Sunshine
Sunshine is a self-hosted game-streaming host that captures a desktop or application and serves it to a compatible client. This page covers host and client roles, encoder checks, network scope and session cleanup.
What Sunshine provides
Sunshine turns a computer into a streaming host that captures selected applications or the desktop and sends video and input to a compatible client. The host and client have different responsibilities: encoder capability, display capture and input policy live on the host, while decoding and controller behavior live on the client.
Network and session boundaries
Start with a private network, pair one client and verify the host identity before adding more devices. Keep the management interface separate from the streaming path, use an account or pairing policy appropriate for the household and close sessions that no longer need input access.
Maintenance note
This page reviews Sunshine for self-hosted streaming, encoder selection, client pairing and session hygiene. Content review date: 2026-08-23.
Save to your cloud drive
Open the cloud drive to get the file directly, or save it for convenient access on another device.
Quark Cloud Drive
RecommendedSave Sunshine to this cloud drive
Baidu Netdisk
Save Sunshine to this cloud drive
Sunshine streaming host guide
Configure one private host, pair one client, test a simple application and record encoder and latency results before expanding the setup.
Before you start
- Prepare a host computer with a supported display and encoder path.
- Use a client on the same trusted network for the first pairing.
- Decide which applications and input devices the session should expose.
Installation steps
- 01
Configure the host
Install Sunshine, confirm the host display and encoder, set an administrator credential and verify that the management interface is reachable only through the intended network.
- 02
Pair one client
Open the client, compare the displayed host identity, complete pairing and grant only the input and application access needed for the test.
- 03
Test video and input
Stream a low-risk application, check frame pacing, audio, controller input and latency, then record the encoder, resolution and network conditions.
Quick start
- 01
Keep host applications explicit
Add only the applications that should be launched remotely and review their working directory and arguments before exposing them to a client.
- 02
Tune one variable at a time
Change resolution, bitrate, frame rate or encoder separately and compare the same test scene so a visual improvement does not hide a latency regression.
- 03
End and review sessions
Close the stream, check that input control has ended and remove stale pairings when a client is retired or shared access changes.
Usage tips
- Keep management credentials separate from game or desktop account credentials.
- Test a recovery path through local access before relying on a remote session for administration.
- Avoid exposing the host management interface on a public network without a reviewed access policy.
Troubleshooting and uninstall
Why is the stream black or missing an application?
Check the selected display, capture permission, application entry and encoder path, then test a simple desktop or window capture before changing network settings.
Why does input lag increase after raising quality?
Compare encoder load, bitrate, frame pacing and network latency, then reduce one quality setting or choose a different encoder after recording the baseline.
- Remove pairings and applicationsEnd active streams, revoke client pairings and remove application entries that should no longer be launchable remotely.
- Remove SunshineStop the host service, uninstall Sunshine through the operating system and remove configuration or logs only after preserving the session and pairing records needed for review.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sunshine a streaming client?
Sunshine is primarily a host. A compatible client receives the stream and sends input back to the host.
Should Sunshine be exposed directly to the public internet?
Start with a private network and a reviewed access path. Keep management and streaming exposure limited to the devices and networks that need them.
Does the download require an extraction code?
The Quark entry does not require one; the four-character code for the Baidu entry is shown beside its download entry.