Elgato Stream Deck MK2

Elgato Stream Deck MK2

The Elgato Stream Deck MK2 in black is a desktop control surface built around a simple idea: the tasks you repeat all day should take one tap, not a string of clicks and keyboard shortcuts. Its 15 keys are small LCD displays, so every button shows you exactly what it will do, and that icon changes with context. For streamers it becomes mission control for a live broadcast. For editors, producers, presenters and office users it becomes a physical shortcut panel for the software they already use, sitting quietly beside the keyboard and removing friction from routine work.

This is the MK.2 generation of the original Stream Deck. It keeps the proven 15-key layout and adds a detachable USB-C cable, an interchangeable faceplate and a detachable stand, so the unit is easier to cable neatly, easier to angle on the desk and easier to personalise. The black finish is the discreet option: it blends into a studio desk or a work-from-home setup without drawing attention to itself on camera.

Key features

• 15 customisable LCD keys, each with its own icon and visual feedback
• One-touch triggering of single actions or chained multi-actions
• Detachable USB-C connection for cleaner desk cabling
• Interchangeable faceplate, so the look can be changed without replacing the unit
• Smart Profiles that switch key layouts automatically per application
• Folders and pages for organising far more than 15 actions
• Drag-and-drop setup in the Stream Deck app on Windows and macOS
• Large plugin library via the Stream Deck Store, including OBS, Twitch and YouTube integrations

Built for live streaming

During a live stream there is no time to alt-tab and hunt through menus. With the Stream Deck MK2 you switch scenes, mute or unmute a microphone, launch a media source, trigger a sound effect, post a chat message or start and stop recording and streaming with a single press, while your eyes stay on the game, the guest or the audience. Because each key is a display, you can see at a glance whether a source is live, whether the mic is muted and which scene is active. That visual confirmation matters when a mistake goes out live. Stream Deck also integrates with other Elgato tools such as Wave Link and Control Center, so audio levels and lighting can sit on the same panel as your broadcast controls.

Beyond streaming: everyday productivity

The same panel earns its place outside broadcasts. Video editors map timeline commands, markers and export presets to keys. Photo editors trigger actions and adjustments. Presenters advance slides, switch cameras and play clips without touching the laptop. Office users open project folders, launch meeting apps, paste standard text blocks, control music and operate smart lights from one place. Multi-actions are the key idea here: one key can open several apps, arrange a starting layout, play an intro and post a message in sequence, turning a two-minute startup routine into a single tap at the start of the day.

Software, plugins and personalisation

Setup happens in the free Stream Deck app: drag an action onto a key, choose or design an icon, and it is ready. Plugins from the Stream Deck Store extend the panel to streaming platforms, creative software, system monitoring, smart-home services and more, and new plugins appear regularly. Smart Profiles detect which app is in focus and load the matching layout automatically, so the panel you see while editing is different from the one you see while streaming. The removable faceplate lets you change the appearance of the black unit with alternative designs or your own artwork, and custom icons and screensavers complete the personal setup.

On the desk

The MK2 is compact at roughly 118 x 84 x 25 mm without its stand and light enough to reposition easily, yet the detachable stand holds it at a comfortable viewing angle for long sessions. Power and data travel over the single USB-C cable, so there is no separate power supply to manage. It works with Windows 10 64-bit or later and macOS 10.13 or later. If your work involves the same dozen commands repeated hundreds of times a week, the Stream Deck MK2 in black converts that repetition into single, labelled, reliable taps.