Streaming PC games on Nintendo Switch

Hi everyone!

I've always found the game selection on the Nintendo Switch a bit underwhelming for my personal taste, but I do love the device. I enjoy playing AAA games comfortably in bed or on the couch, and that was one of the main reasons I appreciated Stadia. Sure, you could have another console and it would arguably be better, but that's not the point here.

There are solutions for streaming games on Android or iOS, but I wanted to do it on the Switch, taking advantage of its strengths. The other day, I came across this video and wanted to try the process on my Android device. All good, except I don't really like using my phone for gaming. How can I chat and share fun videos if my screen is occupied by a game?

In the video (which I recommend following to install Apollo, especially for the permissions part), the author mentions that Apollo is compatible with Moonlight, so I did some research and found the Switch version of the app. Time to get started!

Note: I'm not suggesting you should jailbreak or mod your Switch, but this app is only available for modded consoles 🤷

I recommend following the procedure with your Nintendo Switch and PC running Apollo nearby.

I chose to use HB App Store, search for Moonlight, and install it. If Apollo is up and running, when you launch Moonlight, the Apollo instance will be detected by the Switch. Tap on the instance, and a PIN will appear. Now, open the Apollo web UI, click on PIN, and then on PIN Pairing. Enter the PIN displayed on the Switch, and the connection will be established.

Settings on the Switch

Go back to the Moonlight app and click on Settings. In the right tab, make sure FPS is set to 60, Resolution to 720p, Video Bitrate to 100 Mbps, and Key mapping to Switch. Then, verify that In-game overlay is mapped to the + and - combination. Almost everything is ready! Return to the left panel, select your PC, and click Connect once it's ready (it might take a few seconds). Now, select the Desktop icon, and you're good to go!

Settings on the PC

As explained well in the video, you might want to turn off your monitors when the Switch is streaming (I assume you don't need them), but depending on your Windows version, you might find yourself in my situation, unable to disconnect the displays. This is because (obviously) one of the physical monitors is set as the main one. To disconnect them, you need to set the Switch's virtual display as the main one, and then you can disconnect the others.

One last thing

To regain control of your monitors, make sure to terminate the Desktop app within Moonlight: once you do, your monitors will turn back on as usual.

Happy streaming and thanks for following along!