To use a Stream Deck for live streaming, install the Stream Deck app and Elgato’s free OBS Studio plugin, then drag OBS actions onto keys. You can use those keys to switch scenes, control sources, manage recording and audio, and preview scenes in Studio Mode. The exact controls available depend on your OBS setup and compatible software versions.
Check compatibility before setting up
Elgato’s OBS plugin page currently lists Windows 11 or newer, macOS 13 or newer, and Stream Deck app version 6.9 or newer. The Elgato Marketplace listing also specifies Stream Deck 6.9 or later. Requirements can change, so check the official OBS plugin listing before installing.
Profiles also depend on the operating system and Stream Deck device type. If you download a profile made by someone else, confirm it matches your computer and device.
Connect Stream Deck to OBS
- Install Stream Deck software. Get the app from Elgato’s downloads page.
- Install the OBS Studio plugin. Find it in Elgato Marketplace or within the Stream Deck app. Elgato describes the plugin as free.
- Open OBS and Stream Deck. Keep OBS available while you configure and test actions.
- Add actions to keys. In the Stream Deck app, locate the OBS actions and drag the ones you want onto keys. Elgato’s quick-start flow is to install the plugin, add actions, then use the keys to control OBS.
- Label keys clearly. Use an easy-to-recognize title or icon so you can tell at a glance which scene, source or audio action a key will trigger.
- Rehearse your setup. Test each key in your actual OBS configuration, including scene changes and mute controls, before relying on it during a broadcast. Keep OBS controls accessible as a backup.
What Stream Deck can control in OBS
Elgato lists actions for scenes, sources, recording and audio. The plugin can show feedback for states such as mute and recording, and its keys update live. It also supports previewing a scene in OBS Studio Mode before pushing it live. Which actions are available can depend on your setup; do not assume every action will behave identically across OBS versions or configurations.
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Useful first keys to add
- Scene changes: Add keys for the scenes you switch to most often.
- Source controls: Put frequently toggled sources within reach, such as an on-screen element you regularly show or hide.
- Recording: Add a recording control and confirm its state feedback behaves as expected.
- Audio: Add the mute or audio controls you need and test them before going live.
- Studio Mode preview: Use scene preview controls to check a scene before taking it live.
Choose a Stream Deck layout—or try it on mobile
Choose a layout based on how many actions you want visible at once, your desk space and whether dials would be useful. Elgato’s profile documentation lists these key counts; the product page describes the standard Stream Deck model.
| Option | Listed layout | Consider it if |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Deck Mini | 6 keys | You need a small set of frequent controls. |
| Stream Deck Neo | 8 keys | You want a compact layout with a few more visible actions. |
| Standard Stream Deck | 15 customizable LCD keys | You want a middle-sized set of labeled controls. |
| Stream Deck XL | 32 keys | You want many controls visible without changing pages. |
| Stream Deck + and dial-equipped variants | Dials; key count varies by model | You want physical dials as part of your control layout. |
Those counts are Elgato product specifications, not independent performance measures. Elgato also offers Stream Deck Mobile with six free keys and plugin and hotkey support. It lets you try the general workflow without buying dedicated hardware, though a phone is not ergonomically identical to a physical control surface.
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Use hotkeys when an app has no plugin
If an application does not have a Stream Deck plugin, Elgato recommends using its existing keyboard shortcuts where appropriate. Assign a hotkey action to a key and test it with the application in the state you expect to use it. A hotkey can trigger the wrong action if the application does not receive it or if the shortcut conflicts with another command. For profiles, check the operating system and device type they were made for.
Troubleshoot common setup problems
The OBS actions do not appear
- Check that the OBS Studio plugin is installed through Elgato Marketplace or the Stream Deck app.
- Confirm Stream Deck meets the listed app requirement of version 6.9 or newer, and your operating system meets the plugin page’s current requirements.
- Keep OBS open while configuring and testing the controls.
A key does not trigger the action you expect
- Confirm the key has the intended OBS action, scene or source assigned.
- Test the action in OBS before broadcasting and make sure the relevant scene or source exists in your setup.
- If you are using a hotkey, check the application’s shortcut and whether another command uses the same key combination.
A downloaded profile does not fit your setup
Elgato says profiles are specific to operating system and Stream Deck device type. Check both before importing or using a profile, and use your own actions if it does not match.
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You cannot tell whether recording or audio changed
Check the key’s live feedback and verify the state in OBS. Do a rehearsal before a real broadcast rather than assuming a key press succeeded.
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A Stream Deck controls OBS; it does not keep a computer-powered OBS stream running after the computer is turned off. If your goal is to keep a YouTube channel live 24/7 with uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option: upload a recording or make a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded video from the cloud; it does not broadcast a camera feed.
Quick Recap
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