Big Picture" interface.