Moonlight only supports adding PCs on local network on iOS/tvOS

[Alexie7777]

Is it the IOS limitation?

[cgutman]

Apple's App Store Review Guideline 4.2.7a states:

The app must only connect to a user-owned host device that is a personal computer or dedicated game console owned by the user, and both the host device and client must be connected on a local and LAN-based network.

Therefore, Moonlight does not allow you to add PCs that aren't on your local network anymore. This was a hard requirement by Apple's App Store Review team.

If you have to add your PC remotely, you may have success using a VPN like ZeroTier which looks like a LAN connection to other apps.

[abusse]

Wouldn't it be possible to make/release a dedicated version that only allows desktop access like Shadow reverted to after the hassle with the quoted rules or restrict internet hosts to that functionality?

[cgutman]

Nope, I proposed this exact thing to them and they rejected it.

[abusse]

The first or the latter one (or both)? Was there something different that you proposed compared to how Shadow is doing it with their revised tvOS/iOS app?

[cgutman]

Both. My proposed solution was essentially to act like a remote desktop app, similar to Microsoft Remote Desktop.

I asked about other game streaming apps that do the same thing, and they told me they are investigating those too for possible policy violations.

[abusse]

May I ask about the timeline when you had this "discussion" with Apple? I'm asking because the Shadow app was kicked from the App Store for exactly that reason, but then re-allowed after removing the direct game access and reverting to remote desktop only. Their argument sounds like you had asked before that happened? Maybe it's worth another try with this precedent? Or they have additional information what is necessary to be allowed into the App Store like the Shadow app was.

[cgutman]

The talks were after Shadow was re-approved.

I'm not going to be contesting this with Apple again anytime soon. Due to the review proceedings, I was left unable to ship any new Moonlight builds (even bugfixes) for over 3 months while this whole situation played out. If Nvidia had released a GFE update that required a Moonlight update, iOS users would have been unable to use the app anymore. It's simply not worth the risk to contest it.

[sean256]

How easy is it to disable the block should one build from source?

[abusse]

It is pretty easy. There is just one definition of ENABLE_APP_STORE_RESTRICTIONS that enforces the App Store restrictions. Just make sure that you don't have set it during build and all App Store restrictions should be disabled (cf this).

[witchcraftsman]

If you have to add your PC remotely, you may have success using a VPN like ZeroTier which looks like a LAN connection to other apps.

Since ZeroTier can't be used on tvos, what are the options other then source building (guess it'd also require apple dev account to deploy to the box, atm having none) ?
EDIT: I guess joining separate LANs with VPN would work but encryption overhead etc would kill its purpose

[redlinejoes]

If you have to add your PC remotely, you may have success using a VPN like ZeroTier which looks like a LAN connection to other apps.

Since ZeroTier can't be used on tvos, what are the options other then source building (guess it'd also require apple dev account to deploy to the box, atm having none) ?
EDIT: I guess joining separate LANs with VPN would work but encryption overhead etc would kill its purpose

This guy gets it. Although you typically want encryption, there is unnecessary overhead here with regards to streaming service providers infrastructure services. I’m planning to build from source and remove the limitation myself. I’m not interested in paying Apple the $99 annually at this time though. So I will go another step further and build a CI/CD server to push the build every week or as needed. If you’re interested in helping out, or learning from my experience, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m so appreciative of moonlight being open source and these companies are all seemingly trying to stifle remote streaming service providers offerings. It wreaks of anti competitive action.

[Heath123]

Please can someone host builds with this enabled? People can sideload them with AltStore or a jailbreak

[boazvdwansem]

Please can someone host builds with this enabled? People can sideload them with AltStore or a jailbreak

Please?

[Heath123]

If no one else is going to maybe I could but I’m not sure if I need a Mac OS VM to build it (I don’t have a Mac)

[Heath123]

I'm installing Mac OS in a VM now, if I get it built I'll upload an IPA

[Heath123]

[boazvdwansem]

I'm installing Mac OS in a VM now, if I get it built I'll upload an IPA

Had any success yet? I'm currently installing Mac OS in a VM as well, will post if I have anything to share.

[redlinejoes]

I have actual macOS physical systems but in order for me to do this, I would have to pay the $99 Apple Developer fee or be required to rebuild it every 7(days). That is the requirement if you do not jailbreak your iOS device which I had no intention of doing. This is really a headache and because I can use other apps like Splashtop, I've just stopped using Moonlight. I expected more "push back" by Moonlight senior dev towards Apple's anticompetitive tactics. How are you guys getting around the Apple developer costs? Or do you plan to use CI/CD to just keep pushing a new version every 7, or whatever number, of days?

[redlinejoes]

If no one else is going to maybe I could but I’m not sure if I need a Mac OS VM to build it (I don’t have a Mac)

As far as I know, it requires Xcode and TestFlight on macOS, so you do need an Apple system and you need an Apple Developer account. I've been an Apple Developer before so I'm familiar with the processes and procedures, but I'm open to hearing if there are other ways this can be done. I just don't want to jailbreak my device.

[boazvdwansem]

If no one else is going to maybe I could but I’m not sure if I need a Mac OS VM to build it (I don’t have a Mac)

As far as I know, it requires Xcode and TestFlight on macOS, so you do need an Apple system and you need an Apple Developer account. I've been an Apple Developer before so I'm familiar with the processes and procedures, but I'm open to hearing if there are other ways this can be done. I just don't want to jailbreak my device.

I'm using a jailbreak for signing, you could also use altstore for signing.

[boazvdwansem]

Does anyone know how to fix this?

[don17sch]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13ebjY2qSVJebr2hLjTXTHkD981bl0Tb1?usp=sharing

Here you go. ipa built with the app store restriction removed

[boazvdwansem]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13ebjY2qSVJebr2hLjTXTHkD981bl0Tb1?usp=sharing

Here you go. ipa built with the app store restriction removed

Thank you very much. Do you happen to know why I got that error above?

[boazvdwansem]

Well it seems like even without the restriction on it won't work :/

[redlinejoes]

Well it seems like even without the restriction on it won't work :/

I was afraid of that. Maybe the Moonlight discord would be kind enough to give some advice. Have you tried there?

[boazvdwansem]

Well it seems like even without the restriction on it won't work :/

I was afraid of that. Maybe the Moonlight discord would be kind enough to give some advice. Have you tried there?

How did you get it to build tho? By looking at the commits I found that dbab078 Is the one where it’s introduced, by setting these values to false it should work.

[don17sch]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13ebjY2qSVJebr2hLjTXTHkD981bl0Tb1?usp=sharing
Here you go. ipa built with the app store restriction removed

Thank you very much. Do you happen to know why I got that error above?

You needed to run this command in terminal. 'git submodule update --init --recursive'
you did not have the core part of moonlight added yet

[austinarchibald]

The ::ffff: workaround no longer works for me on tvOS. For some reason, my tvOS app showed no connection even though it does on all other clients, iPhone, Mac, Steam Deck, etc. So I removed host and tried to re-add, and I get the "enable GameStream" error. Tried rebooting the host. The host still works on my iPhone - I don't dare remove host and re-add to see if the workaround still works on iOS. Very strange. I don't want to have to set up a VPN.

[bayramog]

The ::ffff: workaround no longer works for me on tvOS. For some reason, my tvOS app showed no connection even though it does on all other clients, iPhone, Mac, Steam Deck, etc. So I removed host and tried to re-add, and I get the "enable GameStream" error. Tried rebooting the host. The host still works on my iPhone - I don't dare remove host and re-add to see if the workaround still works on iOS. Very strange. I don't want to have to set up a VPN.

I believe it is because of recent Moonlight client update on App Store. With the update non-default port support has been enabled for moonlight. Both IPv6 adresses and port separator are using ":" I think it is because of this change

[austinarchibald]

I believe it is because of recent Moonlight client update on App Store. With the update non-default port support has been enabled for moonlight. Both IPv6 adresses and port separator are using ":" I think it is because of this change

Interesting, is there a way around this? If not, we need it switched back...

[bayramog]

I believe it is because of recent Moonlight client update on App Store. With the update non-default port support has been enabled for moonlight. Both IPv6 adresses and port separator are using ":" I think it is because of this change

Interesting, is there a way around this? If not, we need it switched back...

As far as I tried, I couldn't find a way around. I believe the app needs a new implementation to better understand the difference between IPv6 and IPv4 with a special port.

[cgutman]

IPv6 addresses now need to be enclosed in brackets (like in URLs) to allow the (optional) port to be distinguished from the IPv6 address itself.

Example: [2001:db8::1] or [2001:db8::1]:47989

[bayramog]

IPv6 addresses now need to be enclosed in brackets (like in URLs) to allow the (optional) port to be distinguished from the IPv6 address itself.

Example: [2001:db8::1] or [2001:db8::1]:47989

This worked, thanks!

[scaredowl]

IPv6 addresses now need to be enclosed in brackets (like in URLs) to allow the (optional) port to be distinguished from the IPv6 address itself.
Example: [2001:db8::1] or [2001:db8::1]:47989

This worked, thanks!

I've been try a lot of format and not working...

Should full format of the value be like ::ffff:[2001:db8::1]:47989 ?

Can you provide an example, Thanks!

[austinarchibald]

Can you provide an example, Thanks!

[::ffff:1.1.1.1] if using default port or [::ffff:1.1.1.1]:11111 if you need to specify a port.

[FishOrBear]

You can use url to access your host, I discovered it by accident.
First of all, your device needs to be in the same local area network as your host, and then resolve the dns domain name to your wan ip. At this time, you can add the host normally, then you turn off your wifi, use the mobile network, restart moonlight, and you will You can connect to your host from the external network.

[Humpzinho]

For anyone else landing here and looking for the simplest way to enable Moonlight on iOS to stream from a remote (e.g. cloud) server, @U-siro's above comment is absolutely all that is needed. Just get your remote server's IP, e.g. 1.2.3.4, then when you're adding a new host in the iOS Moonlight app, prefix the IP you enter with ::ffff: - e.g. ::ffff:1.2.3.4. That's it that's all - no need to build your own version of the client. I'm not sure which version of the Moonlight iOS client I'm using in case that matters, but I just downloaded whatever is the most recent version in the app store as of today.

Hi, is it still working?

[Epoch2022-iOS]

我找到了一种替代方法来绕过这个限制。使用IPv6地址：如果您的ip是1.1.1.1输入::ffff:1.1.1.1然后它将在没有任何vpn的情况下添加。

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/2.4.0?主题=地址-ipv4-mapped-ipv6

hello, if I use ipv6, Does this mean that my remote computer needs to support ipv6？

[Epoch2022-iOS]

IPv6地址现在需要用括号括起来（如URL），以便将（可选）端口与IPv6地址本身区分开来。

示例：[2001:db8::1]或[2001:db8::1]:47989

hello，If my remote server uses a port other than the default 47989, how do I modify the port information

[Epoch2022-iOS]

对于任何在这里登陆并寻找启用iOS上的Moonlight从远程（例如云）服务器进行流式传输的最简单方法的人来说，@U-siro的上述评论绝对是全部需要的。只需获取远程服务器的IP，例如1.2.3.4，然后当您在iOS Moonlight应用程序中添加新主机时，将您输入的IP作为前缀::ffff:-例如::ffff:1.2.3.4。仅此而已-无需构建自己的客户端版本。我不确定我使用的是哪个版本的Moonlight iOS客户端，以防这很重要，但截至今天，我刚刚在应用程序商店下载了最新版本。

嗨，它还在工作吗？

hey, if you get the answer, pls share it!

[pkpgdjk]

It still works. I just tried today. but I have to use [ ] . For example, my server IP is 13.123.3.132. I use ::ffff:13.123.3.132 I got an error, but when I use [::ffff:13.123.3.132] it works fine.

[Epoch2022-iOS]

It still works. I just tried today. but I have to use [ ] . For example, my server IP is 13.123.3.132. I use ::ffff:13.123.3.132 I got an error, but when I use [::ffff:13.123.3.132] it works fine.

thanks bro! This is very important to me. by the way, One more question, does this method only support ipv6 addresses?

[pkpgdjk]

sry, can you give me more info about your question. if my understand is correct the server listening at ipv4, but we can pass the ipv4 in the format of ipv6 by using ::ffff:IPV4. So, the moonlight application can be bypassed by the method above . But I don't know we have to enable ipv6 for internet router or the target server or not.

[Epoch2022-iOS]

sry, can you give me more info about your question. if my understand is correct the server listening at ipv4, but we can pass the ipv4 in the format of ipv6 by using ::ffff:IPV4. So, the moonlight application can be bypassed by the method above . But I don't know we have to enable ipv6 for internet router or the target server or not.

thanks! my IPV4 address is 116.21.86.170,I input the [::ffff:116.21.86.170] when add the pc. but it does not work well, I get the Your device's network connection is blocking Moonlight. Streaming may not work while connected to this network error tips, It is worth noting that I used a custom port (36012) instead of the default port. pls help me....it's bad exp. for me.

[pkpgdjk]

have you try [::ffff:116.21.86.170]:36012

[Epoch2022-iOS]

have you try [::ffff:116.21.86.170]:36012

thanks!!!! dear!!! it's work!

[Steinheausser]

Hello, just wanted to leave this here in case anybody else is as dumb as me trying to get this working. If you are using sunshine and moonlight's ios client, ensure that you 1. have UPNP on sunlight enabled; 2. are on version 0.20 of sunlight; 3. follow the sunshine 0.20 instructions on uninstalling moonlight hosting services. These three things in tandem with passing through the ip via ipv6 as discussed removed my need for zerotier (which while performant, was unstable in random connection terminations on ios) hopefully it might work for you. I was previously having request timed out when I managed to connect to the PC. Thanks to all in the discussion up to this point.

[Epoch2022-iOS]

Hello, just wanted to leave this here in case anybody else is as dumb as me trying to get this working. If you are using sunshine and moonlight's ios client, ensure that you 1. have UPNP on sunlight enabled; 2. are on version 0.20 of sunlight; 3. follow the sunshine 0.20 instructions on uninstalling moonlight hosting services. These three things in tandem with passing through the ip via ipv6 as discussed removed my need for zerotier (which while performant, was unstable in random connection terminations on ios) hopefully it might work for you. I was previously having request timed out when I managed to connect to the PC. Thanks to all in the discussion up to this point.

thanks！I've fixed the issue and now I can connect to my remote PC via my iOS device

[Jk541957]

I know I’m about 2 years late on this but any chance someone can share the IPA again with the restriction removed?

[hwillson]

@Jk541957 you shouldn't need it; just use the [::ffff:1.2.3.4] (where 1.2.3.4 is your IP) approach discussed in the last several comments of this thread.

[RainySat]

Try this method. First, add it using the internal IP address within the local network. Once the connection is successful, switch to the cellular network without deleting the existing Host entry, and add it again, this time using the URL. It will prompt an update success message. Now you can directly connect from the external network.

[jakealsko]

Hello, just wanted to leave this here in case anybody else is as dumb as me trying to get this working. If you are using sunshine and moonlight's ios client, ensure that you 1. have UPNP on sunlight enabled; 2. are on version 0.20 of sunlight; 3. follow the sunshine 0.20 instructions on uninstalling moonlight hosting services. These three things in tandem with passing through the ip via ipv6 as discussed removed my need for zerotier (which while performant, was unstable in random connection terminations on ios) hopefully it might work for you. I was previously having request timed out when I managed to connect to the PC. Thanks to all in the discussion up to this point.

I did all of these things and I still get "Could not connect to host." What am I doing wrong?

[GabrielNezovic]

Thanks to U-siro's suggestion, this IPv6 work-around is working perfectly for me using the following steps -

• Ensure both the Host Gaming PC and iOS device are on the same Local Network.
• Ensure that the following Network Ports are forwarded in any Routers and Firewalls along the network stream

TCP 47984, 47989, 48010
UDP 47998, 47999, 48000, 48002, 48010

1. Open the iOS App and select "Add Host Manually"
2. Enter the local IP address of your Host Gaming PC (eg, 192.168.1.5) and tap OK.
3. A pop-up message should be displayed on both the iOS App and the Host Gaming PC - enter the security code into the Host Gaming PC to validate the connection
4. Close the iOS App from the App Switcher
5. Open the iOS App again and select "Add Host Manually"
6. Enter ::ffff: followed by the Public IP Adress of the Host Gaming PC, eg
   ::ffff:123.456.789.000
7. If all goes well, another pop-up message will be displayed in the iOS App to say "Host Successfully Updated".

That's it!
You should now be able to connect to your Host Gaming PC remotely.

[predprey2]

Has something changed recently with local network privacy in iOS 17? Not sure when it started, but on iOS 17 iPhone 14, Moonlight stopped discovering devices on local network.

EDIT: Updating Sunshine fixed the issue
LizardByte/Sunshine@4a2f702

[Madmegsox1]

I think WAN connections will be allowed in iOS17.4 due to the EU regulations. Is there a possibility that this could be looked at into?