How to Stream PS5 to Steam Deck with Chiaki: Easy Setup

Streaming your PS5 to a Steam Deck gives you handheld access to your PlayStation library without moving the console or tying up the TV. The cleanest route is to use PS5 Remote Play through chiaki-ng, the modern Steam Deck-friendly version of Chiaki, then add it to Gaming Mode so it feels like launching any other game. This guide walks through the prep, installation, pairing, stream settings, and fixes that make remote play PS5 sessions feel smoother.

What do you need before you start?

Pro Tip: In my hands-on testing, setup is far less frustrating if the PS5 is wired to Ethernet and the Steam Deck is on a strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi signal before you open chiaki-ng.

You need a PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition, a Steam Deck, a PlayStation Network account, and a stable home network. Sony describes PS Remote Play as a way to stream and play PS4 and PS5 games from your console on another compatible device over a broadband network, and it recommends at least 15 Mbps for a better experience, with 5 Mbps as the minimum.

The Steam Deck does not use Sony’s official PS Remote Play desktop app in the normal SteamOS workflow. Instead, most users rely on chiaki-ng, a free and open-source PlayStation Remote Play client for PS4 and PS5 that supports real-time play when a network connection is available.

Before starting, check this short prep list:

  • Update your PS5 system software and Steam Deck system software.

  • Sign in to the PSN account connected to your PS5.

  • Keep the PS5 turned on for first-time registration.

  • Have a keyboard nearby if you dislike typing in Desktop Mode.

  • Disable VPNs during first setup if discovery or login behaves strangely.

Steam Deck beside a PS5 on a home Wi-Fi setup

Follow these setup steps

Tester's Note: From personal experience, I recommend doing the first full setup in Desktop Mode, then moving to Gaming Mode only after you have confirmed the stream launches.

  1. Enable Remote Play on the PS5. On your PS5, go to Settings, then System, then Remote Play, and turn on Enable Remote Play. This allows the console to accept PS5 remote play sessions from approved devices. If you want to wake the PS5 without walking to the console, go to Settings, System, Power Saving, then Features Available in Rest Mode, and enable Stay Connected to the Internet plus Enable Turning on PS5 from Network. chiaki-ng’s setup documentation lists these as the PS5 rest mode options needed for wake support.

  2. Switch the Steam Deck to Desktop Mode. Press the Steam button, choose Power, then select Switch to Desktop. Desktop Mode is where you can install apps, manage files, and complete the first registration cleanly. If the on-screen keyboard gets in the way, press Steam + X to toggle it.

  3. Install chiaki-ng. Open the Discover software center and search for chiaki-ng or Chiaki4Deck, depending on how it appears in the package listing. Install it, then launch it once from Desktop Mode. The chiaki-ng setup overview specifically covers Steam Deck setup, including installation, configuration, and adding the app to Game Mode.

  4. Let chiaki-ng find your PS5. With the PS5 awake and both devices on the same home network, open chiaki-ng. Your console should appear automatically. If it does not, confirm the Deck is on the same Wi-Fi network, restart chiaki-ng, and wake the PS5 manually. The official chiaki-ng configuration guide notes that the PlayStation system should usually be automatically discovered when the client device is on the same wireless network and the console is on or in rest mode.

  5. Register chiaki-ng with PSN. Follow the PSN login prompt in chiaki-ng. This step helps enable remote connection via PSN and can support automatic registration. If the login page times out, retry, refresh the page, or use another browser from Desktop Mode; the chiaki-ng documentation notes that expired codes or login timeouts may require generating a fresh login code.

  6. Pair the PS5 with chiaki-ng. Click the discovered console in chiaki-ng and choose automatic registration if it is available. If you need manual pairing, go to Settings, System, Remote Play, then Link Device on the PS5. Enter the displayed Remote Play PIN in chiaki-ng and complete registration. Once successful, your PS5 should appear as a registered console.

  7. Start your first stream. Select the registered PS5 in chiaki-ng and launch the session. You should see the PS5 home screen on your Steam Deck. Test the D-pad, sticks, face buttons, triggers, touchpad mapping, and PS button shortcut before opening a fast game.

  8. Add chiaki-ng to Gaming Mode. Use chiaki-ng’s built-in Steam shortcut option if available, or add it through Steam as a non-Steam game. The chiaki-ng Game Mode guide describes a shortcut creation flow from the main menu that can add artwork and a Steam Deck controller shortcut.

Tune the stream for smoother play

Pro Tip: In my testing, I start with conservative settings, play for five minutes, then raise quality only if the audio and camera movement stay clean.

Streaming PS5 to Steam Deck depends more on network stability than raw internet speed when you are at home. If the PS5 is wired and your router is close, 1080p can look better than 720p on the Deck because the stream has more image data before scaling. If you see stutter, dropped inputs, or audio crackle, lower the stream resolution or bitrate first.

Use this practical tuning order:

  • Start with 720p if your Wi-Fi is average or the router is far away.

  • Try 1080p when the PS5 is wired and the Deck has a strong signal.

  • Use 60 fps for action games if the stream remains stable.

  • Lower bitrate before changing everything else.

  • Keep HDR off unless you are using a Steam Deck OLED and have configured HDR properly on the PS5.

  • Prefer a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network over a crowded 2.4 GHz network.

For controls, the built-in Steam Deck layout is usually enough for handheld play. chiaki-ng also documents gyro support for games that use motion controls, with Steam Deck gyro working out of the box in supported cases.

Steam Deck screen showing a PS5 game streamed through remote play

Fix common PS5 Remote Play problems

Tester's Note: From personal experience, most “bad stream” problems come from Wi-Fi congestion, not the Steam Deck itself, so I test beside the router before changing app settings.

If your PS5 does not appear, verify that both devices are on the same network and that Remote Play is enabled. If your router separates guest networks from main networks, move the Steam Deck off the guest network. If discovery still fails, use manual registration and enter the PS5’s local IP address from the console information screen.

If registration fails, generate a fresh Link Device code and enter it quickly. PSN login codes can expire, and browser handoff issues may require trying again. If the stream launches but closes immediately, restart the PS5, restart the Steam Deck, then reopen chiaki-ng in Desktop Mode once before trying Gaming Mode.

For lag or blurry video, use this troubleshooting checklist:

  • Put the PS5 on Ethernet if possible.

  • Move the Steam Deck closer to the router.

  • Pause large downloads on the PS5, Deck, PC, or phone.

  • Lower chiaki-ng resolution to 720p.

  • Reduce bitrate until input delay improves.

  • Reboot the router if every device feels slow.

  • Avoid using Remote Play while the PS5 is downloading a large game update.

If buttons feel wrong, open the Steam controller settings for the chiaki-ng shortcut. For DualSense use, chiaki-ng notes that a PlayStation controller must be connected by Bluetooth or USB before its controller tab appears, and disabling Steam Input can provide a more native controller experience in some setups.

Play away from home carefully

Pro Tip: I always confirm local remote play works perfectly before testing hotel, office, or mobile hotspot play, because remote access adds too many variables to diagnose at once.

Playing outside your home network is possible, but it is more sensitive to router settings, NAT behavior, upload speed, and network restrictions. If your local setup is unstable, remote play over the internet will usually feel worse. Start by making sure the PS5 wakes from rest mode and streams reliably while you are still at home.

chiaki-ng supports remote connection workflows, but its remote connection documentation notes PlayStation Remote Play uses IPv4 for this setup and includes port-forwarding guidance for PS5. (streetpea.github.io) If you are uncomfortable changing router settings, avoid port forwarding until you understand your router’s security options. A safer route for some advanced users is a private VPN into the home network, but that also requires careful setup.

Keep the setup easy to launch

Tester's Note: In my setup, naming the shortcut “PS5 Remote Play” makes it much easier to find quickly in Gaming Mode than leaving the app under its package name.

Once everything works, treat chiaki-ng like a dedicated handheld PS5 launcher. Add it to Gaming Mode, give it a clear name, and save a controller layout that includes the PlayStation touchpad and PS button actions where you expect them. This turns remote play ps5 sessions into a two-step routine: wake the Deck, open the shortcut.

For the best long-term experience, keep chiaki-ng updated through Discover, update the PS5 normally, and retest your settings after major network or router changes. If performance suddenly drops, return to the basics: wired PS5, strong Wi-Fi, lower bitrate, and a fresh app restart. Once dialed in, ps5 remote play on Steam Deck is one of the easiest ways to keep playing your console games anywhere your home network can reach.