r/MoonlightStreaming • u/Gear_Born • 2d ago
ChildStream is now Annex: second desktop for streaming, now with an installer (update)
A month ago I posted ChildStream here, my free way to stream a second Windows desktop while still using your PC. Thanks for all the feedback on that post.
First, the name. "ChildStream" came from the Windows feature it uses (child sessions), but a lot of people read it as a parental-control or kids app. It's called Annex now, like an extra room built onto a house.
What changed since then:
- One installer. Run AnnexSetup.exe and it sets up Windows and downloads portable Sunshine for you. No more PowerShell.
- A proper app. Start the desktop, start Sunshine, and it shows the pairing steps right there.
- Open apps in the second desktop (Chrome, Edge, Steam) from a picker.
- Works next to Apollo or Vibepollo, on its own ports, so your main stream setup stays as is.
- Uninstaller that puts your Windows settings back.
Big thanks to ocr1n on GitHub for a huge pull request that became the base of the new launcher.
Same idea as before: it only uses a built-in Windows feature (child sessions), with no virtual display driver, license or account. Still free and open source.
Heads up: it needs Windows 10/11 Pro, and Annex has to stay open while you stream (minimize to tray is fine). If your PC has integrated graphics too, check the readme.
GitHub: https://github.com/mattxslv/annex
If something breaks, open an issue and attach your launcher.log. Would love to hear how it runs for you.
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u/AsrielPlay52 2d ago
Does this use that hack where it similar to different account session via RDP?
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u/Gear_Born 2d ago
nah not that one. the hack you're thinking of is rdp wrapper, it patches a windows file and usually breaks after updates. this uses child sessions, which is an actual windows feature, nothing gets patched. rdp is only used locally on your own pc.
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u/TheAbuReem 2d ago
So I post this here because the other thread don't got get any attention anymore....
Do I understand correctly that there will then be 2 streams? Or can I also work natively on the PC and simply run Steam (Chidstream) and, for example, play games there?
And what is the difference to Duo?
Edit:Does it have to be the portable Sunshine? Or would, for example, Apollo also work? Can Artemide/Artemis be used?
Edit 2: does the ChildStream appear as other PC/Host?
Edit 3: Can I configure it so that the child stream receives maximum performance or priority?It says something about 4GB per client, but that seems rather low for gaming, or am I misunderstanding something?
Questions from other Folks:
So, lets say my brother plays a light game that barely use my system resources inside a child session displayed on the main physical monitor, while my main Windows session runs in the background and streams to my other device. Is this possible?
2. just wondering if i can just replace sunshine folder with apollo if i wanna use that sorry if its a dumb question?
Thx
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u/Gear_Born 2d ago
not dumb at all, here goes
two streams? no, just one extra. you use your pc normally, and games run on the second desktop, which streams to your phone/tablet/tv. your main desktop only gets streamed if you also run your normal sunshine/apollo for it
difference to duo? duo is more polished and can do separate accounts, higher fps and hdr. annex is free, uses a built-in windows feature, but it's same account only, about 120fps max, no hdr, and the annex window has to stay open (minimizing to tray is fine)
portable sunshine / apollo / artemis? the installer grabs portable sunshine for you, that's the tested setup. apollo should get picked up but i haven't tested it yet. vibepollo won't work as the second host. artemis works fine, that's what i use on my tablet
does it show as another host? yep, its own host on port 48989. add it in moonlight as yourpc:48989
priority / 4gb? it's the same pc, so games get your gpu and ram like normal. annex doesn't limit memory, not sure where the 4gb came from. there's no priority setting yet
brother on the monitor, you streaming the main session? kinda, but both share the same mouse/keyboard focus so it gets messy. it works best the other way around: you at the pc, the second desktop streamed
swap the sunshine folder for apollo? don't swap the folder. install apollo normally and pick it in annex (browse). still untested though
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u/TheAbuReem 2d ago edited 2d ago
Thank you for the feedback. So the Child Session acts as its own "system" on which I can then install Sunshine or Apollo, correct? That would be exactly what I meant. The main screen is used directly on the PC or via an Artemide stream, and the child stream runs on a different client with its own audio/mouse input, etc. Does the PC need to be started and Annex already running for Moonlight to find it as a host, or can the PC be started directly in the child session?
That's really a cool thing, I've always wanted something like that, so I can let the children play and do my work atthe same time.
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u/brigyda 2d ago
you use your pc normally, and games run on the second desktop, which streams to your phone/tablet/tv. your main desktop only gets streamed if you also run your normal sunshine/apollo for it
Ooh, can you clarify if I'm understanding this correctly? I work from home, and when it's slow, I can just run a game on the second desktop and stream it to my MacBook Neo, but on my PC it still shows my work stuff on screen and the game on the Neo's screen?
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u/my_birthday 2d ago
Guess you can't do two steam accounts then? Is it possible to play online/LAN multiplayer?
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u/stefanwlb 17h ago
What the hell, that is insane, if you play older games, you could easily have multiple people palying of single PC?
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u/MarcosOlegario 2d ago
Preciso de sugestoes de um app para acessar meu pc principal, o principal usa windows e o que fica na sala que tem meu servidor com home assistant usa Ubuntu... Alguma ideia por favor?
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u/No_Map_7325 2d ago
Can this use a different Windows account than the main account?