From a fresh install to your first game in about 10 minutes. This is the shortest path that works on both Desktop and Android.
Before you begin
You need:
- A device that meets the system requirements — Windows 7+, macOS 10.15+, or Android 7+
- A stable internet connection (50 Mbit/s down recommended for 1080p, more for higher resolution or framerate)
- An email address you can receive a code on
- A payment method that works in your region (see "Payment methods and what's available where")
Step 1. Download and install the client
Desktop: go to loudplay.io/download and pick the Windows or macOS build.
Android: install from Google Play.
Run the installer. On Windows, run it as Administrator if you hit a permissions error. On macOS, drag the app into Applications. On Android, open the app from your launcher.
Step 2. Create an account or sign in
When you tap Sign in in the desktop launcher, your default browser opens at loudplay.io/auth/.... You sign in there, the browser hands the session back to the launcher automatically. This is intentional — see "Why the launcher opens your browser to sign in" if you want the full reason.
Two paths are supported:
- Email + 6-digit code (OTP). Enter your email, we send a code, you enter it, you're in. No password needed. This is the default flow for new users — your account is created automatically when you enter the first valid code.
- Email + password. Standard sign-in for users who already set a password. Optional for new users — you can set a password later from Account settings.
If you forget the password later, the "Restore password" button on the login screen sends a reset link to your email.
For the limits on how often you can request codes, see "Login codes and email verification".
Step 3. Top up your balance
You can't start a session with an empty balance. The "Top up" button in the app opens the store.
- On Desktop, you'll see hour packages: 3 h ($4), 10 h ($9), 20 h ($16). Pick one. Payment goes through PayLink (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and JCB are accepted). Hours appear within 10 minutes after a successful payment — press F5 if they don't show right away. If you close the launcher mid-payment, the server completes the credit automatically once the bank confirms.
- On Android, you'll see weekly and monthly Google Play subscriptions. Tap one and confirm through Google Billing. Trials, if available in your country, are listed in the same place.
Step 4. Start the virtual PC
Click the start button in the main app window. A queue appears.
Queue times depend on the time of day (UTC+3):
| Window | Typical wait |
|---|---|
| Off-peak (00:00–13:00) | 0–10 min |
| Peak (14:00–19:00) | up to 30 min |
| Evening (20:00–23:00) | 8–24 min |
Queue time is not charged — your balance only ticks down once the session starts.
Step 5. Pick a game
When the session starts, you land in the Game Catalog — a curated library of games available on Loudplay. The plain Windows desktop is hidden in this flow; you don't need it.
Click a tile. The game's launcher opens (Steam, Epic Games, etc.). Sign in with your own launcher account, then start the game from there.
If you want to install a game that isn't in the catalog: open Steam or Epic from inside the session and install it as you would on any Windows PC. Installs from Steam and Epic stay on the platform between sessions (see "How long your installed games are kept").
Step 6. End the session cleanly
Hit Alt+Q on Desktop, or use the floating Quick Menu on Android. The session closes and remaining hours stay on your balance.
If you just close the app window without ending the session, the session continues for a short timeout window — your balance will keep ticking down. Always end the session deliberately.
Closed the launcher by accident?
If the launcher closes during an active session (you closed the window, the app crashed, you switched devices), the session keeps running in the background. When you reopen the launcher, the dashboard shows an Active Session Card with a timer and a Resume button. Click Resume to rejoin the same session — you won't pay for a new one.
Don't start a new session if you see the Resume card. The old one is still your time.
What's next
- If a game won't run, check "Why Valorant, PUBG, Genshin Impact don't work" before assuming it's broken — kernel-level anti-cheat is the most common reason.
- If the stream is laggy or blurry, see "Stream is laggy or blurry — settings to try".
- If your balance looks wrong after a top-up, see "Cross-platform balance".