--- title: Clients description: The ways to connect to a punktfunk host — the Apple app, Moonlight, or the Linux client. --- A punktfunk host accepts clients over its own `punktfunk/1` protocol (the macOS, Linux, Windows, and Android apps) and over GameStream (Moonlight). Pick whichever fits the device you're streaming *to*. Ready to install? **[Install a Client](/docs/install-client)** has the step-by-step for every device. ## Apple app (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV) The native app for Apple devices speaks punktfunk's own [`punktfunk/1`](/docs/how-it-works#two-protocols) protocol — the lowest-latency, most resilient path, with the full feature set: - **Automatic host discovery** — hosts on your network appear under *On this network*; no IP typing. - **PIN pairing** built in, and pinned reconnects after that. - **Controllers**, including DualSense — rumble, adaptive triggers, lightbar, motion, and touchpad. - A live **stats overlay** (resolution, fps, bitrate, latency) and a built-in **network speed test** to pick a bitrate for your link. Open the app, pick your host, [pair](/docs/pairing) once, and stream. It builds from the `clients/apple` directory in the repo (Swift / VideoToolbox / Metal). ## Moonlight (anything else) punktfunk also speaks the **GameStream** protocol, so any [Moonlight](https://moonlight-stream.org/) client — a browser, a smart TV, an old phone, a games console — connects with no punktfunk-specific software. (Most platforms also have a native punktfunk app below — Moonlight is the catch-all.) See [Connect with Moonlight](/docs/moonlight). This is the broadest-compatibility option and great for couch gaming. It doesn't use the native protocol's FEC/encryption extensions, but for a healthy LAN that rarely matters. ## Linux desktop client (GTK4) `punktfunk-client` is the native graphical Linux client — a GTK4 / libadwaita app that speaks `punktfunk/1` directly, with hardware decode (VAAPI → dmabuf on Intel/AMD, software fallback), PipeWire audio, and SDL3 controllers (rumble, lightbar, DualSense touchpad/motion). Like the Apple app it discovers hosts on your network automatically, does PIN pairing, and pins reconnects. It ships as a real package, not just a source build — full steps in [Install a Client](/docs/install-client#linux-desktop-flatpak): - **Any Flatpak distro (recommended)** — `flatpak install https://flatpak.unom.io/io.unom.Punktfunk.flatpakref` from the hosted [`flatpak.unom.io`](/docs/install-client#linux-desktop-flatpak) repo, then `flatpak update`; this is also what the Decky plugin launches. - **Ubuntu / Debian** — `apt install punktfunk-client` from the punktfunk apt registry. - **Fedora / Bazzite** — `rpm-ostree install punktfunk-client` from the Gitea RPM registry. - **Arch / SteamOS** — the `punktfunk-client` split package from the `PKGBUILD`. Launch it, pick your host from the list, and stream. For scripting you can skip the host list and connect straight away: ```sh punktfunk-client --connect :9777 # skip the picker, start a session immediately ``` ## Android app (phone + Android TV) The native Android app speaks `punktfunk/1` directly, on both phones and Android TV. It does hardware HEVC decode (including HDR10), Opus audio with a mic uplink, game controllers with rumble and DualSense feedback, automatic host discovery, PIN pairing with pinned reconnects, and a live stats overlay — with D-pad and game-controller focus navigation for the couch. It builds from the `clients/android` directory (Kotlin + a shared Rust core). Install it from **Google Play** — see [Install a Client](/docs/install-client#android). Open the app, pick your host, [pair](/docs/pairing) once, and stream. ## Windows desktop client `punktfunk-client` for Windows (`clients/windows`) is the native graphical client for Windows — pure Rust, the same `punktfunk/1` core as the Apple, Linux, and Android apps, with a **WinUI 3** UI (host list, settings, PIN pairing) and the video on a `SwapChainPanel`. It does D3D11VA hardware decode (software fallback), 10-bit/HDR present, WASAPI audio + mic, SDL3 controllers (rumble, lightbar, DualSense), network discovery, and the full PIN-pairing trust surface. It builds for both `x86_64` and `aarch64` and ships as a **signed MSIX**. Launch it and pick a host from the list, just like the other native apps. > The hardware-decode and HDR paths are complete but still pending validation on real GPU hardware. > If anything misbehaves, **[Moonlight](/docs/moonlight)** is a proven alternative for Windows. A headless CLI path exists for scripting/measurement: ```sh punktfunk-client # open the WinUI 3 window (host list / settings) punktfunk-client --discover # list hosts on the network punktfunk-client --headless --connect :9777 # no window: connect, count frames, print stats ``` Prefer the broadest compatibility, or no install? **Moonlight** also streams to Windows (see below). ## Linux reference client (headless) `punktfunk-probe` (in the repo) is a command-line client for the native protocol, used for testing, development, and latency measurement — not an everyday client. It connects, streams to a file, runs the speed test, and can discover hosts: ```sh punktfunk-probe --discover # list hosts on the network punktfunk-probe --connect :9777 --pin # connect to one ``` ## Which should I use? | You're streaming to… | Use | |---|---| | A Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV | The **Apple app** | | A Linux desktop or laptop, or a Steam Deck | **`punktfunk-client`** (GTK4) | | An Android phone or TV | The **Android app** | | Windows | The native **`punktfunk-client`** (signed MSIX) or **Moonlight** | | A browser, a smart TV, or any other device | **Moonlight** | | Automated tests / latency measurement | **`punktfunk-probe`** (headless) | Whichever you choose, the first connection needs a one-time [pairing](/docs/pairing).