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How-To

How to Control Your Live Stream from Your Phone with Streamlabs Controller

Pair Streamlabs Controller to Desktop over your local network, use phone controls, and troubleshoot QR connection problems.

By VGSources Team 4 min read
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To control a stream running in Streamlabs Desktop, install Streamlabs Controller on your phone, connect the phone and computer to the same local network, then scan the QR code in Streamlabs Desktop under Settings > Remote Control. Streamlabs Controller is a remote for Desktop; it is different from Streamlabs Mobile, which broadcasts directly from a phone.

What you need before pairing

  • A phone that can install the latest Streamlabs Controller app. Streamlabs’ Controller support article lists Android 5.1 or newer and iOS 12 or newer; it was last updated April 25, 2025, so check the current app-store listing for compatibility before setup. Streamlabs Controller support.
  • Streamlabs Desktop running on the computer that is controlling the stream.
  • The phone and computer connected to the same local network, normally the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Permission for Streamlabs Desktop to communicate through the computer’s firewall.

A guest Wi-Fi network or router setting called AP Isolation may block devices from discovering one another. If the phone cannot connect, check that local-device access is allowed and AP Isolation is off.

Pair Streamlabs Controller with Streamlabs Desktop

  1. Install or update the app. Get Streamlabs Controller on the phone and make sure it is the latest version available to you.
  2. Join the same local network. Connect the phone and the computer running Streamlabs Desktop to the same network.
  3. Allow Desktop through the firewall. If your computer asks whether to allow Streamlabs Desktop on the network, permit it on the network you are using. If you have previously blocked it, adjust the computer’s firewall settings.
  4. Show the pairing code. In Streamlabs Desktop, open Settings > Remote Control and click SHOW to reveal the QR code.
  5. Scan from the phone. Open Streamlabs Controller, go to Remote Control, and scan the QR code displayed by Desktop.

The exact app presentation can change, so use the current labels shown in your installed versions if they differ from the support article.

What you can do from the phone

Streamlabs’ phone-control article describes actions including going live, starting a recording, switching scenes, toggling sources, and checking chat and recent events. It identifies the app as Streamlabs Deck; the article was last updated April 25, 2025, so confirm which controls and labels are present in your current app. Streamlabs phone-control guide.

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If QR pairing does not work

  1. Confirm both devices are on the same local network, not a guest network that isolates devices. Check the router’s AP Isolation setting and allow Streamlabs Desktop through the computer firewall.
  2. If the router offers both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, try connecting both devices on a different band. Streamlabs lists this among its troubleshooting suggestions.
  3. In Streamlabs Desktop, open Settings > Remote Control, reveal the blurred QR code, and open Show Details.
  4. Generate a new API key, reboot the computer, then scan the QR code again from the phone.

These are troubleshooting steps documented by Streamlabs, not guaranteed fixes. If the app still cannot pair, check the current Streamlabs support instructions and your router or firewall documentation.

Optional: connect over the internet

Streamlabs documents a manual connection route for controlling Desktop when the phone is not on the same local network. It requires router configuration and is an advanced option, not the default setup.

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  1. Pair the phone and computer on the local network first.
  2. Configure the router to forward port 59650 to the computer running Streamlabs Desktop. If you use an alternate port, note its value.
  3. In the phone app, choose Remote > Manual Connection and enter the computer network’s public IP address, plus the alternate port if configured.
  4. If your internet provider assigns a dynamic public IP address, update the address in the app when it changes.

Streamlabs notes that this method may require advanced networking knowledge. The support article does not provide a security evaluation, so do not treat port forwarding as a risk-free convenience. Consult your router documentation and only expose the access you understand and intend to use. See the Streamlabs Controller connection instructions.

Controller is not Streamlabs Mobile

Use Streamlabs Controller when the broadcast is running in Streamlabs Desktop and you want phone-based controls for that computer. Streamlabs Mobile is a separate app for streaming directly from a phone, including camera or game streams; its setup covers mobile scenes, streaming settings, and platform selection rather than QR-pairing with Desktop. Its current product page lists iOS 14+ and Android 5.0+ for Mobile only; those requirements do not apply to Controller.

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For the separate mobile-streaming workflow, see Streamlabs’ guide to streaming from Streamlabs Mobile and its Streamlabs Mobile product page.

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Or let it run in the cloud

Streamlabs Controller gives you remote controls for a Desktop stream; it does not keep that computer running for you. If your goal is a continuous prerecorded YouTube stream, StreamNeo is a different option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The cloud keeps the stream running without a computer or home connection staying on.

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