Connect with Moonlight

Turn on GameStream on the host and any Moonlight client can stream from it: a browser, a smart TV, a console, an old phone. Where a Punktfunk app exists, use it instead: it has lower latency and more features.

1. Turn on GameStreamCopy Anchor Link

GameStream is off by default. In the web console, open Host, turn on GameStream, then click Restart Punktfunk. Or:

The installers set the console's setting, so you can turn it off there later. NixOS, serve --gamestream and the host.env line lock it.

GameStream pairs over plain HTTP, so use it on a network you trust. Video, audio and input are encrypted.

2. Add the host in MoonlightCopy Anchor Link

Open Moonlight. The host usually appears on its own; if not, use Add Host manually and enter the host's IP address.

Moonlight doesn't find the hostCopy Anchor Link

• The ports are closed. Open the GameStream ports listed on Ports. On Linux the packages ship a firewall rule to turn on:

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  sudo ufw allow punktfunk-gamestream                               # ufw
  sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=punktfunk-gamestream  # firewalld
  sudo firewall-cmd --reload

  The Windows installer opens them on Private and Domain networks; Public-network firewall rules adds Public ones.

• Sunshine, Apollo or a fork runs on the same machine. They use the same ports. Run punktfunk-host detect-conflicts to list them, and stop them.

More in Troubleshooting.

3. PairCopy Anchor Link

1. In the web console, open Devices.
2. In Moonlight, select the host. It shows a 4-digit PIN.
3. The console lists A Moonlight client is waiting for its PIN. Click Enter PIN, type the PIN, name the device, enter your console password and click Submit PIN.

The device appears under Paired devices. See Pairing & Trust.

4. StreamCopy Anchor Link

Moonlight lists Desktop and the games in the host's library. The host creates a display at the resolution and frame rate set in Moonlight's settings. Resume returns to a session you left; the console's Stop ends it.

An apps.json in the host's config directory replaces that list, Desktop included.

TipsCopy Anchor Link

• Codec: HEVC is a good default; AV1 works if your client decodes it.
• HDR: Moonlight offers HDR only when the host can capture and encode it. Pick HEVC or AV1; H.264 stays SDR.
• Bitrate: the number covers video and error correction together. Start moderate and raise it.
• The host adapts error correction and bitrate to the loss Moonlight reports. Nothing to set.
• Moonlight's overlay and the Punktfunk stats overlay measure different things.
• The console's mute, access and player-slot controls work on Punktfunk-app sessions only.