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Frequently Asked Questions

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BrightCraft edited this page Jul 28, 2026 · 11 revisions

How do I add Moonlight to the home screen for quick access?

After installing Moonlight, highlight the app icon, then press and hold the Enter/Select/OK button on your remote control.

  • Select Add to Home from the menu and use the cursor to move the app to your preferred position in the home screen launcher row.

How can I view system information in Moonlight?

Inside the Moonlight app, open Settings → About → System information using your remote.

  • This field shows details about your TV model, Moonlight version, and other necessary system information.

How can I find my TV’s specifications and video capabilities?

To check your TV’s supported resolution, frame rate, bitrate, codecs, and other video capabilities, refer to Samsung’s official documentation:

Once you know your TV’s capabilities, this will help you choose the right video settings in the Moonlight app.

What streaming performance can I expect on the Tizen client?

Streaming performance depends on your host PC hardware, TV model capabilities, and network configuration. For best results, start with lower settings and gradually increase them until you reach the performance level that works best for your setup.

General compatibility:

  • Most Samsung TVs can reliably stream up to 4K 60 FPS HDR with Stereo audio, which represents the highest widely compatible configuration across supported models.

Advanced capabilities:

  • Some higher-end TV models may allow you to experiment with higher settings such as 4K 120 FPS HDR with 7.1 surround sound, but these configurations are not officially supported on all TVs and may vary depending on hardware and software limitations.

Performance considerations:

  • Video resolutions higher than what your PC can efficiently encode may increase host processing latency or result in a blank or distorted screen.
  • Video frame rates beyond your TV’s capabilities may cause lag, stuttering, freezing, or a blank screen on unsupported TV panels.
  • Video bitrates that exceed what your TV or network can handle may interrupt video or audio playback and increase network latency.
  • Audio configurations beyond Stereo may not work and can result in distorted, crackling, or nearly silent audio output.
  • Video codecs that your PC cannot encode efficiently may cause a black screen or severe stuttering; using a compatible codec is required.

Which video codecs are supported in Moonlight?

Moonlight supports the following video codecs:

  • H.264,
  • HEVC (H.265 – Main, Main10),
  • AV1 (Main, Main10) – requires Sunshine and a supported host GPU.

HDR streaming requirements:

  • Your device must be HDR10-capable – alternatively, you can install the Virtual Display Driver that supports HDR.
  • Your GPU must be capable of encoding HEVC Main10 or AV1 Main10.
  • The game must support and have HDR10-enabled.
  • For games using DXGI/OS HDR, an HDR-capable display must be connected to your host PC.

Which input devices are supported in Moonlight?

Moonlight supports Bluetooth or USB-wired keyboard, mouse, and gamepad input. However, there are some things you should know:

  • Using a keyboard while streaming may sometimes interfere with Tizen OS or cause unexpected behaviors. Keyboard and mouse input are mostly suitable for basic operations and casual games.
  • A gamepad is highly recommended, especially for single-player and multiplayer games, as it provides better compatibility and a more consistent couch gaming experience.

What gamepad controllers are supported on Samsung TV?

Samsung TVs support most modern and popular gamepad controllers, primarily those intended for console gaming. Compatibility is best with controllers that use standard input protocols and are officially supported by Samsung, while other controllers may work but are not guaranteed to function correctly.

Natively supported controllers include:

  • Microsoft: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2, and Xbox Adaptive controllers.
  • PlayStation: DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers.
  • Other: PDP REPLAY Midnight Blue, Amazon Luna Wireless, NVIDIA Shield Wireless, Logitech F310/F510/F710, PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth, Joytron CYVOX DX, and SteelSeries controllers.

Note: For the full and up-to-date list of officially supported controllers, refer to Samsung’s official website here.

Recommendation for best compatibility:

  • Xbox Wireless Controller (Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One) is widely considered the best option for Moonlight on Tizen OS due to its broad compatibility, use of the XInput standard, and reliable performance. Many users in the Moonlight community have reported that other controllers experience occasional input lag, different button mapping, and disconnection issues, while Xbox controllers typically offer a plug and play experience.

Note about unsupported controllers:

  • Since Samsung TVs do not include drivers for many third-party controllers, using an unsupported controller may result in unexpected behavior, such as the controller not being detected, unresponsive buttons, incorrect button mapping, or other input issues. Because Tizen OS primarily expects standard input protocols like XInput (used by Xbox controllers), using one of the officially supported controllers is strongly recommended for the best compatibility and overall experience.

How do I connect a gamepad controller to my Samsung TV?

Connecting a gamepad to your Samsung TV can be done using either a wired USB connection or a Bluetooth connection, depending on your controller type and preference.

You can connect your controller in two ways:

  • USB-wired: Simply plug your controller into the TV’s USB port. Most standard USB gamepads are detected automatically.
  • Bluetooth: To pair your Bluetooth controller, use your TV remote and go to: Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Device Manager → Bluetooth Device List → Pair your controller. For newer Tizen versions, you can also follow Samsung’s official pairing guide here.

There are also some connection limitations to keep in mind:

  • Samsung TVs support up to 4 controllers connected at the same time. If you need to use more than 4, you can connect additional controllers directly to the host PC, but this may introduce higher input latency during game streaming.

You can also test your controller’s functionality:

  • Samsung provides a Gamepad Checker app that lets you test and verify all gamepad buttons, sticks, and inputs. Refer to Samsung’s official documentation, agree to the terms and conditions, and follow the instructions in the Testing Gamepad Functionality section to download and install the app on your Samsung TV.

Which gamepad features are supported in Moonlight?

Moonlight provides several useful features that enhance gamepad compatibility and customization on Samsung TVs, including:

  • Rumble (Vibration) Feedback: Moonlight supports rumble on any Bluetooth or USB-wired controller that includes a vibration motor. You can enable or disable this feature by going to: Settings → Input Settings → Rumble feedback.
  • Mouse Emulation: Moonlight allows you to control the mouse pointer using your gamepad. You can enable or disable this feature by going to: Settings → Input Settings → Mouse emulation. Once enabled, you can toggle the mouse emulation state during a streaming session by pressing and holding the START button for at least 1 second.
  • Swap Face Buttons (ABXY): If your controller uses a non-standard face button layout (e.g., Nintendo-style) or you’re experiencing incorrect mappings, Moonlight lets you flip the buttons for correct in-game behavior. These options are available under: Settings → Input Settings → Flip A/B face buttons and Flip X/Y face buttons.

What input shortcuts are available in Moonlight?

Moonlight offers several input shortcuts to control streaming sessions and quickly access streaming features, including:

  • Stop Streaming Session — Stop the streaming session using one of the following methods:
    • Remote control: Press the RED button.
    • Keyboard: Press CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + Q or alternatively F1.
    • Gamepad: Press BACK + START + LB + RB simultaneously.
  • Performance Stats Overlay — Display the performance statistics overlay using one of the following methods:
    • Remote control: Press the YELLOW button.
    • Keyboard: Press CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + S or alternatively F3.
    • Gamepad: Press SELECT + LB + RB + X simultaneously.

For more information on additional input shortcuts and navigation while streaming, you can check the Navigation Guide dialog in Moonlight by going to: Settings → About → Navigation guide.

Can I access the Samsung Game Bar while streaming in Moonlight?

Unfortunately, the Samsung Game Bar feature cannot be accessed while streaming games on Samsung TVs using Moonlight, as this is a Tizen platform limitation and not controlled by Moonlight or any other apps. On Samsung TVs, the Game Bar typically only appears when a physical game console is connected via HDMI, even if Game Mode is enabled. There is currently no workaround to enable the Game Bar during Moonlight streaming.

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