How to Use Stream Deck: Setup, Profiles and Multi Actions for Streaming

To use Stream Deck, install the free Stream Deck app from the Elgato website (Windows 10/11 64-bit or macOS 13 and newer), add the OBS Studio and Twitch plugins from the Marketplace, drag the actions you need onto the keys and build a separate profile for streaming. The real value comes not from single buttons but from Multi Action (one key runs a chain of commands), Key Logic (three actions on one key), Smart Profiles (the layout switches itself to match the active program), folders and pages. You can try all of this without buying anything: Stream Deck Mobile on your phone gives you 6 keys for free.

Which Stream Deck models are available in 2026

All models run in the same app, with the same plugins and profiles. The difference is the number of keys and whether there are dials. According to Elgato's current comparison (updated in July 2026), the lineup looks like this:

Model	Controls	Who it suits
Stream Deck Neo	8 keys, 2 touch points for flipping pages, an info panel with the time and page number	Your first deck, streaming from a single program
Stream Deck MK.2	15 keys, swappable faceplates, detachable USB-C cable	The main model for most streamers
Stream Deck XL	32 keys (8×4)	Lots of scenes, sounds and commands without folders
Stream Deck +	8 keys, 4 dials, touch strip	Anyone who often adjusts volume and the mixer
Stream Deck + XL	36 keys, 6 pressable dials, touch LCD strip	The largest model, released in 2026

Besides these, the lineup includes the Stream Deck Pedal with 3 foot switches and the CORSAIR GALLEON 100 SD keyboard with a built-in Stream Deck module (12 keys and 2 dials). The 6-key Stream Deck Mini is no longer in Elgato's current comparison, but it still turns up in shops and on the secondhand market.

Ruble prices vary a lot between shops, so we don't list them here: compare on the spot and check who provides the warranty, the seller or the manufacturer.

Installing the app and setting up your first keys

1. Download the Stream Deck app at elgato.com/downloads. Windows needs 10 or 11 64-bit; on Mac you need macOS 13 Ventura or newer (this requirement applies from version 6.9).
2. Connect the deck over USB. The app detects the model on its own and shows the key grid on screen.
3. The list of actions is on the right. Drag an action onto a key, then set its parameters in the settings panel below: which scene to switch to, which file to play, which text to send.
4. To change an icon, click the picture in the key settings. Create a separate Stream profile for going live right away.

Marketplace and plugins for OBS, Streamlabs and Twitch

Plugins are installed from the Elgato Marketplace: the Marketplace icon right in the app, or the site marketplace.elgato.com. You will need a Marketplace account. Click Get, then Open in Stream Deck, and the plugin appears in the action list. Many plugins are free, some are paid.

OBS Studio

The official OBS Studio plugin from Elgato can be found right in the Plugins tab in the app's right-hand panel. It can:

• start and stop streaming and recording (with pause), and the virtual camera;
• turn on the replay buffer and save a replay, add a chapter marker to the recording, take a screenshot;
• switch scenes, scene collections, profiles, sources, filters and transitions, and enable Studio Mode;
• mute the microphone in three modes: toggle, push to mute and push to talk;
• on models with dials, change the volume of mixer channels.

The plugin talks to OBS through the built-in WebSocket, which OBS has had since version 28. If the keys do not respond, open the Tools menu in OBS, go to the WebSocket settings, make sure the server is enabled and, if needed, enter the password in the plugin settings. To set up OBS itself from scratch, see our guide to OBS settings for streaming.

Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs has its own plugin for Streamlabs Desktop: start and stop the stream, switch scenes, mute channels, record and go live with one button. Note that Streamlabs Desktop 1.22 and newer requires updating the plugin to the latest version; the old one will stop working.

Twitch

The free Twitch plugin connects to your account, and after that you can put almost the entire Creator Dashboard on keys:

• a clip of the last 90 seconds of the stream and opening the latest clip;
• a stream marker, so you can quickly find the moment in the recording later;
• running an ad for a set length of time;
• a chat message or command;
• chat modes: emote-only, followers-only, subscribers-only, slow mode, clear chat, Shield Mode;
• changing the title and category during the stream;
• a viewer counter on a key.

Features almost nobody sets up

Multi Action: a chain of commands on one button

Right-click an empty key and choose Multi Action. In the window that opens, drag in actions from any plugins: OBS, Twitch, audio, lighting. Between steps you can insert a Delay action with a delay in milliseconds. Example of a Go Live button: start recording, pause 1000 ms, switch the scene to the starting screen, start the stream, send a greeting to chat. The built-in interval between steps is also adjustable, from 2 to 200 ms. There is one limitation: a Multi Action cannot be nested inside another Multi Action.

Multi Action Switch: two chains on one key

This is a toggle: the first press runs one chain, the second runs another, the third runs the first again. A streaming classic: the first press brings up the starting screen, starts the stream and posts to social media; the second brings up the ending scene, stops the stream and turns off the lights.

Key Logic: three actions by press type

Key Logic arrived in app version 7.0 and works on all models, including Neo, Stream Deck + and the virtual Stream Deck. A key has three slots: a short press, a double press and a hold. For example, a short press adds a marker, a double press creates a clip, and a hold runs an ad. You add it the same way: right-click the key, then Create Key Logic Action, or drag it in from the Multi Action category.

Smart Profiles: a layout for the active program

A Smart Profile switches to the right profile by itself when a particular program comes to the foreground. Open settings (the gear at the top of the window), choose a profile on the left and pick a program such as OBS or a game in the Application list. There are two common reasons it seems not to work:

• Smart Profiles only trigger while the Stream Deck window is minimized; while you are editing the layout, they are switched off;
• the feature does not work with UWP apps from the Microsoft Store, and if the program you need is not in the list, on Windows it helps to run Stream Deck as administrator or to pick the file through Other.

Folders and pages

A folder is a key with another grid of buttons hidden behind it. Create one by right-clicking an empty key, then Create Folder. Folders can be nested inside each other with no depth limit, and holding the back button takes you straight to the top level. It is handy to keep all your sounds in one folder and chat modes in another.

Pages flip the whole profile at once: up to 10 pages per profile, and the next and previous buttons are added automatically and cannot be deleted, only moved. A page needs at least one free key. On the Neo, pages are flipped with the touch points on either side of the info panel.

10 useful buttons for streaming

1. Scenes. Game, Just Chatting, Be Right Back, Starting Soon: one key for each through the OBS plugin.
2. Microphone. A mute toggle with a red icon when muted, so you can see right away that nobody can hear you.
3. Clip. Twitch Create Clip saves the last 90 seconds: press it right after a great moment.
4. Marker. Stream Marker on Twitch or Chapter Marker in the OBS recording, so you don't have to hunt for highlights by hand later.
5. Ads. Play Ad runs an ad for a set time; handy to trigger in the break between matches.
6. Chat commands. Chat Message sends a Discord link, the rules or a bot command with one press.
7. Sounds. The Play Audio action from the Soundboard section supports MP3, WAV, FLAC and M4A. Elgato recommends WAV or FLAC because MP3 puts more load on the CPU. On Windows you can choose the output device for each sound; on Mac the sound goes to the system output.
8. Timer. There is no built-in stream timer, but the Marketplace has plenty of countdown and stopwatch plugins for breaks and giveaways.
9. Chat modes. Slow mode, followers-only or Shield Mode for when a raid or spam hits.
10. Stream start and end. The Multi Action Switch from the section above: one key for the whole start and end routine of the broadcast.

Stream Deck Mobile: free on your phone

If you don't have a deck, start with the Stream Deck Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The free version gives you 6 keys with no trial period and no time limit. Plugins, folders, pages and profiles all work in it, which means everything described above, including OBS and Twitch.

The paid Pro version unlocks up to 64 keys, other grids (for example 5×3 or 8×8), custom backgrounds and Siri commands. Pro is sold as a monthly or yearly subscription, or as a one-time purchase for life. Elgato notes that prices depend on the country, so check the price in your app store.

What you need to get it working:

• a phone running iOS/iPadOS 15 or newer, or Android 9 or newer;
• a computer with the Stream Deck app installed;
• the phone and computer on the same local Wi-Fi network, through the same router.

Another free option is the virtual Stream Deck from version 7.0: on-screen keys right on your monitor that you can pin or bring up under the cursor. For a second monitor with scenes it is a perfectly workable solution.

Budget alternatives

• Touch Portal. Turns a phone or tablet into a deck with buttons and has OBS integration. The free mobile version allows only 2 pages (the home page and one more); Pro removes the limit.
• Streamlabs Deck. An iOS and Android app that controls Streamlabs Desktop: streaming, recording, scenes, sources, replays, plus the event feed and chat. It connects through a QR code in the Remote Control section of the Streamlabs Desktop settings.
• Macro keyboard. Programmable keyboards with a few keys can be mapped to OBS hotkeys. There won't be icons on the keys, but scenes and the microphone are covered. An old phone or tablet with Stream Deck Mobile or Touch Portal is cheaper still.

If you are choosing a deck as a gift for a streamer friend, take a look at our roundup of gifts for streamers. And for how stream control panels work in general, read our detailed article on the control panel for streaming.

You have the deck, but few viewers so far

Stream Deck saves you seconds on air, but it does not bring people to your channel. If the online count sits near zero during your first streams, you can add starting viewers through our viewer control panel: you choose the platform, the number of viewers and the time, and you start and stop them as easily as a button on your deck. Real viewers find it easier to join a channel where someone is already watching, and Twitch followers will help you build a starting subscriber base.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Stream Deck if I can set up hotkeys in OBS?

Hotkeys cover scenes and the microphone. Stream Deck wins where you need icons that show state, Twitch commands (clip, ad, marker, chat modes) and action chains through Multi Action. If you are unsure, try the free Stream Deck Mobile first.

Why does my Smart Profile not switch the layout?

Most often the Stream Deck app window is open: profiles only switch while the window is minimized. The feature also does not work with UWP apps from the Microsoft Store. If the program is not in the list, run Stream Deck as administrator on Windows.

How many keys does the free Stream Deck Mobile have?

6 keys, permanently, with no trial period. A Pro subscription or one-time purchase expands the layout to 64 keys and adds other grids and custom backgrounds.

Can I put several actions on one key?

Yes, in three ways: Multi Action runs a chain in sequence, Multi Action Switch alternates two chains, and Key Logic (from version 7.0) gives different actions for a short press, a double press and a hold.

Does Stream Deck work with Streamlabs instead of OBS?

Yes, Streamlabs has its own plugin in the Elgato Marketplace: streaming, recording, scenes and audio. For Streamlabs Desktop 1.22 and newer, the plugin needs to be updated to the latest version.