Connect the Stream Deck directly over USB

Step by step

Close Elgato's Stream Deck app and Bitfocus Companion, if they are open.
Plug the Stream Deck into the computer's USB port.
Click “⚡ Shortcuts and Triggers” and open the “Stream Deck” tab.
Make sure the “Automatic sync over USB” switch is on.

What shows on the buttons

Without setting anything up, each input becomes a button with its number and name. The button turns green when the input is on Preview and red when it is on Program. The buttons follow along when you add, remove or rename an input.

The last row holds the mode (the button sends the input to Preview or cuts straight to Program), CUT, AUTO and the pages, for when the inputs don't fit on the buttons.

What the tab shows

Message	What to do
✓ … connected and in sync.	Ready to use.
No Stream Deck found.	Plug the device into USB.
Elgato's Stream Deck app is open…	Close Elgato's app so NWK can take over the buttons.
Companion is open…	Close Companion so NWK can take over the buttons.
This model does not have automatic sync yet…	The Mini and the 2017 Stream Deck do not sync on their own yet. Use the shortcut addresses (see below).
The system did not release the device.	Unplug the USB cable and plug it back in.
Automatic sync is not available on this computer yet.	Use the shortcut addresses.

Choose what each button does

To change the layout, use Sync with interface.

Use Elgato's app or another panel

If you prefer to set up the buttons in Elgato's app, turn off the Automatic sync over USB switch. Then, in the My shortcuts tab, click ⧉ on a shortcut's row to copy its address and paste that address into the panel button.

The Generate new address button changes all addresses. Buttons already set up stop working until you paste the new addresses. Only do this if someone outside got hold of the address.

Questions

Do I need to install any app for the Stream Deck?

No. NWK talks directly to the device over USB.

How do I know the panel is sending commands?

In the Stream Deck tab, the Last command received line shows the last command that arrived.