How to control OBS from your iPad (no extra hardware)
January 20, 2026 · 6 min read
You don't need a Stream Deck to get tactile, one-tap control of OBS. If you own an iPad — even an old one — you can turn it into a broadcast control surface in about three minutes. Here's exactly how it works and how to set it up.
Why an iPad makes a great OBS controller
An iPad is a big, responsive touchscreen you probably already have on your desk. Unlike a Stream Deck's fixed grid of tiny keys, an iPad gives you room for scene thumbnails you can actually read, faders you can slide, and pages you can swipe between — all without spending $150 on hardware.
Because it runs over your local Wi-Fi, the latency is effectively zero: tap a scene and OBS switches instantly.
What you need
OBS Studio 28 or newer (the WebSocket server that makes remote control possible is built in), a Windows PC, and any iPad or iPhone. That's it — no App Store download, no account required to start.
StreamPad runs as a small app on your PC and serves the control deck to your iPad's browser.
The setup, step by step
1. Install and run the StreamPad app on your PC. 2. In OBS, open Tools → WebSocket Server Settings and enable the server. 3. On your iPad, scan the QR code the app shows (or type the address into Safari). 4. Tap 'Add to Home Screen' and you have a full-screen control deck.
From that moment, your scenes appear as buttons, your stream and recording controls are a hold away, and your mic mute is always one tap.
What you can control
Scene switching with live thumbnails, start/stop streaming and recording, studio mode, a program monitor of exactly what's going out, per-app audio faders, a camera kill switch, a soundboard, and merged Twitch/YouTube chat — all from the iPad, so your main monitor stays on your game.
Control OBS from your iPad in three minutes — 30 minutes free every day, no card needed.
Download StreamPad