How to Use Remote Play on PS4

For years, Sony’s PS4 Remote Play service was superior to Microsoft’s Xbox solution in that gamers could stream their PlayStation 4 console from anywhere across the nation, not just within the house. They could use the PlayStation Vita handheld, the PS TV set-top box, the mobile apps, or the desktop software for Windows and MacOS.

Xbox One owners weren’t quite so lucky. Before the recent arrival of Xbox Remote Play, they could only stream to a Windows PC using the Xbox app. Moreover, streaming was locked to the local network. On the plus side, this in-house lockdown guaranteed great performance.

However, having a remote service introduces latency. At first glance, PS4 owners appear to simply stream their console across the local network. But even if the console is connected via an Ethernet cable, there are performance issues, making Microsoft’s local service a bit more stable.

Sony won’t reveal how its PS4 Remote Play service actually works, but the latency indicates that the stream first goes to Sony’s cloud servers before arriving to the locally connected Vita, PS TV, or PC. Why? So the “client” devices can access the stream on any network. This assumption is backed by the Vita and PS TV’s ability to directly connect with the PS4 and bypass the internet connection altogether.

That said, here are a few general tips to get the best out of PS4 Remote Play:

• Use Ethernet connections.
• For wireless devices, use the 5GHz band.
• Park all devices close to the router for the best wireless performance.

Step 1: On the PS4, open Settings and select Remote Play Connection Settings. The box beside Enable Remote Play must be checked.

Step 2: Back out and select Account Management on the list.

Step 3: Select Activate as Your Primary PS4.

Step 4: Select Activate on the following screen. This tells Sony’s servers that your PS4 will now serve as the host for streaming games to any device logged in using the same Sony Entertainment Network account.

Step 5: Back out to the main Settings panel and select Power Save Settings.

Step 6: Select Set Features Available in Rest Mode.

Step 7: Check (enable) two settings: Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning On PS4 for Network. These settings allow the remote client device to turn the PS4 on while it’s in Rest Mode.

With the PS4 now registered to the PlayStation Network as your streaming server, you can move on to the “client” devices. Note that the PS4 must be connected to the internet and logged in to the PlayStation Network to pair client devices and stream games.

A good rule of thumb is to have the PlayStation 4 wired to the network to reduce latency. You can do the same with the PS TV unit, but the Vita doesn’t have that option.

However, the handheld has a “direct connect” mode for a better connection versus using the local network. The PS TV unit also provides this feature if you can’t physically connect it to the local network. To enable this connection, do the following on the PS4:

Step 1: Open Settings and select Remote Play Connection Settings.

Step 2: On the following screen, check (enable) Connect Directly with PS Vita/PS TV.

If these two devices move out of range, or you take them to another house or hotel, they will default to the local wireless connection.

Step 1: Turn on the Vita or PS TV unit and update it to the latest firmware, if necessary.

Step 2: Be sure all devices are connected to the PlayStation Network with the same Sony Entertainment Network account.

Step 3: On the Vita or PS TV, select the PS4 Link button followed by Start.

Step 4: Select Remote Play on the following screen.

The system will now search for any PS4 present on the network. If successful, the PS4 Home screen should appear on the Vita or PS TV. After the initial pairing, the PS4 will wake from sleep whenever the PS4 Link app requests a session.

Troubleshooting

If the Vita or PS TV cannot locate the PS4, do the following:

Step 1: On the PS4, open Settings and select Remote Play Connection Settings.

Step 2: Select Add Device.

The screen will provide a one-time code for 300 seconds. Use that code in the PS4 Link app to manually pair the PS4 with the Vita or PS TV unit.

Once the process completes, the consoles will now be synced and you can play the PS4 remotely.

The Vita’s front screen and rear touch panel usually take the place of the R2 and L2 triggers, and the R3 and L3 toggles on the analog sticks, but this can differ between games. Some games, such as Destiny 2 and Fallout 4, feature Remote Play-specific control schemes for the Vita. Be sure to double-check the controls, which are usually located in the options menu for most games.

For the PS TV, use a DualShock 4 rather than the included DualShock 3. The latter isn’t compatible as a PlayStation 4 controller.

As shown on the above chart, Windows 10 and MacOS 10.15 support DualShock 4 controllers over Bluetooth. If the Mac or PC doesn’t have Bluetooth, then gamers will need to fall back on a wired USB connection. MacOS 10.12 only supports wired DualShock 4 controllers.

With both Windows and MacOS, gamers are restricted from using third-party controllers. PS4 Remote Play only supports Sony’s DualShock 4. Gamers also cannot stream to a Mac or Windows PC while using a controller connected to the console — the controller must be connected to the PC.

As seen in the above example, there is added support for DualShock 4 controllers on Bluetooth devices with both Android 10 and iOS 13 models. Particular devices without Bluetooth technology or those designed with dated operating systems are restricted to only touch control access.