# Sunshine Setup

This page covers installing the streaming software so you can **see** the VM from your host PC. It's the recommended setup.

If you prefer Parsec, install it inside the VM and on your host PC — skip the rest of this page and go to [Streaming & Input](/pixelbot/configuration/streaming.md).

***

## What you'll do

1. Install **Sunshine** inside the VM (streams the VM screen).
2. Install **Moonlight** on your host PC (shows what Sunshine sends).
3. Pair them once.
4. *(Optional)* Pair the bot with Sunshine so it can work while Moonlight is minimized.

***

## Step 1 — Install Sunshine inside the VM

1. Connect to the VM (through Hyper-V Manager's Connect button for now, since there's no streaming yet).
2. Open a browser inside the VM and download the latest Sunshine installer: 👉 <https://github.com/LizardByte/Sunshine/releases/latest> Pick the Windows installer (ends in `.exe`).
3. Run the installer. Accept the defaults.
4. When it asks you to install the virtual display driver, **say yes** — this is what lets the VM render the game without a real monitor.
5. Restart the VM.

After the restart, Sunshine auto-starts. A desktop shortcut to its Web UI should be there.

***

## Step 2 — Configure Sunshine

1. In the VM, open the **Sunshine Web UI** (desktop shortcut).
2. Your browser will warn about a security certificate — click **Advanced** → **Proceed**. This is normal for local pages.
3. Sunshine asks you to create a username and password. **Write them down** — you'll need them for the bot pairing step later.
4. Go to the **Applications** section and make sure a **Desktop** entry is listed (it's there by default).

***

## Step 3 — Install Moonlight on your host PC

1. On your host PC, download Moonlight: 👉 <https://moonlight-stream.org> (The "PC" download section has the Windows installer.)
2. Install it and open it.
3. Moonlight should automatically find the VM and list it as a new computer. If not, click **+** and type the VM's IP address.

***

## Step 4 — Pair Moonlight with Sunshine

1. In Moonlight, click the VM tile.
2. A 4-digit PIN appears on screen.
3. Inside the VM, open the Sunshine Web UI, go to **PIN Pairing**, paste the PIN, give the client a name (e.g. "My PC").
4. Click **Send**. Moonlight should now show the VM's desktop.

> 💡 From now on, use Moonlight to open the VM — it's way better than Hyper-V Manager.

***

## Step 5 — (Optional) Pair the bot with Sunshine

Only needed if you want the bot to keep working while Moonlight is minimized or closed.

Open the bot and follow the [Streaming & Input](/pixelbot/configuration/streaming.md#pairing-walk-through-only-for-option-b) pairing steps. Use the same Sunshine username/password you set in Step 2.

When you see **Paired** → **Stream active**, you're done.

***

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                    | What to do                                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| No picture after install                   | Restart the VM. The virtual display driver finishes setting up on the next login.          |
| Moonlight says "Host is offline"           | Make sure Sunshine is running — look for its icon in the Windows tray inside the VM.       |
| Can't open the Sunshine Web UI             | Check that Sunshine is running and that Windows Firewall isn't blocking it.                |
| Bot pairing says the credentials are wrong | Retype them. They must exactly match what you set in the Sunshine Web UI.                  |
| "Paired" but never reaches "Stream active" | Open the Sunshine Web UI → **Applications** and make sure a **Desktop** app is listed.     |
| Want to start over                         | In the Sunshine Web UI, go to **Clients** → **Unpair All**, then repeat Step 4 and Step 5. |

***

## Need Help?

Join our [Discord](https://discord.gg/3pMUfYXjra) for support.


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