Stream Deck OBS Setup: Connect and Streamline

To connect Stream Deck to OBS, install the Elgato Stream Deck app, install OBS Studio 30 or newer, then add the official Elgato Stream Deck OBS plugin and link it through OBS WebSocket on port 4455.

Once linked, you can start and stop streaming, switch scenes, mute sources, trigger media, and run multi-step production cues from one button. The full stream deck obs setup takes about 10 minutes if both programs are up to date.

What you need before you start

Most connection failures happen because of version mismatch. Check this first.

• OBS Studio 30.0 or newer installed on the same PC or Mac as Stream Deck. OBS WebSocket 5.x is built in from OBS 28 onward, no separate download needed.
• Stream Deck app 6.4 or newer from Elgato. Works with Stream Deck MK.2, Stream Deck XL, Stream Deck Mini, Stream Deck +, and Stream Deck Pedal.
• 090elgato stream deck obs plugin, installed from the Stream Deck Store inside the Stream Deck app. Search for OBS Studio.
• Administrator access on Windows to approve firewall prompts, or Local Network permission on macOS Sonoma and later.
• If OBS and Stream Deck are on different machines, both devices must be on the same private network and you need the OBS WebSocket password.

How to connect Stream Deck to OBS step by step

This is the standard method for obs stream deck control on a single streaming PC.

1. Enable WebSocket in OBS

• Open OBS Studio, go to Tools, then WebSocket Server Settings.
• Check Enable WebSocket Server.
• Confirm Server Port is 4455. This is the default for OBS WebSocket 5.x. Do not use the old 4444 port unless you are running OBS 27.
• Check Enable Authentication and click Generate Password or set your own. Copy it.
• Click Apply, then OK. Leave OBS running.

2. Install the obs stream deck plugin

• Open the Stream Deck app.
• Click Store in the top bar, search for OBS Studio by Elgato.
• Click Install. This installs the obs stream deck plugin actions: Scene, Source, Stream, Record, Replay Buffer, Audio Mixer, Filter, Studio Mode, and Media.
• Drag an OBS action to an empty key, for example Stream – Toggle Streaming.
• On first use, a configuration prompt appears for Host, Port, and Password. Use 127.0.0.1 or localhost, port 4455, and the password from Step 1.
• Click Connect. The key icon should turn from a warning icon to live status.

After the first key connects, all other obs plugin stream deck actions share the same connection. You do not need to enter the password for every button.

3. Build your core profile

• Scene keys: Add one key per main scene – Starting, Gameplay, Be Right Back, Ending. Set Switch Scene with no transition override for fastest switching.
• Audio keys: Add Audio – Mute/Unmute for Mic and Desktop. Enable the status title to show Muted in red.
• Stream control: Add Stream Start/Stop and Record Start/Stop on the bottom row where you will not hit them by accident.
• Multi Action: Create a Starting Stream sequence that switches to Starting scene, unmutes mic, starts streaming, and starts recording after a 2-second delay.
• On Stream Deck +, assign dials to Desktop Volume, Mic Gain, and Webcam Zoom in OBS.

Stream deck obs plugin vs WebSocket vs Stream Deck SDK: which to use

There are three ways people mean stream deck obs plugin. Use this matrix to pick the right one.

For 95 percent of users asking how to connect stream deck to obs, the first row is correct. Do not install the old obs-websocket 4.x installer or old third-party stream deck obs plugins from 2020-2022. They use port 4444 and no authentication and will fail on current OBS.

Recommended OBS settings when using Stream Deck for control

Stream Deck does not change encoding load, but streamers who automate scene switching tend to run more animated sources. Match your OBS output to your hardware tier to avoid dropped frames when you hit a scene key.

Worked bandwidth check: 8000 kbps video plus 320 kbps audio equals 8320 kbps total, or 8.32 Mbps. Add 35 percent overhead for network fluctuation: 8.32 x 1.35 equals 11.23 Mbps required stable upload. If your speed test shows less than 12 Mbps upload, stay at 720p60 with 6000 kbps until you upgrade your connection. Stream Deck scene switches will feel instant once encoder overload is gone.

Stream Deck not connecting to OBS: causes and fixes

If you see stream deck not connecting to obs, gray icons, or Connection Failed, work through this order. Each step fixes a specific cause.

1. Password or port mismatch

This causes 70 percent of failures after OBS updates reset WebSocket settings. In OBS go to Tools, WebSocket Server Settings and confirm Show Password, then re-enter it in Stream Deck. Right-click any OBS key, choose Configure, update Port to 4455 and paste the password again. Click Connect.

2. OBS was updated but Stream Deck plugin was not

OBS 29+ requires the current Elgato OBS Studio plugin version 2.5 or newer. In the Stream Deck app go to Settings, Plugins, check for updates. Restart both apps after updating. Old plugin versions show Connected but actions do nothing.

3. Firewall or admin privilege block on Windows

Windows Firewall can block localhost WebSocket after a major Windows update. Open Windows Defender Firewall, Allow an app, confirm obs64.exe and StreamDeck.exe both have Private checked. Then right-click both OBS and Stream Deck and Run as administrator once to re-establish the socket. After that you can run normally.

4. macOS local network permission

On macOS, go to System Settings, Privacy and Security, Local Network, and enable Stream Deck and OBS. Then in OBS WebSocket settings, uncheck and re-check Enable WebSocket Server. Reconnect from Stream Deck. Without this permission, localhost still fails on Sonoma and Sequoia.

5. Two instances or wrong IP

If OBS Portable, Streamlabs, or a second OBS is also open, Stream Deck may bind to the wrong instance. Close all streaming apps, open only OBS Studio, confirm in Task Manager or Activity Monitor that only one obs process runs, then reconnect. For two-PC setups, use ipconfig or ifconfig on the OBS PC to get the correct IPv4 address and enter that in the Stream Deck OBS plugin host field, not localhost.

If nothing works, remove the OBS plugin, restart Stream Deck app, reinstall from Store, and create one test key with Scene Collection – Get Current Scene. If that key shows your scene name, the socket is live and your old profile was corrupt.

How to streamline your stream with Stream Deck and OBS

• Use folders: Put all audio controls in a Mic folder with a Back key. Keep main page to 8 to 10 live keys to avoid misclicks.
• Use Smart Profiles: In Stream Deck settings, enable Automatic Profile Switching for obs64.exe so your Streaming profile loads when OBS is focused and your Gaming profile loads otherwise.
• Delay scene actions: In Multi Actions that start streaming, add a 1000 ms delay between Switch Scene and Start Streaming so animated stingers load fully.
• Label replay: Map Instant Replay Save Replay Buffer to a large key with a 30-second buffer in OBS Settings, Output, Replay Buffer. Set 720p60 replay to 150 MB max to avoid RAM spikes.
• Back up: Export your profile from Stream Deck, Profiles, Backup All. OBS scene collections change often and re-linking is faster with a backup.

FAQ

Do I need the separate obs-websocket installer for stream deck obs?

No. OBS Studio 28 and newer includes WebSocket 5.x. You only need to enable it in Tools and install the Elgato OBS Studio plugin from the Stream Deck Store. Only OBS 27 and older need the manual websocket installer.

Why does Stream Deck disconnect when I change networks or use a VPN?

VPNs and public firewall profiles block port 4455. Exclude 127.0.0.1 from your VPN split tunnel or disconnect the VPN, then reconnect Stream Deck. For two-PC control, allow TCP port 4455 inbound on the OBS PC firewall.

Can one Stream Deck control two OBS instances?

Yes. Install the OBS plugin twice with different connection profiles or use Companion. Set Profile 1 to 192.168.1.20:4455 for your gaming PC and Profile 2 to 192.168.1.21:4456 for your streaming PC by changing the second OBS port in WebSocket settings.