How to Connect Touch Portal to OBS Studio

Integrating Touch Portal with OBS Studio allows content creators to turn any mobile device or tablet into a powerful, customizable macro deck for remote stream control. This article provides a straightforward, step-by-step guide on how to link these two applications. You will learn how to configure the OBS WebSocket server, establish a secure connection within Touch Portal, and set up your first remote control buttons to manage scenes, sources, and audio.

Step 1: Enable WebSocket in OBS Studio

Touch Portal communicates with OBS Studio using a protocol called WebSocket.

  1. Open OBS Studio.
  2. If you are using OBS Studio 28 or newer, the WebSocket server is built-in. Click on Tools in the top menu and select WebSocket Server Settings.
  3. Check the box to Enable WebSocket server.
  4. Note the Server Port (the default is usually 4455).
  5. Click Generate Password or create your own, then click Show Connect Info to copy the password. You will need this for Touch Portal.
  6. Click Apply and OK.

(Note: If you are using OBS Studio 27 or older, you must manually download and install the OBS-websockets plugin before these settings appear in your Tools menu).

Step 2: Configure Touch Portal on Your Computer

Once OBS is ready to accept connections, you need to configure the desktop client of Touch Portal to talk to OBS.

  1. Open the Touch Portal desktop application.
  2. Click on the Settings gear icon in the top right corner.
  3. Select OBS from the left-hand menu.
  4. Check the box to Enable OBS integration.
  5. Input the connection details:
    • IP Address: Keep this as 127.0.0.1 (localhost) if Touch Portal and OBS are on the same computer.
    • Port: Enter the port number from your OBS WebSocket settings (usually 4455).
    • Password: Paste the password you generated in OBS Studio.
  6. Click Save. Touch Portal will attempt to connect. A green indicator or status message will confirm a successful connection.

Step 3: Connect Your Mobile Device

To use your phone or tablet as the physical control deck, you must link the mobile app to your desktop.

  1. Ensure your computer and your mobile device are connected to the same local Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open the Touch Portal app on your mobile device.
  3. The app should automatically find your computer. If it does not, manually enter your computer’s local IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.X) into the app connection settings.
  4. Once connected, your mobile screen will mirror the grid layout configured on your desktop app.

Step 4: Create OBS Control Buttons

With the integration complete, you can now build custom buttons to control your broadcast.

  1. On the Touch Portal desktop app grid, click on any empty square to create a new button.
  2. In the left-hand action menu, scroll down to the OBS category.
  3. Choose an action, such as Set Scene.
  4. Select the specific OBS scene you want this button to trigger from the dropdown menu.
  5. Customize the button’s appearance with text or an icon, then click Save.

Your new button will instantly appear on your mobile device, ready to control your OBS Studio stream with a single tap.