Install and requirements
Moonlight is a game streaming client, not a program that runs games on its own. To use it, first install Sunshine on the gaming PC, then install Moonlight on the device where you want to play. The host PC must be capable of running the games being streamed, and the client device needs a network connection to that PC.
After setup, Moonlight can discover Sunshine hosts automatically on the local network. Select the host, then enter the PIN it displays into the Sunshine web interface to pair the devices. A wired connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi on both the host and client helps maintain a stable stream; performance and image quality depend heavily on the network conditions.
Moonlight is available for Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Apple TV. It is open source under the GNU GPL v3, with no ads, paid versions or subscriptions. Sunshine is the recommended open-source host and supports AMD, Intel and NVIDIA GPUs.
What happens after setup
Once paired, Moonlight receives the game or full desktop from the host PC and displays it on the client. This lets a player use a laptop, TV or phone as a screen for a home gaming PC, without asking Moonlight to install or run the game locally. The client also forwards input, including gamepad, keyboard and mouse controls, back to the host.
On a capable client, streams can reach up to 4K with HDR. The PC client supports streaming at up to 120 FPS, and an option to disable V-Sync can reduce latency. These capabilities depend on the host, client and network being able to handle the selected stream settings.
Local and remote play
For play at home, automatic host discovery keeps pairing and connection focused on devices on the local network. Stable Wi-Fi matters: weak or inconsistent wireless conditions can affect responsiveness and stream quality, so a wired connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi is a practical choice on both sides.
Moonlight can also connect over the internet, but remote play requires the host to be reachable through port forwarding, IPv6 or a virtual network such as Tailscale or ZeroTier. This network setup is separate from local discovery, so users need to arrange remote access before expecting a client outside the home to connect.
Choosing Moonlight for a streaming setup
Moonlight suits players who already have a capable gaming PC and want to play its games on another device. It is not a cloud gaming service: the host computer remains responsible for running each game, and a separate host app such as Sunshine is required. NVIDIA has discontinued GameStream in GeForce Experience, so Sunshine is the usual host for current setups.
The project also has official and community clients for devices including Raspberry Pi and Steam Link, in addition to the listed desktop, mobile and television platforms. In practice, the main setup decisions are which client device to use, whether the host and client have a dependable local connection, and whether remote networking is needed. Moonlight then serves as the control and display endpoint for games or the desktop streamed from the PC.
