My old tablet does exactly one job now, and it's never been more useful

I've been wanting to purchase a Stream Deck-like macro controller for a long time now. The idea of having a dedicated deck of buttons to launch apps, trigger shortcuts, and control my workflow without reaching for the keyboard sounded great. But for my non-gaming, non-streaming use case, it was hard to justify spending $100 or more on a Stream Deck for productivity.

While I put the plan on hold, I decided to build an app that could turn my tablet into a Stream Deck-like macro controller. Turns out, that was unnecessary. Dedicated tools already existed; I just needed to find the right one. That's where Touch Portal came in, a freemium app that turned my Android tablet into a remote macro control deck for my PC. My tablet does exactly one job now, and it's never been more useful.

Pre-requisites

An old tablet, Touch Portal, and some patience

To turn any Android tablet into a macro controller, you need an app that lets you map actions on your PC from the tablet. Touch Portal does exactly that. It's a cross-platform app with two parts: a mobile app for your phone or tablet that shows pages of tappable buttons, and a companion desktop app for Windows or macOS that receives those button presses and executes them on your computer.

When you tap a button on your tablet, Touch Portal sends the command to the desktop app over Wi-Fi or USB. The desktop app then performs the action, whether it's launching an app, triggering a keyboard shortcut, or running a multi-step macro. It has built-in integrations for streaming tools like OBS, Streamlabs Desktop, and XSplit, but you don't need to be a streamer to use it. For apps without native integration, Touch Portal can automate workflows using simulated key presses, mouse movements, and window controls.

The free version limits you to a 4x2 grid and two pages. That's eight buttons across two layouts, enough for a basic app launcher. 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 automation features like global variables and events. For my setup, the free version covers everything I need.

You'll also need some patience. Touch Portal isn't plug-and-play, and even a simple setup takes a bit of trial and error to get right.

Setting up Touch Portal on your tablet and PC

Download the apps, pair with a QR code, and build your buttons

Touch Portal is a bit tricky to work with, especially if you haven't used any IFTTT-style tools before. The initial setup isn't very intuitive and requires some guessing before things click into place.

Start 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. Both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

On your PC, launch 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 displayed on your PC. After a few seconds, your tablet should mirror the same empty button grid from the desktop app, confirming a successful connection.

Next, we need to create buttons. Click an empty slot in the desktop app to open the Edit Control Screen. Under General, select Launch Apps & Games as the action type. Windows Store apps show up automatically in the dropdown. For third-party desktop apps, click the dropdown and choose Other Applications and Games, then pick the program you want. To make buttons look polished, click the image icon and assign a custom icon. I recommend the IKON pack from Touch Portal's asset database, which gives buttons that have a polished Stream Deck look.

Once you save a 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 handful of productivity apps I use daily, but you can set it up the way that matches your workflow.

A software solution to a hardware problem

Where Touch Portal falls short compared to a Stream Deck

Touch Portal can mimic what a Stream Deck does, but it can't fully replace one. The most obvious gap is tactile feedback. A Stream Deck has physical buttons you can press without looking, which makes it faster and more ergonomic for heavy macro use. With a tablet, you're tapping a flat screen, and that means you need to glance at the display every time. For quick app launches, it's fine. For fast, eyes-off control during a stream or intensive workflow, it's noticeably slower.

Then there's setup complexity. Stream Deck ships with tightly integrated, polished software that makes configuring profiles, actions, and plugins intuitive even for beginners.

Touch Portal's interface takes some getting used to, even for a simple app-launch layout. Advanced configurations like integrating OBS, setting up DAW controls, or building complex automations can involve adjusting firewall rules, dealing with network quirks, and wiring things up manually. It's not a dealbreaker, but the learning curve is steeper.

Wireless connection reliability is another quirk to keep in mind. Touch Portal relies on Wi-Fi, which introduces latency and, more importantly, occasional dropouts depending on your network. It's not comparable to the physical USB plug-and-play experience of a Stream Deck. For a reliable connection, opt for the USB mode on Android by enabling Developer Options and USB debugging, and that should keep the connection stable.

For anyone who needs rock-solid, tactile controls with zero latency and minimal setup, a dedicated macro controller like the Stream Deck is still the better choice. But for my use case, Touch Portal gets the job done.

A $0 solution to a $100 problem

If you have an old tablet gathering dust, Touch Portal is worth trying before spending $100 or more on a Stream Deck. The free version handles basic app launching and simple macros without any cost, and for casual users who want quick access to frequently used apps, it's more than enough.