This gadget was made for streamers, but I can’t work without it

I've always been fascinated by the idea of the Stream Deck. Not because I'm a big-time streamer, but because it looks like an excellent way of having handy, programmable buttons that can do anything I want.

I don't stream, but the Stream Deck has changed how I work. It's one of the best productivity upgrades I've made in a while, and now I can't work without it.

Getting the right Stream Deck

Different sizes, endless buttons

The Stream Decks come in a bunch of variants, and depending on which one you're willing to buy, it can be a sizable investment. You also don't need as many programmable buttons as you think you do, so spending over $200 to get the Stream Deck XL only for half the buttons to sit empty isn't a great idea.

The Stream Deck Mini, with its six buttons and $49 price tag, seemed like a good value, but Elgato launched the Stream Deck Neo right when I was about to make my purchase. Regardless of whether you stream or not, the Stream Deck Neo is the perfect productivity companion in my opinion. It's got just enough buttons for all your custom mappings, and the dedicated page buttons actually make having multiple button pages viable.

There's also the regular Stream Deck Mk2, Stream Deck +, and several other accessories that plug into the device. Having many options can make the decision a little confusing. If you're confused about which Stream Deck model you should buy, consider the number of custom keys you'll need and add two buttons to it. If you're buying a Stream Deck purely for productivity, I'd suggest the Stream Deck Neo.

Music controls that actually work

Instant volume tweaks and playback control without alt-tabbing mid-focus

I have music playing in the background constantly as I go through my workday. When I was using four monitors, one of my displays would be dedicated to YouTube Music so I could quickly change or control my music. However, when I switched to a dual-monitor setup, having an entire display covered with just a music player wasn't an option.

I don't like fiddling with the function keys on my keyboard, so I initially came up with several solutions for the problem. The first was creating custom shortcuts using Microsoft PowerToys to control music. This was useful, but only when I was at my desk typing. If I just needed to change music, I'd need both my hands to use the shortcuts.

Credit: Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf

I also tried mapping music controls to my mouse, but that would mean giving up valuable buttons that I could use for other tasks. I tried to work with my gaming mouse and ended up getting hooked because of the functionality the extra buttons offered, so wasting them on music didn't seem right.

As you can guess, the perfect solution came with the Stream Deck Neo. I have an entire page dedicated to controlling music on my Stream Deck, and these aren't basic controls either. I can see the title and thumbnail of the track I'm playing, and other controls like play/pause, next and previous track, volume control, shuffle, and a song like/dislike button. Practically every control I would need to control my music now lives in a dedicated spot that I can push by muscle memory without taking my eyes off of what I'm doing.

App shortcuts to save my sanity

One tap to open anything

My Stream Deck isn't just a glorified music controller. Another major function it handles is launching apps. I've set up buttons for my most-used programs, including my text editor, code editor, browser with specific tab groups, project management tools, communication apps, and anything else I might need.

It also holds a bunch of system controls, such as muting volume and mic, camera controls, and switching sound outputs between my headphones and speakers. Practically everything that would take multiple clicks to launch or adjust can now be done with a single tap on the Stream Deck.

Credit: Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf

If you work remotely, you understand the hassle that online meetings can be. Frantically clicking through browser tabs to find that one mic mute switch in time can be frustrating when done multiple times a day. Having these buttons mapped at my fingertips is a far easier way of controlling my hardware and launching apps at the same time.

Automations without complexity

Macro magic without coding headaches—set it once and forget it

Another strength of the Stream Deck is its software. You can create multi-step automations with a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes creating complex workflows accessible even if you're not particularly tech-savvy.

For example, I've got an end-of-day button that saves my work, closes specific applications, backs up important files to the cloud, updates my Slack status, and can even dim my lights if I get the right ones. What used to be a tedious shutdown routine is now condensed to just a button press.

Credit: Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf

There are several Stream Deck plugins you can use to boost productivity. These plugins offer additional functionality and, hence, more control over your automations.

Not perfect, but pretty close

A few quirks remain, but it’s still the most useful thing on my desk

The Stream Deck Neo isn't without its quirks. The software doesn't work as expected sometimes, and the touch buttons for changing pages can be hit or miss. Some integrations, including the one for my third-party YouTube Music app, require third-party plugins, which can be complicated to set up. However, once you get the hang of it, the whole process becomes much easier.

I bought the Stream Deck Neo as a curious tech journalist investigating productivity tools. However, I kept it because it genuinely makes my work life better every day. Yes, it was designed for streamers, but it's extremely useful for anyone who spends their day juggling multiple apps, managing digital workflows, and trying to stay focused in an increasingly distracting digital world.