PC gaming stands out as one of the most versatile ways to play due to the wide range of control methods at your disposal. Also, you can tweak the hardware based on your gaming needs, allowing you to invest more for the best, or perhaps get the best value for money combination. While traditionalists often argue that a keyboard and mouse offer the best experience, there are plenty of excellent PC controllers available that can enhance your gameplay. But what do you think about setting up a Smartphone PC Controller?
Some games even allow you to use voice commands, providing yet another unique way to interact with your games. If you find yourself without a controller, don’t worry! You can turn your smartphone into a controller using built-in features from Steam. This setup is quick and easy, making it a great option for on-the-go gaming or when you’re caught without your usual gear. Whether you prefer the precision of a mouse or the comfort of a controller, PC gaming has something for everyone. (Via).
What You Need to Set Up Your Smartphone as a Gaming Controller on a PC
- Smartphone: Any modern smartphone should work, whether it’s Android or iOS.
- Steam Account: Make sure you have a Steam account set up on your PC.
- Steam Installed: Ensure the Steam client is installed on your PC and is up to date.
- Same Wi-Fi Network: Connect both your smartphone and PC to the same Wi-Fi network for seamless communication.
- Steam Link App: Download and install the Steam Link app on your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Game Controller Support: Verify that the game you want to play supports controller input.
Once you have these items ready, you’ll be able to set up a smartphone PC controller.
How To Turn Your Smartphone into an Xbox Controller Using Steam Remote Play
Most of the time, you stream games to your phone, but did you know the connection can work both ways? Steam offers a fantastic feature called Remote Play. This allows your gaming PC to handle all the heavy lifting of rendering your game while streaming it to your mobile device or Steam Deck, letting you enjoy your games on a smaller screen.
When using a mobile device, you’ll see an on-screen virtual controller that makes it easy to control your game. However, if you tweak a couple of settings, you can keep the game running on your PC while using just the virtual controller on your smartphone. It might not be as responsive as a traditional controller, but it’s a great alternative in a pinch. Let’s get started on setting it up!
Setting Up Remote Play in Steam
Steam Remote Play isn’t enabled by default, so you’ll need to activate it and connect it to the Steam Link app on your phone.
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- Install Your Game: First, make sure the game you want to play is installed in Steam. You can also use this setup for non-Steam games, but you’ll need to add them to your library beforehand.
- Connect to Wi-Fi: Ensure both your smartphone and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Steam on Your PC: Launch Steam, click the Steam icon in the top-left corner, and then select Settings.
- Click on Remote Play in the left sidebar of the settings menu. Then, ensure that the Enable Remote Play option is turned on.
- Next, enable Advanced Host Options and turn on the Play audio on the host option. This will ensure that the audio plays through your PC while you game
How To Set Up Smartphone
With Remote Play now enabled, you can link your smartphone to your PC.
- Open the Steam Link App: Launch the Steam Link app on your phone. When prompted, allow it to use Bluetooth and to search for devices on your local network.
- Get Started: Tap Get Started and let the app scan for computers on your network that have Steam installed.
- Once your computer appears in the app, tap on it. The app will display a four-digit code, and a pop-up will appear on your PC asking you to enter that number.
- Wait for the network test to complete. Once it’s done, tap the Gear icon to access the Settings.
- Next, tap on Streaming to adjust your streaming settings.
- Tap on Customize.
- On the first page of the Streaming Settings, set both Video and Audio to Disabled.
Navigate back to the main page and tap **Start Playing** once the connection to Steam Big Picture is established. Choose your game from the available list.
Your phone screen will now feature a virtual joystick for movement and looking around—just press your thumb down anywhere on the left or right side of the screen to engage it. To personalize your controls, tap the “…” icon in the top left corner to access the settings options, allowing you to add or remove virtual buttons as necessary.
Conclusion
You can now navigate your PC game with the virtual controller in the Steam Link app. Although it may not exhibit the same responsiveness as a physical controller, it serves adequately for temporary gameplay. I have engaged in FPS games, side-scrollers, and nostalgic titles such as Secret of Mana using this setup. Once you acclimate to the arrangement of the virtual buttons on the touchscreen, it becomes a viable option for a diverse range of gaming experiences.
