CouchRelay
GET COUCHRELAY

Pick your device.
Bring your friends.

Windows 10/11, or a Decky plugin for Steam Deck and other gaming handhelds. Both can host or join.

CouchRelay is beta software. It works well on the PCs and handhelds it has been tested on, but expect rough edges on others. Updates arrive in the app.
PORTABLE APP

Windows

Windows 10 or 11 · 64-bit

CouchRelay-windows-0.0.1-319ac97d1b19.zip
Version
0.0.1
Release date
2026-10-25
SHA-256
319ac97d1b190c1d559b4ca21083dad5e465844293f085c63a3c257862e21b55
Download Windows20 MB

59 MB unpacked

GAMING MODE

Handheld · Decky plugin

SteamOS, Bazzite or CachyOS Handheld · Decky Loader

CouchRelay-decky-0.0.1-86df2bca9dbe.zip
Version
0.0.1
Release date
2026-10-25
SHA-256
86df2bca9dbecf2b315b7fd8dacb5e7fec1820355b07bb49be21301f45dbce4c
Download Handheld · Decky plugin11 MB

31 MB unpacked

System requirements

Swipe the table to compare Windows and handheld requirements.

WindowsHandheld
SystemWindows 10 or 11, 64-bitSteamOS, Bazzite or CachyOS Handheld, with Decky Loader
GraphicsNVIDIA GTX 900 series or newer, AMD Radeon RX 5000 series or newer, or Intel 11th-gen or Arc graphics, with up-to-date driversSteam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, MSI Claw and similar AMD or Intel handhelds
ConnectionHome network, a VPN, or the internet (the app can open its port on your router)Same
Internet speedAbout 10–30 Mbit/s of upload on the host for each friend playing over the internetSame

Joining works on more graphics cards than hosting does: hosting needs the card's video encoder, joining only its decoder. Hosting on older or less common cards is not tested yet.

GETTING STARTED

From download to game night.

Windows setup

  1. Unzip the folder anywhere and run couchrelay-app.exe. Keep the folder together: the app needs the files next to it.
  2. If Windows says Windows protected your PC, select More info, then Run anyway. It appears because the app isn’t signed with a paid certificate yet, and only the first time.
  3. Use up-to-date graphics drivers. Sharing uses your graphics card’s video encoder.
  4. To host, open Share this PC → Start hosting. The first time, approve the virtual controller driver installation and Windows administrator prompt. If Windows Firewall asks about couchrelay-stream, allow it.
  5. Give your friend the address and PIN shown on screen. When they have typed it, select Allow.

Why does Windows ask for administrator permission?

Windows asks for administrator permission (UAC) when CouchRelay installs its virtual controller driver or configures Windows Firewall for hosting. The driver lets your friends’ controllers work as local controllers on your PC.

Joining a friend

Open Join, type the address your friend gave you, then the PIN (only the first time). Your controller, keyboard and mouse work in their games.

In the stream, move the pointer to the top-right corner for End stream. Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q ends the stream; Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X toggles full screen. Every other key goes to your friend’s PC.

Read the full Windows guide

Handheld setup

  1. Have Decky Loader installed on your handheld.
  2. Download CouchRelay-decky-0.0.1-86df2bca9dbe.zip onto the handheld (for example with the browser in Desktop Mode).
  3. In Gaming Mode, open Decky’s settings: turn on Developer mode under General, then under Developer choose Install plugin from ZIP file and pick the zip. (CouchRelay isn’t in the Decky store.)
  4. Open the Quick Access menu (…) → CouchRelay.
  5. To host, select Share this handheld and give your friend the address and PIN it shows. When they have typed it, press ···, open CouchRelay and select Allow.

Joining a friend

Pick a recent host or enter your friend’s address. Enter their PIN the first time, then select Join. The stream opens like a game, with Steam Input mapping your controls.

To end it, open Quick Access → CouchRelay → End stream, or quit from the Steam menu.

Stay awake while sharing keeps the handheld awake. With it on, Keep the screen dark and Keep the speakers quiet lower brightness and volume after a minute without using the handheld’s controls. Friends still see and hear the game.

The plugin uses administrator rights for stream-related tasks. Wi-Fi changes, keeping the handheld awake, and the sharing brightness and volume changes are undone when streaming or sharing ends.

Read the full handheld guide

Connecting over the internet

Friends on your home network or a VPN need nothing else. Without a VPN, turn on Open ports with UPnP before sharing, or forward UDP 47910 on your router to the host. Everything uses that one port, encrypted.

Some connections behind carrier-grade NAT cannot accept incoming connections. Use a VPN there. Settings apply when a stream starts; Optimize automatically adapts quality to the connection.

Connection questions? Read the FAQ

Removing CouchRelay

Windows: Settings → About → “Remove CouchRelay from this PC” removes the controller driver, pairings and settings. Close the app and delete its folder.

Handheld: Remove → “Remove from this handheld” in the plugin panel removes settings, pairings and the shortcut. Then uninstall the plugin in Decky’s settings.

Using CouchRelay is subject to the PolyForm Strict License 1.0.0. Third-party components retain their own licences.

Includes FFmpeg libraries under LGPL 2.1 or later. Third-party source code and licences.