Support

Get CouchCTRL paired with your Windows gaming PC and find help when the connection or display setup does not behave as expected.

Requirements

An iPhone running the CouchCTRL mobile app
A Windows gaming PC running the free Windows Companion
Both devices connected to the same local network
Steam installed on the PC for Steam Big Picture launch

Pair your iPhone

Install and launch the Windows Companion.
Open its notification-area menu and choose Pair Device.
Enter the displayed six-digit code in the iPhone app.
Test the connection from the Configuration screen.

Before using Couch Mode

Configure the target TV in the Windows Companion and save your normal desktop layout. Activating Couch Mode changes the active Windows display topology and can temporarily disable other monitors.

Troubleshooting

Confirm the iPhone and PC are on the same local network.
Allow Local Network access when iOS asks.
Open Network Diagnostics from the Windows tray menu.
Check that the Windows firewall allows the CouchCTRL Companion.
Pair the device again if its token was reset.

Reset CouchCTRL

CouchCTRL stores its configuration and user data under %LOCALAPPDATA%\CouchControl, not in the Windows registry. The only CouchCTRL registry value is the optional Start with Windows entry.

To reset only the saved settings:

Exit CouchCTRL from its notification-area menu.
Open %LOCALAPPDATA%\CouchControl in File Explorer.
Rename config.json to config.json.backup.
Start CouchCTRL and configure it again.

For a complete factory reset, exit CouchCTRL and rename the entire %LOCALAPPDATA%\CouchControl folder to CouchControl.backup. This also resets paired devices, display snapshots, the operation journal, and logs.

To remove the startup entry, turn off Start with Windows in Settings or run:

reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "CouchControl.Agent" /f

Do not delete the entire Windows Run registry key.

Emergency display recovery

CouchCTRL cannot be tested against every combination of GPU, driver, monitor, TV, dock, receiver, cable, refresh rate, scaling setting, and Windows version. In rare cases, Windows may retain a broken display topology after an unsuccessful switch.

If monitors remain blank, unavailable, incorrectly scaled, or unusable after CouchCTRL exits, try these safer recovery steps first:

Press Windows+Ctrl+Shift+B to reset the graphics driver.
Restart Windows and use Windows+P to select a usable display mode.
Disconnect nonessential displays, docks, adapters, and receivers, then reconnect them one at a time.
If necessary, start Windows in Safe Mode and repair or reinstall the display driver.

As a last resort, some systems may recover only after Windows' cached display topology is cleared from:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Connectivity
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\ScaleFactors

Registry warning: These keys belong to Windows, require administrator access, and contain system-wide display configuration for every connected display. Deleting them causes Windows to rebuild its display cache and can remove saved monitor positions, modes, and scaling. Editing the wrong registry location can make Windows unstable or unbootable. Back up the GraphicsDrivers key or create a System Restore point first. If you are unsure, use Windows or GPU-vendor support.

After backing up, exit CouchCTRL, disconnect nonessential external displays, delete only the three subkeys listed above in Registry Editor, restart Windows, wait for the desktop to finish loading, and reconnect displays one at a time. Configure the display arrangement, resolution, refresh rate, scaling, and CouchCTRL desktop snapshot again.

Contact support

Report a problem through GitHub Issues. Do not include pairing tokens, private network details, logs containing personal information, or other secrets in a public issue.

You can also review existing reports and release information in the CouchCTRL repository.