Remote Play lets you play the games on your Xbox or PlayStation console from another screen: a phone, tablet, laptop, or Sony’s PlayStation Portal. The console does the work and streams the picture to you over your home network or the internet. This guide covers Xbox Remote Play and PlayStation Remote Play step by step, explains how it differs from cloud gaming, and fixes the most common “Xbox Remote Play not working” problems.
Remote Play vs cloud gaming
Remote Play streams from your own console, so it can play anything installed on it, including disc games, and it does not need a subscription. Cloud gaming streams from Microsoft’s or Sony’s servers, so your console can stay off, but it only plays games in the cloud catalog and needs Game Pass or PlayStation Plus Premium. If you own the console and play at home, Remote Play is usually the better option. See our Xbox Cloud Gaming guide for the other route.
How to set up Xbox Remote Play
- On your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system > Settings > Devices & connections > Remote features.
- Tick Enable remote features. The console runs a quick test of your network.
- Set the power mode to Sleep (Settings > General > Power options) so the console can be woken remotely.
- Install the Xbox app on your phone, tablet or Windows PC and sign in with the same account.
- In the app, choose your console from the library and select Remote play on this device.
- Connect a controller to your phone or PC, or use on-screen touch controls in supported games.
How to play Xbox games on your phone
There are two ways to play Xbox games on a phone. Remote Play streams from your own Xbox using the Xbox app on Android or iPhone. Xbox Cloud Gaming streams from Microsoft’s servers through the Xbox app on Android or xbox.com/play in Safari on iPhone. Either way, a Bluetooth Xbox controller or a clip-on controller such as a Backbone or Razer Kishi gives the best experience. Our guide to connecting an Xbox controller to a phone explains pairing.
How to set up PlayStation Remote Play
- On your PS5, go to Settings > System > Remote Play and turn on Enable Remote Play.
- In Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode, turn on Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning On PS5 from Network.
- Install the PS Remote Play app on your phone, tablet, Windows PC or Mac and sign in to the same PlayStation account.
- Choose PS5 in the app; it finds your console and connects.
- Pair a DualSense controller over Bluetooth for the best controls.
People often search for a “PlayStation app for PC” when they mean the PS Remote Play app for Windows. The separate PlayStation App on phones handles messages, store purchases and remote downloads, not gameplay.
PlayStation Portal remote player
The PlayStation Portal is Sony’s dedicated Remote Play device: an 8-inch screen with DualSense controls built in. It costs $249.99 and connects straight to your PS5 over Wi-Fi, and since late 2025 it can also stream games from the cloud with PlayStation Plus Premium. Deals on the PlayStation Portal remote player usually appear during Black Friday and Days of Play. Read the full PlayStation Portal review and our PlayStation deals guide.
Can you use a laptop as a monitor for Xbox?
A common question, also searched in Spanish as “como usar tu laptop como monitor Xbox”. Most laptops have an HDMI output, not an input, so plugging your Xbox into a laptop’s HDMI port will not show a picture and will not damage anything either. The easy solution is Remote Play: install the Xbox app on the laptop, enable remote features on the console, and stream the Xbox to the laptop screen over your network. The other option is a USB capture card, which turns the laptop into a display with OBS or similar software, but it adds cost and a little lag.
The Xbox remote for TV and media
If you searched “Xbox remote” you may mean the physical Xbox Media Remote, a small infrared remote for controlling video apps and Blu-ray playback on Xbox One and Series X|S. You can also control the console from your phone using the Xbox app’s remote control feature, or link the console to an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device for voice commands such as turning it on.
Xbox Remote Play not working? Fixes
- Run the remote features test again in Settings > Devices & connections > Remote features. It tells you whether your network supports Remote Play and shows NAT type.
- Set power mode to Sleep. In Energy saving mode the console cannot be woken from the app.
- Use the same Microsoft account on the console and the app.
- Fix NAT type: a Strict NAT blocks Remote Play outside your home. Enable UPnP on your router; see our UPnP not successful fix.
- Improve the connection: wire the console to the router with Ethernet and use 5 GHz Wi-Fi on the phone or laptop.
- Update the app and console, then restart both.
- Check Xbox services on the Xbox status page; Remote Play needs the Xbox network to sign in.
PS Remote Play not connecting? Fixes
- Make sure both devices use the same PSN account and the PS5 is in rest mode with network features enabled.
- Register the device manually in Settings > System > Remote Play > Link Device if automatic search fails.
- Restart the router; Remote Play outside your home needs an upload speed of at least 15 Mbps for a stable picture.
- Lower the video quality in the Remote Play app settings if the stream keeps stopping.
Internet speed and settings for Remote Play
At home, Remote Play mostly depends on your Wi-Fi, not your internet plan. Microsoft and Sony recommend at least 5 to 15 Mbps between devices, but the real key is stability and low latency. Outside the home, your home internet’s upload speed matters most: many cable plans have fast downloads but slow uploads, which limits Remote Play away from home. For the best results, plug the console in with Ethernet, choose 1080p only if your network is stable, and play on a 5 GHz connection close to the router.
Remote Play FAQ
Is Remote Play free?
Yes. Neither Xbox Remote Play nor PS Remote Play needs a subscription. Online multiplayer inside the game still needs Game Pass Essential or PlayStation Plus as usual.
Can I Remote Play disc games?
Yes, as long as the disc is in the console.
Can someone else use my console while I Remote Play?
No. Remote Play uses the console, so the TV shows the same game or a blank screen while you stream.
Which is better, Xbox Remote Play or PS Remote Play?
Both work well on a good home network. PS Remote Play has the advantage of the dedicated PlayStation Portal, while Xbox Remote Play is built into the same Xbox app that also handles cloud gaming, so you can switch between your console and the cloud with one tap.
Set up Remote Play once and it becomes the easiest way to keep playing when the TV is busy.