Google Stadia: How to switch screens mid-game

Can you switch screen mid-game using Google Stadia? If you've ever found yourself reaching the climax of a boss fight, only to be told to get off the telly because Cash in the Attic is about to start, you aren't alone.

It can be an enormously tense situation, negotiating who has priority in that situation. Wouldn't it be great if we could avoid arguments, fights and divorce-lawyers, and get back to the things we love, such as killing enemies in virtual combat, or discovering antiques in somebody's loft space, in as simple and as calm a manner as possible?

We'll talk you through everything you need to know in one little article. So put away the phone number for divorce-laywers-4-u. We've got you covered.

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Can you switch screens mid-game?

Because Google Stadia is an entirely cloud-based gaming system, you have the advantage of not requiring a game disc, which would need to be physically transported from one place to another. In fact, you'd have to move your entire games console to whatever screen you wanted to resume playing on.

Google's service has mechanisms in place to make this as quick and as straightforward as possible. You can switch screens without having to exit your game. It will automatically save your game for 15 minutes, giving you plenty of time to change your device, get comfy, and pick up exactly where you left off.

So how exactly do you go from one screen to the other? Here's everything you need to know, courtesy of Google.

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Move from one TV to another

First, off, this does require a little bit of setting up. You will need to have your Controller and Chromecast Ultra set up for each TV that you want to switch between. Before moving your game, make sure that the Chromecast Ultra you want to switch to is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi.

1. On your Controller, press and hold the button  for four seconds to turn it off.

1. On your Controller, press and hold the button  until the controller vibrates twice to re-enter linking mode.

1. Use the Controller to enter the linking code shown on the second TV screen.

1. Launch the game that you're playing.

Move from a TV to a computer

1. On your Stadia Controller, press and hold the Stadia button  for four seconds to turn it off.

1. On your computer, open a Chrome browser window and sign in to your account at stadia.com.
2. If you're playing wirelessly:
   1. Back on your Controller, press and hold the same button  until the controller vibrates twice to re-enter linking mode.

1. Link your controller wirelessly to your computer.

1. if you're not playing wirelessly, plug your Controller into an open USB port on your computer with a USB-C cable. The controller will turn on automatically.
2. Launch the game that you're playing.

Move from a TV to a mobile device

 Stadia games can be played on supported mobile devices.

1. On your Controller, press and hold the Stadia button  for four seconds to turn it off.

1. On your Android mobile device, open the Stadia app .

• If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, follow these instructions to add the service to your home screen, then tap the Stadia icon .

1. If you're playing wirelessly:
   1. On your Controller, press and hold the button  until the controller vibrates twice to re-enter linking mode.

1. Link your Stadia Controller to your mobile device.

1. Optional: You can also use a USB-C cable to connect your Stadia Controller to your Android mobile device. The Stadia Controller will turn on automatically.
2. Use the Stadia Controller or the touch screen on your mobile device to launch the game that you're playing.

Note: If you don't connect a controller, you can use the touch gamepad preview to play games using your mobile device's touch screen.

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Move from a computer to a computer or mobile device

Use these steps to:

• Move a game from a computer to another computer, or from a computer to a compatible mobile device.
• Move a game from a compatible mobile device to another mobile device or computer.

To switch screens:

1. When you're moving the game to a computer, open a Chrome browser window and sign in to your account at stadia.com. If you're moving the game to a mobile device, open the Stadia app  on the device that you want to play on, and make sure that you're signed in to your account.

• If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, follow these instructions to add Stadia to your home screen, then tap the Stadia icon .

1. Launch the game that you're playing.
2. If your Stadia Controller is linked wirelessly to your computer, press and hold the Stadia button  for four seconds to turn it off. If your controller is connected to your device with a USB-C cable, disconnect it.

1. When you're switching to wireless play on a computer or mobile device:
   1. On your Stadia Controller, press and hold the Stadia button  until it vibrates twice to re-enter linking mode.

1. Link your Stadia Controller to your computer or mobile device.

1. If you're not playing wirelessly, plug your controller into your computer or mobile device with a USB-C cable.

Move from a computer or mobile device to a TV

Before you move your game, you'll need to set up a Stadia Controller and Chromecast Ultra. Also, make sure that the Chromecast Ultra is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi.

1. If your Stadia Controller is linked wirelessly to your device, press and hold the Stadia button  for four seconds to turn it off.

• If your Stadia Controller is connected to a mobile device with a USB-C cable, disconnect it.

1. your Stadia Controller, press and hold the Stadia button  for one second to turn it back on. The controller will link automatically to the last Chromecast Ultra that it was linked to.

• If you want to link to a different Chromecast, press and hold the Stadia button  until the controller vibrates twice to re-enter linking mode.

1. Enter the linking code on the TV that you want to use.

These are all the different ways you can switch from one screen to another, in the middle of your game. No more having to switch off at a pivotal moment. And no more arguments about who gets the big telly. Life just got a little bit better.

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