How to stream PS5 to PC using Remote Play, OBS, or without a capture card
By Rocker Updated 8 min read
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On this page (8 sections)
In short: You can stream PS5 to PC using Sony's Remote Play app for direct streaming or combine Remote Play with OBS for Twitch streams. No capture card needed, but your network must be stable and your PC meet minimum specs.
Part of our guide on capture cards compatible with switch 2
Step-by-step methods show exactly how to stream PS5 to PC using Remote Play, OBS, or no capture card for Twitch and Discord.
| Remote Play max resolution | 1080p |
|---|---|
| Recommended network speed | 5 Mbps upload |
| Typical latency | 100-150 ms |
| OBS streaming delay | 2-5 seconds |
| Capture card needed? | No for Remote Play |
| PS5 firmware required | 8.00 or newer |
The short version
- Remote Play streams directly without extra hardware.
- OBS lets you add overlays and stream to Twitch or Discord.
- No capture card needed but expect some latency.
- A wired network connection improves stream quality.
- Discord streaming needs screen capture of Remote Play window.
What you need to stream PS5 to PC
You need a PS5 console updated to firmware 8.00 or newer for Remote Play. A PC running Windows 10 or macOS 10.13 or later is required.
Your home network should provide upload speeds of at least 5 Mbps to support smooth streaming. Wired Ethernet is better than Wi-Fi to reduce lag.
For streaming to Twitch or Discord, you need streaming software such as OBS Studio, which is free and widely supported.
A USB cable to connect your PS5 controller to the PC improves responsiveness during Remote Play sessions. For the detail, see our notes on green screen for streaming OBS.
If your PC supports Bluetooth version 5.0 or higher, connecting the DualSense controller wirelessly can reduce cable clutter. However, wired connections avoid Bluetooth interference and provide more stable input timing.
Some users prefer to use a second monitor or a laptop screen for Remote Play streaming. This setup lets you keep your TV free for other uses while streaming PS5 gameplay on your PC. Make sure your PC display supports 60 Hz refresh rate to match the PS5 output for smooth visuals.
- PS5 console with latest firmware
- Windows or Mac PC
- Wired Ethernet connection recommended
- USB cable for controller connection
- OBS Studio software for advanced streaming
How to use PS5 Remote Play to stream to PC
Remote Play is Sony's official app to stream PS5 gameplay to PC without a capture card. It handles video encoding and network transmission automatically. For the detail, see our notes on Xbox Series X Twitch streaming.
First, enable Remote Play on your PS5 under Settings > System > Remote Play. Turn on 'Enable Remote Play'. Your console should stay in rest mode or on to allow connections.
Next, download and install the Remote Play app on your PC from Sony's website. Open it and sign in with the same PlayStation Network account as your PS5.
Connect your PS5 controller to the PC via USB or Bluetooth. Launch the app, select your PS5 from the list of available consoles, and start streaming. It helps to understand capture card for ps5 streaming before going further.
When using Remote Play, placing your PS5 in rest mode with 'Stay Connected to the Internet' enabled helps reduce startup time for streaming sessions. The PS5 wakes faster and remains accessible for quick connections.
If your network is congested, Remote Play quality can drop. Prioritize your PS5 and PC with Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to improve streaming performance for Remote Play.
Remote Play supports up to 1080p streaming at 60fps on PC. If your network can't maintain this, it will drop to 720p or lower. Check the app's settings to adjust resolution manually if needed to stabilize stream quality. It helps to understand tune encoder and bitrate for low-end PCs before going further.
- Enable Remote Play on PS5 in system settings.
- Download and install Remote Play on PC.
- Sign into PSN with your account in the app.
- Connect DualSense controller to PC.
- Launch app and select your PS5 to stream.
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Streaming PS5 to PC via OBS setup
OBS Studio lets you capture the Remote Play app window to stream PS5 gameplay on Twitch or Discord with overlays and alerts.
Start Remote Play and connect to your PS5. Open OBS and add a new 'Window Capture' source targeting the Remote Play window.
Configure OBS output settings for Twitch or Discord streaming, setting bitrate to 3500-6000 kbps depending on your upload speed. There is more on choose between screen keys and macro pads in a separate guide.
Add overlays, webcam, or alerts in OBS if desired. Start streaming from OBS to your chosen platform while playing through Remote Play.
OBS allows adding audio filters to improve sound quality while streaming PS5 gameplay. Noise suppression and gain control can clean up background noise and balance microphone levels.
To reduce input lag, set OBS to use hardware encoding (like NVENC on Nvidia GPUs) if your PC supports it. This offloads encoding work from the CPU, resulting in smoother gameplay and better stream quality.
If you experience stuttering in the OBS stream, lower the frame rate to 30fps or reduce the bitrate. A 4500 kbps bitrate at 720p 30fps often balances quality and performance on average home internet connections.
- Open Remote Play and connect to PS5.
- Launch OBS Studio on your PC.
- Add 'Window Capture' source set to Remote Play window.
- Configure streaming settings in OBS.
- Start streaming to Twitch or Discord from OBS.
| Setting | Recommended value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video resolution | 1920×1080 | Match Remote Play max resolution |
| Bitrate | 3500-6000 kbps | Depends on upload speed |
| FPS | 60 | Matches PS5 output |
| Audio source | Remote Play audio | Capture game sound |
- Customizable streams with overlays
- No extra hardware required
- Supports Twitch and Discord
- Adds 2-5 seconds delay
- Requires extra PC resources
- Dependent on network quality
Streaming PS5 to PC without a capture card
If you don't have a capture card, the only official streaming method is Remote Play combined with software capture like OBS or Discord's screen share.
This method relies heavily on your network and PC performance. Expect some latency, usually 100-150 ms, which may affect fast-paced games.
Wired Ethernet connections on both PS5 and PC are essential to minimize packet loss and lag. Wi-Fi can cause stutters and frame drops.
Ensure your PC meets minimum specs: a quad-core CPU and 8GB RAM typically suffice for smooth Remote Play and OBS capture.
Screen sharing Remote Play on Discord is simple but can introduce latency and quality loss due to Discord's compression. Use it mainly for casual streams or gameplay sessions with friends.
If your PC or router struggles with network load, consider enabling ‘Limit Bandwidth’ options within Remote Play settings to reduce data usage and stabilize the connection.
For games that require fast reflexes, expect some input delay using this method. You can test latency by timing button presses against on-screen actions, which usually show 100-150 ms delay with wired connections.
- No capture card required
- Use Remote Play for video and audio
- Capture Remote Play window with OBS or Discord
- Wired network connections improve quality
- Expect 100-150 ms input latency
How to stream PS5 gameplay on Discord and Twitch from PC
Streaming PS5 gameplay on Discord uses screen share of the Remote Play window. On Twitch, OBS streams the captured Remote Play feed.
For Discord, join a voice or video call, click 'Screen Share', and select the Remote Play window. Choose the resolution and frame rate, then share.
On Twitch, set up OBS with your Twitch account. Start the Remote Play app, capture its window in OBS, and stream to Twitch with your configured settings.
Use a wired headset or mic on the PC for clear voice chat while streaming. Keep the Remote Play window visible and unminimized for smooth capture.
Discord and Twitch streaming work best when you disable hardware acceleration in Remote Play settings to avoid capture issues and black screens.
Use Discord's streaming options to select frame rate and resolution manually. For smooth gameplay, 720p at 30fps is a reliable choice if your network is limited.
OBS supports multiple audio sources, letting you mix game sound from Remote Play and your microphone input for Twitch streams. This setup enhances viewer experience with clear commentary and game audio balance.
- Start Remote Play and connect to PS5.
- For Discord: Join a call, select 'Screen Share', share Remote Play window.
- For Twitch: Open OBS, capture Remote Play window, start streaming.
- Use wired headset for voice during streams.
Common mistakes when streaming PS5 to PC
- Using Wi-Fi instead of wired Ethernet -> Switch to wired connections for stability.
- Not updating PS5 firmware -> Update to firmware 8.00 or newer to use Remote Play.
- Capturing full display instead of Remote Play window -> Use window capture to reduce lag.
- Ignoring PC specs -> Ensure at least quad-core CPU and 8GB RAM for smooth streaming.
- Minimizing Remote Play app during streaming -> Keep app visible to avoid black screens.
Questions people still ask
Can I stream PS5 to PC without Remote Play?
Officially, no. Remote Play is Sony's only software to stream PS5 video to PC without a capture card. Third-party methods are limited and unreliable.
What causes input lag when streaming PS5 to PC?
Input lag mainly comes from network latency and the encoding/decoding process in Remote Play and OBS. Wired Ethernet reduces lag significantly.
Do I need a powerful PC to stream PS5 gameplay?
A PC with a quad-core CPU and 8GB RAM usually handles streaming Remote Play smoothly. Higher specs improve encoding quality and reduce hiccups.
Can I use a capture card to stream PS5 to PC?
Yes. Capture cards provide lower latency and higher quality streams but cost extra. This guide focuses on no capture card methods.
How do I fix black screen when capturing Remote Play in OBS?
Use 'Window Capture' instead of 'Display Capture'. Also, disable hardware acceleration in Remote Play if available.