Disclosure: we make SofaDeck. Facts about the Stream Deck software were checked on 20 October 2026 against Elgato's own help pages and can change.
One of the best things about a Stream Deck is that it can change with what you're doing: open OBS and the scene buttons appear, switch to Photoshop and the tool shortcuts take over. Elgato calls this Smart Profiles. This guide explains how it works, and how to get the same behaviour on a phone you already own, with no extra hardware.
How Stream Deck Smart Profiles work
In the Stream Deck app you link a profile to an application. When that application gets focus on the computer, the device swaps to the linked profile. Elgato's documentation notes two limits worth knowing: the switching is paused while the Stream Deck software window is open (so it doesn't change under you while you configure it), and Universal Windows Platform apps aren't supported.
Smart pages on your phone with SofaDeck
SofaDeck turns a phone into a Stream-Deck-style deck through its browser. Since 1.0.6, SofaDeck Pro on Windows can link any page to one or more apps, and the phone follows the PC:
- Install SofaDeck 1.0.6 or later on the Windows PC, pair your phone and unlock SofaDeck Pro.
- Make a page for the app, for example an OBS page with your scene and mute buttons.
- On the phone, tap ✏️ to edit, then ⚙︎ Page, and look at Smart page.
- Switch to the app on the PC: its name (such as obs64 or chrome) appears in the list on the phone. Tap it, then Save.
- Done: whenever that app comes to the front on the PC, the phone switches to its page by itself.
- One page, several apps. A media page can belong to Chrome, Edge and Spotify at once.
- Across profiles. If the page lives in another profile, the phone switches profile too; a page in the profile you're using wins when two pages list the same app.
- It stays out of the way. Clicking the desktop or taskbar doesn't change the page, an app with no page leaves the phone where it is, and nothing switches while you edit.
- Light on the PC. SofaDeck checks the app in front about once a second, and only while a page uses Smart pages.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getPage ideas that switch by themselves
- OBS: scenes, start/stop recording, mute mic. See control OBS from your phone.
- Browser: play/pause, full screen, next video and volume for YouTube or Netflix.
- Teams or Zoom: mute, camera and leave. See a mute button for Teams and Zoom.
- A game: the in-game keys you always forget, macros and a screenshot button.
Related: Stream Deck alternatives compared and Stream Deck Mobile vs SofaDeck.
Frequently asked questions
What are smart profiles on a Stream Deck?
Elgato's Stream Deck software can link a profile to an application, so the keys change when that app is in focus. SofaDeck's Smart pages do the same on a phone: link a page to one or more apps and the phone switches to it when the app comes to the front on the PC.
Can my phone deck switch pages automatically?
Yes, with SofaDeck Pro ($9.99 once) on Windows. Give a page one or more apps in its settings, and the phone follows the app in front: OBS brings up your streaming page, a game its own page, the browser your media page.
Does it switch while I'm editing?
No. The phone never changes page while you're editing the deck or have a menu open, and clicking the desktop or taskbar keeps the current page.
Does it work with Microsoft Store apps?
Mostly by their program name. Some Store apps run inside a shared Windows host process, so they all appear under the same name; desktop programs such as OBS, browsers, Spotify and games each have their own.
Is it available on Mac?
Not yet. Smart pages need Windows; the rest of SofaDeck's deck works on Mac.