Use an old iPhone as a Stream Deck for your Mac

The short answer

Use Apple's Shortcuts app if you only need a few synced automations. Use Stream Deck Mobile if you need Elgato's plugin ecosystem and established integrations. Use PocketLauncher if you want a free, local button deck for straightforward Mac controls without installing an iPhone app.

Set up PocketLauncher in under a minute

1. Download PocketLauncher on the Mac you want to control.
2. Open the app. It appears in the Mac menu bar and shows a connection code.
3. Make sure the Mac and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network.
4. Scan the QR code with the iPhone camera.
5. In Safari, choose Share, Add to Home Screen, then turn on Open as Web App.

Apple documents the same Add to Home Screen process for installing a website as an iPhone web app. After the first pairing, PocketLauncher remains available from its Home Screen icon.

What the iPhone can control

• Apps: launch installed Mac apps from their real icons.
• Websites: open saved links in the Mac's default browser.
• Apple Shortcuts: run shortcuts that exist on the Mac.
• Media and volume: play, pause, skip, mute, and adjust output volume.
• System actions: sleep, lock, start the screen saver, or show the desktop. Some window actions require Accessibility permission on the Mac.
• Layouts: create separate pages and arrange the controls for work, media, or a room.

Apple also supports running shortcuts from the Mac command line. PocketLauncher uses the Mac's own shortcut collection, so the button runs the automation on the computer rather than on the phone. See Apple's Shortcuts command-line guide for the underlying mechanism.

Where an old iPhone falls short

A touchscreen cannot reproduce physical keys. You need to look at it, and an iPhone may dim or lock when left on a desk. PocketLauncher also stays on the local network. The Mac must be awake, the menu-bar app must be running, and both devices must share Wi-Fi.

PocketLauncher is not a drop-in replacement for Elgato's plugins, OBS controls, automatic profiles, dials, or multi-action production setups. For those workflows, dedicated Stream Deck hardware or Stream Deck Mobile is the better fit. Elgato's current requirements likewise connect the phone and Mac through the same router.

When the free setup makes sense

The old-phone route works well when the iPhone already sits unused in a drawer and the controls are simple: opening your daily apps, starting a focus shortcut, controlling music, launching a presentation, or keeping a small set of room controls beside the Mac.

It costs nothing to test, uses no account, and keeps the control traffic between your own devices. PocketLauncher supports macOS 13 or later on Intel and Apple silicon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an old iPhone as a Stream Deck for my Mac?

Yes. PocketLauncher serves a button deck from the Mac to the iPhone over local Wi-Fi. The phone side is an installable web app, so there is no separate App Store download.

Does PocketLauncher work without the cloud?

Yes. The Mac and iPhone communicate directly on the same network. There is no account and no cloud relay.

Can an iPhone fully replace Stream Deck hardware?

Not for everyone. It has no physical keys, and PocketLauncher does not provide Stream Deck's plugin ecosystem or automatic app profiles. It fits simple launching, shortcuts, media, and remote Mac actions.