How to use Steam Link on Roku TV

TL;DR: Roku TVs don’t have an official Steam Link app, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck playing games from your desk forever. You can still play your Steam games on your Roku TV by wirelessly mirroring your PC or Mac screen, or by plugging in another streaming device like a Fire Stick or Chromecast.

Jump ahead to a section:

• What is Steam Link?
• What you need before starting
• How to set up Steam Link on a Roku TV in 2 ways
  • Option 1: Screen mirroring
  • Option 2: Use another streaming device
• Tips to make Steam Link run better
• Final thoughts
• FAQs

What is Steam Link?

Steam Link is a feature from Valve Corporation that lets you stream games from your computer to another screen over Wi-Fi. So basically, your PC or Mac runs the game and your TV just displays it in real time.

A lot of people still think Steam Link is only that old little hardware box from years ago, but nope. These days, most people use Steam Link through the free app available on supported devices. And honestly? It’s pretty great if you want to play from the couch instead of sitting at your desk the whole time.

Learn how long Roku TVs last and what signs to watch for as they age.

What you need before starting

Before trying any of these methods, make sure you have a

• PC or Mac: Of course (a must in this tutorial!) but make sure your computer stays powered on the entire time since it’s the machine actually running the game.
• Good Wi-Fi connection: You’ll want to have a strong network connection to avoid making everything laggy. We recommend connecting your laptop and TV to a 5 GHZ network or you can use Ethernet cable for your pc. 
• Controller: Usually, Xbox and PlayStation controllers work best. You can connect them directly to your computer, or pair them with the secondary streaming device if you’re using Option 2.

You’ll also need your Roku remote working properly to get through the Settings menu. If it’s giving you trouble, here’s how to pair it before you start.

How to set up Steam Link on a Roku TV in 2 ways

If you were wondering if you can install Steam Link directly on a Roku TV, the answer is sadly, no. Roku’s app store doesn’t support the official Steam Link app. So unlike devices like Fire TV or Apple TV, you can’t just download it directly onto the TV itself. But there are still a few easy workarounds you can try: 

Option 1: Screen mirroring

Using Windows

This is usually the easiest method if you already play games on Windows. So first things first, enable screen mirroring on your Roku TV

On your Roku TV:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to System
3. Select Screen Mirroring
4. Set it to Always Allow

That’s it on the TV side. Now connect your PC

On your Windows computer:

1. Press Windows + “K”
2. Then, a connection panel will pop up on the right side
3. Select your Roku TV from the list
4. After a few seconds, your PC screen should appear on the TV
5. Now just open Steam and launch your game normally

Using AirPlay from a Mac

If you have a MacBook or iMac, AirPlay works surprisingly well for this. Here’s what to do to turn on AirPlay on your Roku TV

On your Roku:

1. Go to Settings
2. Open Apple AirPlay and HomeKit
3. Turn AirPlay ON

Connect your Mac:

Now on your Mac, follow these steps: 

1. Make sure both devices are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network
2. Open the Control Center in the top-right corner
3. Click Screen Mirroring
4. Select your Roku TV and that’s all, your Mac screen should instantly appear on the TV

Honestly, this works pretty nicely for slower games, indie titles, or casual gaming. For competitive shooters though… Wi-Fi lag can still be annoying. 

🧐 Note: if your Wi-Fi is weak, you might notice some lag or stuttering during fast-paced games.

Option 2: Use another streaming device

If you want the least amount of headaches, this is probably the best route. Some devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast with Google TV or Apple TV , actually support the official Steam Link app, which is great because your Roku TV basically just becomes the screen. Here’s how to set it up

1. Plug the streaming device into an HDMI port on your Roku TV
2. Switch your TV input to that HDMI source
3. Download the Steam Link app from that device’s app store
4. Open it and pair it with your gaming PC and you’re done

This setup is usually smoother, more stable, and lower-latency than basic screen mirroring.

Tips to make Steam Link run better

• Use 5 GHz wi-fi: We already stated this but honestly it makes a huge difference. This is because the 5 GHz band is faster and usually has less interference than regular 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Not sure what type of Wi-Fi network you’re connected to? Our guide can help you figure it out.
• Turn on game mode on your Roku TV:  Most Roku TVs have a Game Mode setting that reduces input lag but without it, button presses can feel delayed.
• Lower the streaming resolution: If your games keep freezing or stuttering, try streaming at 1080p instead of 4K, you won’t miss the high-definition, it still looks great. 
• For MAC users, HDMI is a good backup plan: If AirPlay feels too laggy during gaming, just connect your Mac directly to the TV with an HDMI cable. At that point you’re technically not using Steam Link anymore, but it works.

🤓 If you prefer a wired setup instead of wireless streaming, check out our guide on using a TV as a computer monitor.

Final thoughts

Even though Roku TVs don’t officially support Steam Link, there are still two pretty easy ways to get your games onto the big screen. For casual gaming, screen mirroring works fine. But if you want the smoothest experience possible though, using a Fire Stick, Chromecast, or Apple TV with the official Steam Link app is definitely the better move.

Either way, once you start gaming from the couch instead of a tiny desk chair, it’s honestly hard to go back. Which one will you try first? 

Still running into connection issues after trying all this? Sometimes the fastest fix is resetting your Roku TV to clear out any glitchy settings.”

FAQs