protonscr

Problem with Steam Remote Play on Arch Linux: Black Screen on Client (Nvidia GPU)

steamopen StreamingDistro Family: Arch
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#11718 · opened 2025-01-31 by Davidekiller1999 · updated 2025-10-11 · 5 comments · github
DDavidekiller1999 2025-01-31 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 27/1/2025
  • Distribution arch linux
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: no
  • Have you checked for system updates?: yes
  • GPU: Nvidia rtx 3070

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

I'm facing an issue with Steam Remote Play on Arch Linux. When I use my PC as the host (playing games on Steam), everything works fine. However, when my Arch PC becomes the client (to stream games from another PC), the screen goes completely black, although the session stats (FPS, bitrate, etc.) are still visible.

Disabled hardware decoding in Steam Remote Play settings.
Forced the use of VA-API with Nvidia (command: export LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME=nvidia and export VDPAU_DRIVER=nvidia).
Checked vainfo output, which confirms that NVDEC hardware decoding is supported.
Tried disabling hardware decoding directly in Steam and restarting.
Nvidia drivers and libraries: Installed the correct packages (nvidia, lib32-nvidia-utils, libva-nvidia-driver, etc.).

i tried to:

Forced the use of VA-API with Nvidia (command: export LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME=nvidia and export VDPAU_DRIVER=nvidia).
Checked vainfo output, which confirms that NVDEC hardware decoding is supported.
Tried disabling hardware decoding directly in Steam and restarting.
Nvidia drivers and libraries: Installed the correct packages (nvidia, lib32-nvidia-utils, libva-nvidia-driver, etc.).

the information seems to overlap with each other.

Image
Image

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. open steam
  2. start streaming via another PC
  3. see the problem
AAmb0s 2025-03-16 github

I have the same issue. I used to be able to play with some friends as a client last year but now I can only act as a host.

  • Distribution: Arch Linux
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB
  • Have you checked for system updates?: yes
  • GPU drivers version: 570.124.04
  • Steam client version: 1741737356
  • GNOME session: X11
Mmicah-raney 2025-03-19 github

same here. input and sound are captured fine, just no video.

Distribution: Manjaro
GPU: AMD/Gigabyte RX580
Have you checked for system updates?: yes
KDE session: X11 or Wayland, either way doesn't work

BBeefyAndTheDucks 2025-06-08 github

Sorry for necro, but same here. I can see my friend's mouse cursor and hear the audio, but I'm unable to see the game itself.
Distribution: Vanilla Arch Linux
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650 (Mobile) with nvidia-open-dkms drivers
Kernel: 6.14.10-zen1-1-zen (Vanilla kernel also doesn't work)
Have you checked for system updates?: yes
KDE session: X11 or Wayland, none work.

Kkatzerax 2025-07-11 github

same deal.
Distro: Arch
GPU: Nvidia 4070 supre
Kernel: 6.15.5 stock
Updated? Yes
KDE session: Wayland.

ZZnephf 2025-10-11 github

Got the same Problem here.
Distro: Manjaro KDE
GPU: NVIDIA 1070
Kernel: 6.17
KDE Session: Wayland

Nothing extracted yet.