How to Control Your Key Light with Stream Deck

Changing your lighting should not interrupt your call, stream, or recording. With Stream Deck, you can control your Key Light from a key, dial, or mobile device, so brightness and color temperature are always within reach. This guide walks through how to set up Key Light control in Stream Deck software, including a free mobile option for anyone without a Stream Deck.

You will need:

• A compatible Elgato light, such as Key Light, Key Light Air MK.2, or Key Light Neo
• Control Center
• Stream Deck software
• Stream Deck hardware, Stream Deck Mobile, or both

1. Open Control Center.

2. Add or pair your Elgato light by clicking on + on the top left.

3. Confirm that you can turn the light on and off. Adjust the brightness and color temperature to ensure the light responds.

Once Control Center can see your light, you can add lighting actions to Stream Deck.

1. Open Stream Deck software. Make sure you have the Control Center plugin downloaded from Marketplace.

2. Find Control Center in the actions list on the right.

3. Drag a lighting action onto a key.

4. Choose which light the action should control and configure the action. Key Light actions include:

• On/Off: Turn one light or all lights on and off
• Set Brightness: Set brightness to a specific level
• Adjust Brightness: Raise or lower brightness in increments
• Set Temperature: Set color temperature to a specific value
• Adjust Temperature: Make the light warmer or cooler in increments

For a simple first layout, start with one power key, two brightness keys, and two temperature keys. You can always add more controls later.

You do not need Stream Deck hardware to get started. With Stream Deck Mobile, your phone or tablet becomes a Stream Deck. This is a practical free option if you want to control Key Light from your desk, but are not ready to add a hardware controller. You can use the free six-key layout for common lighting controls.

Stream Deck Mobile is also useful as a secondary controller. For example, you can keep lighting controls on your phone while using Stream Deck hardware for streaming, editing, meetings, or other shortcuts.

With some Stream Deck models, such as Stream Deck +, GALLEON 100 SD, and Stream Deck + XL, you can use dial controls to fine-tune brightness and color temperature without choosing a fixed preset every time.

Want brightness and color temperature on a single dial? With Dial Stacks, a single dial can control multiple lighting controls, making it easy to adjust both without taking up extra dial space.

A Multi Action can run several steps from one key. For lighting, that means you can create one-tap setups for common situations:

• Meeting mode: Set brightness to 40%, set color temperature to neutral, then turn on Key Light
• Recording mode: Set brightness, set a daylight-style temperature, turn on Key Light, then open your recording app
• Night mode: Lower brightness and set color temperature to a warm shade
• End session: Turn off lights and switch back to your default profile

Open Control Center first. If Control Center cannot see your light, Stream Deck software will not be able to control it.

Check that your light and the computer running Stream Deck software are connected to the same local network. If you are using Stream Deck Mobile, make sure your mobile device and computer are also on the same network.

Confirm that Stream Deck software is running on your PC or Mac, then pair Stream Deck Mobile again from the desktop app. If Key Light is unstable or slow to respond, check that it has a strong Wi-Fi connection. During setup, connect Key Light to a 2.4 GHz network if available, since 2.4 GHz usually offers better range than 5 GHz.

The best lighting layout is the one you actually use. Start with power, brightness, and color temperature. Then add presets for calls, recording, streaming, or nighttime use as your workflow becomes clearer.

If you are just getting started, Stream Deck Mobile is a free way to try controlling Key Light. If you want dedicated hardware, Stream Deck gives you always-on controls at your desk, while dials give you more precise lighting adjustments.