How to control OBS from your iPhone
Switching scenes is just the start — the same app also mixes your audio and fires macros, so your phone runs the whole stream.
To control OBS from your iPhone, enable the OBS WebSocket server (built in since OBS 28), install the SIDeck desktop host, and pair your phone by scanning a QR code on the same Wi-Fi. You can then switch scenes, toggle sources, trigger hotkeys, preview, and start or stop your stream — free, with no hardware.
Set up OBS control on your iPhone
Enable OBS WebSocket
In OBS 28 or newer, open Tools → WebSocket Server Settings and turn the server on. It's built in, so there's no plugin to install.
Install the SIDeck desktop host
Download and run the SIDeck desktop host on your Windows 10+ or macOS 12+ computer. It talks to OBS for you and waits for your phone to pair.
Pair your phone
Open the SIDeck iOS app on your iPhone or iPad and scan the QR code shown by the host. Keep both devices on the same Wi-Fi — pairing takes under a minute with no port forwarding.
Switch scenes and sources
Your OBS scenes and sources appear on your phone. Tap to switch scenes and toggle sources on or off, and trigger any OBS hotkey.
Ride audio, preview, go live
Adjust your per-app audio mix, open the OBS preview, and start or stop your stream or recording — all from your phone, on the free tier.
Beyond OBS: it's more than a remote
Switching scenes is the smallest thing SIDeck does. Because it connects to a desktop host on your Mac or Windows PC, the same app that drives OBS can also run the rest of your stream — starting with the audio that a pure scene-switcher can never touch.
So once your phone is paired, you're not just clicking OBS buttons from across the room — you're holding a full control surface for the whole broadcast.
- Per-app audio mixer — set the level of your game, Discord, music and browser independently, and push-to-talk or push-to-mute your mic, on Windows and Mac.
- Streamer.bot (Pro) — trigger actions, read and set variables, and watch live chat without alt-tabbing away from OBS.
- Remote macros over the internet (Pro) — fire macros when you're away from your LAN, through a secure Cloudflare relay with no port forwarding.
Troubleshooting
Pairing works over your local network, so most problems come down to the two devices not seeing each other on the same Wi-Fi. Run through these checks if the QR code won't connect.
- Make sure your iPhone and your computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- If pairing still fails, disable AP isolation (also called client isolation) on your router — it blocks devices from reaching each other.
- Confirm the OBS 28+ WebSocket server is enabled under Tools → WebSocket Server Settings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control OBS from my iPhone for free?+
Yes. SIDeck's free tier controls OBS scenes, sources, hotkeys, preview and stream/record from your iPhone, plus two audio channels and up to six macros — no credit card required.
Do I need OBS 28 or newer?+
Yes. SIDeck connects to OBS over WebSocket, and the WebSocket server has been built into OBS since version 28 — just enable it under Tools → WebSocket Server Settings.
Can I control OBS away from home or over the internet?+
By default SIDeck works over your local Wi-Fi network. Pro adds remote macros over a secure Cloudflare relay, so you can fire macros over the internet with no port forwarding.
Do I need any hardware?+
No. SIDeck turns the iPhone or iPad you already own into your OBS control surface — there's no deck or dongle to buy.
Last updated June 2026