FAQ

FAQ

Which ISO should I download?

The general ISO for Intel or AMD graphics, older NVIDIA cards and Intel Macs; the NVIDIA ISO for GTX 745/750/750 Ti, GTX 900 series and newer up to RTX 40. Unsure about an NVIDIA card? Take the NVIDIA ISO: it falls back to the open driver by itself. See Hardware Compatibility.

Why does it forget my pairing and Wi-Fi after a reboot?

You are running the live USB without persistence, which starts fresh every time. Install to a disk (recommended) or add a keep your settings on the USB stick.

Can I use only a controller?

Yes, once CouchLiteOS is running: setup, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, pairing, settings, and typing (on-screen keyboard, or your phone) all work with a controller. The boot menu and the installer need a keyboard.

My controller has no Guide button. How do I get Home?

Hold SELECT + START for 1.5 seconds (the default), or switch to L3 + R3 in Settings > CONTROLS > HOME SHORTCUT. On a keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+H, or the key you chose in Settings > CONTROLS > KEYBOARD HOME KEY, or Home for the quick menu. See Controls and Shortcuts.

How do I update?

Installed boxes on 0.2.1 or newer: Settings > SOFTWARE UPDATE. Version 0.2.0 and MoonlightOS 0.1.x: boot the new USB stick and choose Settings > SOFTWARE UPDATE > UPDATE THE INSTALLED SYSTEM. See Updating.

I used MoonlightOS. Do I lose my settings?

No. An installed MoonlightOS box updates from the new USB stick and keeps its pairings and settings (Updating). A persistence stick made for MoonlightOS keeps its settings and pairings too.

Does my gaming PC need to run Linux?

No. Moonlight works with Sunshine on Windows or Linux (Windows PCs need ViGEmBus for controllers). Only USB/IP needs a Linux gaming PC.

Can I stream from outside my home?

Yes, with the optional Tailscale overlay; see Streaming away from home. Never port-forward Sunshine to the internet.

Can I run Steam or a desktop?

CouchLiteOS is a streaming appliance, not a desktop, and Steam is not included. You can install Steam or other programs from Flathub yourself and start them from APPS (Installing Your Own Programs); they are not supported. Web apps are in Web Apps and Browsers.

Do streaming services like Disney+ work?

Pick Firefox or Google Chrome (Settings > APPLICATIONS > ADD A WEB BROWSER); both play DRM-protected video, but some services do not officially support Linux, so playback is not guaranteed.

Can the box wake my gaming PC, and can it sleep?

Yes. Starting a game or opening MOONLIGHT wakes the gaming PC with Wake-on-LAN (once Moonlight has seen it awake). Hold Guide / PS for 5 seconds to put the box to sleep. See First Setup.

Where are my settings stored? Can I build the ISO myself?

Settings and pairings are under /var/lib/couchliteos, logs under /var/log/couchliteos. Building from source is described in docs/BUILDING.md in the repository.

An update broke something. Can I go back?

Yes. Settings > SOFTWARE UPDATE > RESTORE PREVIOUS VERSION puts the version from before the update back, with its settings and pairings. If the box no longer starts, use CouchLiteOS: restore previous version in the boot menu. See Updating.

Can I get the old text menu back?

Yes: Settings > APPEARANCE > INTERFACE > CLASSIC, and THEME > TERMINAL for the old colours. See Themes and Appearance.