Been using Moonlight for a couple months with basically zero issues, but the last few days I keep getting the “slow connection to PC, reduce your bitrate” warning.
Nothing in my setup changed afaik.
Host PC is wired to the router and I’m streaming to a Steam Deck over 5 GHz WiFi. Usually running 2560×1600 @ 90fps with bitrate around 85 Mbps. Used to be buttery smooth, now every few minutes I’ll get a nasty stutter + the warning, then it clears up again.
Internet speed is fine and the PC itself isn’t dropping connection.
Before I start messing with every Moonlight setting imaginable, what should I actually be checking?
If the host is wired and this suddenly started, I’d look at WiFi before Moonlight. Your internet speed doesn’t really matter for local streaming. Could be interference, channel congestion, Deck jumping between APs, etc. Check what channel your router is on and whether your neighbors decided to fill it up recently. Apartment WiFi changes all the damn time even when you changed nothing.
I’d scan the WiFi around the Deck too. NetSpot is handy for this — open Inspector, check your 5 GHz channel, neighboring APs and signal level where you normally play. Leave the signal graph running for a bit and see if anything weird lines up with the stutters. Had a similar thing after a neighbor apparently upgraded their router. My RSSI was fine, but suddenly the channel was packed. Switched channels and it stopped.
85 Mbps isn’t insane, but drop it to like 50–60 temporarily.
@Ok-Cantaloupe-90 Ok this might actually be it.
turn on Moonlight’s stats overlay when it happens. Look at network latency + dropped frames instead of guessing.
Downloaded a scanner and there are like 9 networks sitting around the same channels now. Pretty sure there weren’t that many before. Also tried 55 Mbps and the warning happens way less often, but I still caught it once. Gonna change the channel tonight and test again.