Steam Link Android TV Controller: A Bumpy Setup Experience

I recently installed the Steam Link app on my Apple TV, excited to play PC games from Steam on my living room TV. I've been using an Xbox One controller paired with my Apple TV for playing tvOS games, so I thought setting up the Steam Link app would be a breeze. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

As soon as I entered the Setup Controller screen in the Steam Link app on tvOS, the button configuration process began automatically. This made it difficult to navigate out of that screen, as any attempt to use my controller to do so would assign those buttons to other functions instead. For example, trying to use the d-pad and B buttons to navigate resulted in them being reassigned.

I soon realized that I had no way to back out of the button configuration process. Purely out of curiosity, I opened the controller settings > Setup Controller screen in Steam Link, but even this didn't allow me to undo the changes. It seemed like the app only allowed one input device at a time, which meant I couldn't use my Logitech Harmony remote or Apple TV remote to interact with the app when my controller was paired with the Apple TV.

My experience with configuring the controller's buttons was frustrating, and I struggled to find an obvious way to undo the changes. In hindsight, I wish I had taken more time to explore the setup options before diving in. While this experience wasn't ideal, it didn't deter me from enjoying my Steam games on my Apple TV. With a little patience and experimentation, I was able to get everything working smoothly.

About the Author

'Your Name' is a gamer who enjoys exploring new ways to play his favorite PC games on different devices. He recently installed the Steam Link app on his Apple TV and shares his experience with setting up the Android TV controller in this article.

Steam link android tv controller