How to Use the Moonlight Mod: Your Ultimate Guide

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How to Use the Moonlight Mod: Your Ultimate Guide

Moonlight is a powerful, open-source game streaming application that leverages NVIDIA’s GameStream protocol. It allows you to stream games from your GeForce-powered PC to a wide variety of devices, including phones, tablets, other PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, TVs, and even single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi. This means you can enjoy your PC games from virtually anywhere with a good network connection. This guide covers everything you need to know to set up and use Moonlight.

I. Requirements and Prerequisites:

  • A GeForce-powered PC: You must have a PC with a supported NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX GPU (generally GTX 650 or newer, but it’s best to consult NVIDIA’s official GameStream page for the most up-to-date compatibility list). Integrated graphics (like Intel HD Graphics) won’t work.
  • NVIDIA GeForce Experience: This software is usually installed along with your NVIDIA drivers. Make sure it’s up-to-date.
  • Moonlight Client: Download the appropriate Moonlight client for your target device (available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, tvOS, Vita, and more). You can find the downloads on the official Moonlight website: https://moonlight-stream.org/
  • A Network Connection: Both your PC and your client device need to be connected to the same network (usually your home Wi-Fi). A wired Ethernet connection on your PC is highly recommended for the best performance. For streaming over the internet, see Section IV.
  • (Optional) Gamepad/Controller: While Moonlight supports touch controls and keyboard/mouse input, a physical controller (like an Xbox, PlayStation, or Bluetooth controller) often provides a better gaming experience.

II. Setting Up the Host PC (GeForce Experience):

  1. Open GeForce Experience: Launch the NVIDIA GeForce Experience application on your PC. You might need to log in with your NVIDIA account.

  2. Enable SHIELD Streaming:

    • Click the Settings cog icon (usually in the top right).
    • Select the SHIELD tab on the left-hand sidebar.
    • Toggle the GameStream switch to the “On” position (it will turn green). If you don’t see the SHIELD tab, your GPU might not be supported, or GeForce Experience might not be properly installed/updated.

  3. (Optional) Add Non-Steam Games: By default, GeForce Experience automatically detects many games. However, if you have games installed outside of Steam, you can manually add them:

    • Still in the SHIELD tab, click the Add button.
    • Browse to the executable file (.exe) of the game you want to add and select it.

  4. Optimize Game Settings (Optional): GeForce Experience can automatically optimize game settings for streaming. While not strictly necessary, it can improve performance. In the “Games” tab, you can click on a game and select “Optimize.”

III. Setting Up the Moonlight Client and Connecting:

  1. Install and Launch the Moonlight Client: Install the appropriate Moonlight client on your target device (phone, tablet, etc.) and launch it.

  2. Pairing (First-Time Connection):

    • Moonlight should automatically scan your network for your PC. If it finds it, your PC’s name should appear in the client. Select it.
    • If your PC doesn’t appear, make sure both devices are on the same network and that GameStream is enabled. You can also try manually adding the PC by its IP address (see Section V).
    • Once you select your PC, a four-digit PIN code will appear on your PC’s screen.
    • Enter this PIN code into the Moonlight client on your target device. This pairing process only needs to be done once per client device.

  3. Connecting: After pairing, your PC should remain listed in the Moonlight client. Simply select your PC’s name to connect.

  4. Choosing a Game: Once connected, you’ll see a list of your available games (those detected by GeForce Experience and any you added manually). Select the game you want to play.

  5. Adjusting Settings (Optional): Before or during gameplay, you can adjust various settings within the Moonlight client:

    • Resolution: Choose the streaming resolution (e.g., 720p, 1080p, 4K). Lower resolutions require less bandwidth and may perform better on weaker networks or devices.
    • Bitrate: This controls the video quality. Higher bitrates mean better visual quality but require more bandwidth. Experiment to find the sweet spot for your network.
    • Framerate: Typically 30fps or 60fps. 60fps provides a smoother experience but requires more bandwidth.
    • Controller Options: Configure your controller settings, button mappings, etc.
    • On-Screen Controls (if applicable): Adjust touch control layouts if playing on a touchscreen device.
    • Decoding options: Some devices support different video decoding options (H.264, HEVC, AV1). HEVC and AV1 are generally more efficient, but require hardware support on both the host PC and the client device.

IV. Streaming Over the Internet (Advanced):

Streaming outside your home network requires some extra configuration:

  1. Port Forwarding: You need to forward specific ports on your router to your PC’s local IP address. The required ports are:

    • TCP: 47984, 47989, 48010
    • UDP: 47998, 47999, 48000, 48010

    The process for port forwarding varies depending on your router’s make and model. Consult your router’s manual or search online for “port forwarding [your router model]”.

  2. Obtain Your Public IP Address: You need your public IP address (the IP address of your router as seen from the internet). You can find this by searching “what is my IP address” on Google. Your public IP address may change periodically if you don’t have a static IP address from your ISP.

  3. Manually Add PC in Moonlight: In the Moonlight client, use the “Add PC” option (usually a “+” button) and enter your public IP address.

  4. (Optional) Dynamic DNS: If your public IP address changes frequently, consider using a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service (like No-IP or DynDNS). These services provide a constant hostname that points to your changing IP address, making it easier to connect.

  5. (Optional) VPN: For improved security and privacy, consider using a VPN. Some VPNs, like Tailscale and ZeroTier, can simplify the network setup for Moonlight, often eliminating the need for port forwarding.

V. Troubleshooting:

  • PC Not Found:
    • Ensure both devices are on the same network (or configured for internet streaming).
    • Verify that GameStream is enabled in GeForce Experience.
    • Temporarily disable any firewalls on your PC or router to see if they’re blocking the connection.
    • Try manually adding the PC using its local IP address (you can find this by typing ipconfig in a Command Prompt on your PC).
  • Connection Issues (Lag, Stuttering, Disconnects):
    • Use a wired Ethernet connection for your PC whenever possible.
    • Reduce the streaming resolution, bitrate, and/or framerate.
    • Ensure your Wi-Fi signal is strong. Try moving closer to your router or using a 5GHz Wi-Fi network.
    • Close any other bandwidth-intensive applications on your PC and client device.
    • If streaming over the internet, check your internet connection speed and stability.
  • Controller Not Working:
    • Ensure the controller is properly connected to your client device.
    • Check Moonlight’s controller settings and make sure the correct controller is selected.
    • Try a different controller.
  • Black Screen/No Video:
    • Try changing the decoding option (H.264, HEVC, AV1) in Moonlight’s settings.
    • Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date.
  • Audio Issues:
    • Check audio settings within Moonlight.
    • Ensure your PC’s audio output is set correctly.
  • Game Not Launching:
    • Verify that the game is correctly added to GeForce Experience.
    • Try running the game directly on your PC to ensure it works.

VI. Advanced Tips & Customization

  • Custom Resolutions: You can specify custom resolutions in Moonlight’s settings. This is useful for devices with non-standard aspect ratios.
  • Multiple Monitors: If you have multiple monitors, you can choose which monitor to stream in GeForce Experience’s SHIELD settings.
  • Wake-on-LAN (WoL): Moonlight can often wake your PC from sleep mode using Wake-on-LAN. You need to enable WoL in your PC’s BIOS and network adapter settings.
  • Command-Line Options: Moonlight clients often have command-line options for advanced configuration. See the documentation for your specific client for details.
  • Stream Desktop: You can add “mstsc.exe” (Remote Desktop Connection) to GeForce Experience to stream your entire desktop. This is helpful for accessing applications that aren’t games.
  • HDR Streaming: If your PC and display support HDR, and your client device and display support HDR, you can enable HDR streaming in Moonlight’s settings.

By following these steps, you can enjoy the flexibility and convenience of playing your PC games on a variety of devices using Moonlight. Remember to experiment with the settings to find the optimal configuration for your network and hardware. Happy gaming!

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