Even though I’m a casual gamer and don’t stream at all, I was still fascinated with the idea of using Stream Deck for productivity. It offers a great way to quickly access the few apps I use frequently without juggling between the mouse and the keyboard.
However, when I decided to repurpose my old Android tablet, it replaced three expensive gadgets. A Stream Deck-like macro controller was one of them. The main challenge was finding an app that could help me do this, and Touch Portal turned out to be just what I needed to turn my Android tablet into a remote macro control deck for my PC.
What’s Touch Portal
A software-based macro controller for your phone or tablet
Touch Portal is a free app that turns your phone or tablet into a customizable control surface. The mobile app displays pages of tappable buttons and sliders, while a companion desktop app receives those commands and executes them on your PC. Think of it as a software version of Elgato’s Stream Deck, minus the dedicated hardware.
On the surface, the working of the app is simple. When you tap a button on your tablet, Touch Portal sends that command to the desktop app over Wi-Fi or USB. The desktop app then performs the action, which can range from launching an app, triggering a keyboard shortcut, to switching OBS scenes, or running a complex macro with multiple steps.
Touch Portal has built-in integrations for streaming apps like OBS, Streamlabs Desktop, XSplit, and services like Twitch. But even for apps without direct integration, it can automate them using simulated key presses, mouse movements, and window controls. Each button can contain multiple actions and conditional logic, so you can create “If This, Then That” (ITTT) style workflows.
The free version limits you to a 4×2 grid and two pages, which is enough for a basic app launcher setup. The Pro upgrade is a one-time $13.99 purchase that unlocks unlimited pages, up to 110 buttons per page, animated GIF icons, plugin support, and deeper automation features like global variables and events. For my simple productivity setup, the free version does everything I need. I would have liked a way to change the background color and image, but both are locked behind the Pro upgrade, and I can’t justify paying just for that.
Setting up Touch Portal
Download the apps, pair your devices, and create buttons
I must admit that Touch Portal is not the most intuitive app to set up, and it takes some guesses to get it working. Begin by downloading the desktop app from the Touch Portal website for Windows or macOS, then install the mobile app from Google Play or the App Store on your tablet. Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
On your PC, open Touch Portal and wait for the main window to load. You’ll see a grid of empty button slots. In the bottom toolbar, click the QR icon to display a pairing code. On your tablet, open the app, tap Settings, and choose Setup Wizard. Select QR Code as the connection method, then scan the code on your PC. After a few seconds, your tablet should display the same empty button grid from the desktop app.
Since I needed a few buttons to quickly launch a few apps and specific URLs, that’s what I’ll demonstrate. Click an empty slot in the desktop app to open the Edit Control Screen. Under General, select Launch Apps & Games as the action type. Choose your app from the dropdown—Windows Store apps appear automatically, while third-party apps can be selected through Other Applications and Games. To make your buttons look polished, click the image icon and assign a custom icon. The IKON pack from Touch Portal’s asset database gives you polished icons that mimic the Stream Deck aesthetic.
Once you save the button, it syncs to your tablet instantly. Tap it, and the app launches on your PC. My setup includes buttons for Slack, Spotify, my browser, file manager, and a few productivity apps I use daily. Touch Portal can do a whole lot more than what I’ve set up here, but starting simple is a good way to understand how the app works in practice.
- OS
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Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Price model
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Free, Premium
Touch Portal turns your phone or tablet into a highly customizable macro control deck, letting you trigger shortcuts, multi-action macros, and integrate with streaming, editing, and automation tools to boost workflow efficiency.
Where it falls short compared to a dedicated macro controller
Software can’t fully replace hardware
While Touch Portal can turn your phone or tablet into a remote macro controller, it has the same limitations as any software-based solution when compared to dedicated hardware. The tactile feel of physical buttons on a Stream Deck not only feels better, but also makes it easier to access controls without looking at the display.
Stream Deck also comes with tightly integrated software that makes setup and fine-tuning beginner-friendly. Touch Portal takes some getting used to, even for a basic setup. The interface isn’t as intuitive, and advanced configurations involve more technical work, as firewall rules, network configurations, and OBS or DAW integration can get complicated quickly.
Connection reliability is another quirk that you need to be aware of. Touch Portal relies on Wi-Fi, which introduces latency (honestly, not a big deal), but it’s the potential dropouts that’re most annoying. It’s not comparable to the physical USB plug-and-play experience that Stream Deck offers. I recommend opting for the USB connection mode on Android for better stability. However, it requires enabling Developer Options and USB debugging first.
A cheap solution to an expensive problem
If you have an old tablet gathering dust, Touch Portal is worth trying before spending $150 on a Stream Deck. The free version handles basic app launching and simple macros without any cost. For casual users who want quick access to frequently used apps, it’s more than enough.
The Stream Deck is still the better choice for streamers or anyone who needs reliable, tactile controls with zero latency. But for my use case, which mainly involves launching a handful of apps and keeping my workflow organized, Touch Portal works fine, which is exactly what I wanted.
