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Steam Link > Apple macOS > Topic Details
Steam Remote Play on macOS fails after starting desktop capture (audio works, video aborts)
I am reporting a Steam Remote Play / Steam Link issue on macOS.

Host:
- Mac mini
- macOS
- Steam desktop client

Client:
- iPhone using the Steam Link app

Problem:
Remote Play worked normally until last night, but started failing this morning.
When I connect from Steam Link on iPhone, audio is transmitted correctly, but video never appears.
On the Mac, Steam enters Big Picture mode and then restarts / aborts the streaming session.

Important notes:
- Screen Recording permission is already granted for Steam in macOS Privacy & Security.
- I already tested clean reboot sessions, reinstalled Steam, and changed Remote Play hardware acceleration related settings, but the issue remains.
- Network test in Steam Link can show “Good”, but actual Remote Play still fails.

Relevant log lines from streaming_log.txt:
- Starting desktop capture at 1920x1080
- Changing record window
- Driver deadlock in hardware accelerated desktop capture, restarting
- Driver deadlock in hardware accelerated desktop capture, aborting

This looks like a host-side macOS desktop capture failure rather than a permission issue.
I attached streaming_log.txt for investigation.
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Showing 1-4 of 4 comments
Packetdancer  [developer]
Mar 23 @ 1:54pm 
Do you have the full streaming_log.txt somewhere? You say you attached it, but I don't see it anywhere in the thread here.

Sadly, the "Driver deadlock" lines just mean that the Capture() call in desktop capture isn't returning, which... is useful, but doesn't say *why* it isn't returning.
#1
_t2000_
Jun 28 @ 7:24pm 
did you get this working? having same issue / log
#2
Packetdancer  [developer]
Jun 29 @ 2:30pm 
Originally posted by _t2000_:
did you get this working? having same issue / log
Same question for you as for the original poster -- do you have the streaming_log.txt anywhere?

Also, is this also a Mac mini (like OP), and which version of macOS are you on?
#3
_t2000_
Jun 29 @ 7:05pm 
Originally posted by Packetdancer:
Originally posted by _t2000_:
did you get this working? having same issue / log
Same question for you as for the original poster -- do you have the streaming_log.txt anywhere?

Also, is this also a Mac mini (like OP), and which version of macOS are you on?

Hi - thanks for the reply.

I am on an iMac M1 Sonoma 14.7

I have enabled Steam in the Screen & System Audio Recording

Log:

[2026-06-29 21:44:02] Client version: 1782533657 [2026-06-29 21:44:02][65.146712] Clearing capture only gameID [2026-06-29 21:44:02][65.151107] Streaming initialized and listening on port 27031 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453371] Streaming started to Apple TV at 192.168.1.173:57483, audio channels = 2, MTU = 1472 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453393] Streaming quality: k_EStreamQualityBalanced [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453402] Streaming bitrate: Automatic [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453411] Device form factor: TV [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453564] Maximum capture: 3840x1080 60.00 FPS [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453575] Video Streaming: enabled [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453582] Audio Streaming: enabled [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.453589] Input Streaming: enabled [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.455766] ===================================================================== [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.456045] Game: UNKNOWN (0) [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.456134] Setting target bitrate to 15000 Kbit/s, burst bitrate is 75000 Kbit/s [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.456221] Creating new audio encoder for codec 3 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.457288] Encoder audio init succeeded, now have 1 encoder(s) [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.470649] Changing record window: 0x892 (2194) [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.477561] >>> Starting desktop stream [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.477673] SynchronizeClientState(): setting capture size 2240x1260 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.481511] SynchronizeClientState(): setting title to Steam Big Picture Mode [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.481622] SynchronizeClientState(): setting cursor to 3804874846 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.481646] SynchronizeClientState(): setting activity to k_EStreamActivityDesktop: Steam Controller Configs - Desktop [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.487441] Recording system audio [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.561286] >>> Switching video stream from NONE to Desktop_MovieStream [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.578304] Audio mix: start=90969065473, returned=0 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.578318] Audio source [Steam Streaming Speakers]: init=0, adjustment=0, through=0, last_start=0, mixed=0, drop_before=0, drop_after=0 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.578491] Starting desktop capture at 1920x1080 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686287] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetQoS [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686299] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetTargetBitrate [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686303] CLIENT: Starting audio stream: frequency=48000, channels=2 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686307] CLIENT: Opened audio device: format=2, channels=2, frequency=48000 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686311] CLIENT: Initialized audio decoder: codec=3, sample rate=48000, channels=2 [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686315] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlStartAudioData [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686319] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetSpectatorMode [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686322] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetCaptureSize [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686326] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetTitle [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686330] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetCursor [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686333] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetActivity [2026-06-29 21:44:04][67.686337] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetCursorImage [2026-06-29 21:44:15][78.327585] Driver deadlock in hardware accelerated desktop capture, restarting [2026-06-29 21:44:15][78.327608] Driver deadlock in hardware accelerated desktop capture, aborting [2026-06-29 21:44:22] Client version: 1782533657 [2026-06-29 21:44:22][3.397637] Restoring default audio device: iMac Speakers
#4
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Steam Link > Apple macOS > Topic Details
Date Posted: Mar 21 @ 4:18am
Posts: 4
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