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macOS host does not stream audio for years
Hi folks,

I have an Intel MacBook Pro with three partitions each running a different macOS version - Mojave, Catalina, and Big Sur. When I attempt to host a game via Steam Link from my mac on any of those OS versions, then the video of the game streams fine, but audio does not (it only plays on the host, there is no sound on the client).

I've investigated the issue and it seems that the problem is with the audio driver (aka a kernel extension) that Steam Link installs on mac during the first attempt to start a Steam Link session. That audio driver is made by a company called Ambrosia Audio. That driver captures audio from the host and streams it to the Steam Link client. The problem is that the company Ambrosia Audio has been dissolved for some years now. As a result, that driver has not been maintained and as far as I can tell does not support the three newest macOS versions.

This has been going on for years and has resulted in tens of thousands (?) frustrated mac users wanting to stream games via Steam Link from their macs, but not being able to hear audio on their Steam Link client machines. Can Valve please comment on the matter? If you are not going to fix this, then can you at least please mention this in Steam Link documentation and adjust the user interface on the Steam app on macOS?

PS Worth mentioning that hosting Steam Link stream from an Intel mac running the latest OS Big Sur does not work out of the box at all. It requires doing this nasty workaround https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/2/3004429475624592660/ The audio still does not work though.
Last edited by rnz; Jan 10, 2021 @ 12:40am
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Showing 1-10 of 10 comments
EGO
Jan 10, 2021 @ 3:41pm 
Finally - I wasn't just me!

Yes Valve - we know you have one of the most talented software teams and individuals in the world.

Please bring the library of amazing games on you platform to more families! If steak link works, then that immediately gives me a game console anywhere in my home using a unified library.

Also - it just makes sense to make software that works in a basic fashion for popular OSs.

Thanks and lets get this fixed! (or if it can't be fixed, let us know so we can stop thinking about this).

#1
TuorTheBlessed
Sep 30, 2021 @ 2:31pm 
Done hours of digging on this. It really does seem like using Steam Link connected to a Mac running Steam is just broke. For YEARS and literally I have not seen one comment from Valve on it and no workarounds. If I enjoy Apple products and want to use Steam Link, I just can’t. Not because of a conscious development choice, but because it broke at some point and no one at Valve cares to fix it. Extremely disappointed. Probably just going with native Mac apps from now on.
#2
TuorTheBlessed
Oct 2, 2021 @ 7:00pm 
Just updated my Mac yesterday and put Steam in beta mode. Not sure which it was but got it working now!!
#3
Sambarilov
Oct 9, 2023 @ 5:19pm 
2023 and still having this issue. Tried putting Steam on beta even though it's been a while since the last post but it didn't work. That's a bummer
#4
scotty
Mar 2, 2024 @ 4:03am 
broken for me
#5
oracolo
Mar 17, 2024 @ 1:43am 
Same here. Tried everything I could come up with: beta, stable, deleting profile and reinstalling, rebooting too many times, manually selecting "Steam Streaming Speakers" as output, tried local audio output also, checked multiple times macOS preferences to allow everything I could to every app involved… nothing at all.
#6
Axl
Mar 21, 2024 @ 1:16pm 
tried a million things, mac to appletv steam link game audio just does not work
#7
gpd
1
Nov 11, 2024 @ 2:00am 
I found the solution to this, at least in my case. It doesn't make sense, but I had to toggle on allowing Steam access to the microphone in Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone.

Why Steam needs access to the Microphone just to play audio via speakers, I don't know. But I tried everything else I could find online and could think of, and this was was what fixed it for me.

This is on an M2 Macbook Pro running Sonoma.
#8
remerkin
Jun 19, 2025 @ 10:28am 
Originally posted by gpd:
I found the solution to this, at least in my case. It doesn't make sense, but I had to toggle on allowing Steam access to the microphone in Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone.

Why Steam needs access to the Microphone just to play audio via speakers, I don't know. But I tried everything else I could find online and could think of, and this was was what fixed it for me.

This is on an M2 Macbook Pro running Sonoma.

Holy crap this worked on my Mac Mini M4 Pro! I tried all kinds of other things like uninstalling the audio drivers, reinstalling the steam link app on my phone, etc. Thank you!
#9
Gladiator
Jul 10, 2025 @ 6:28am 
Originally posted by remerkin:
Originally posted by gpd:
I found the solution to this, at least in my case. It doesn't make sense, but I had to toggle on allowing Steam access to the microphone in Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone.

Why Steam needs access to the Microphone just to play audio via speakers, I don't know. But I tried everything else I could find online and could think of, and this was was what fixed it for me.

This is on an M2 Macbook Pro running Sonoma.

Holy crap this worked on my Mac Mini M4 Pro! I tried all kinds of other things like uninstalling the audio drivers, reinstalling the steam link app on my phone, etc. Thank you!


I am on Mac mini m4 pro too. Could you please tell me what do you use exactly? Whisky?! CrossOver or any details would help. The audio issue is driving me crazy
#10
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Steam Link > Apple iOS / Apple TV / Vision Pro > Topic Details
Date Posted: Jan 10, 2021 @ 12:36am
Posts: 10
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