Build your first button deck

What you need before you start

No programming or system tinkering is required. Actions are picked from a list, and every button can be tested before it is saved.

• Windows 10 or 11 with CYPAD installed from the Microsoft Store or the manual installer.
• The app open: the editor sits next to the pad.
• The sites or applications you want to launch, at hand.
• Optional: OBS with the WebSocket plugin if you plan to control your stream (requires Pro).

Step 1: open your profile

When you open CYPAD you already have a profile ready. Give it a name you recognise — "Desktop", "OBS" or "Game" — in the profile editor.

The Free plan works with 1 profile and up to 6 active buttons, with no time limit. That is enough to finish this guide.

Pro raises the limit to 12 profiles and 48 buttons per profile when you need it.

Step 2: create the first button

Press New and choose Button. The editor opens with the name and action fields. Start with something you use daily: your browser or a work site.

Type the button name and pick the action type. For a site, paste the URL; for an app or file, use the path picker; for a key combination, open the shortcut editor.

• Site: paste the full address, including https://
• App or file: select the path in the dialog
• Shortcut: combination library, key capture or visual builder
• Text: write the phrase you want to paste

Step 3: test and save

Before saving, use Test: the action runs and you see whether it does what you expected. If the button is incomplete, CYPAD will not let you save it, so fix the name or the action first.

Repeat until you have six buttons. A good first mix: your browser, your main site, the downloads folder, a shortcut such as Ctrl+Shift+V, volume control and a profile switch.

Step 4: tidy up the deck

With the buttons in place, adjust the grid density and decide whether you want action hints. These visual controls live in the deck settings.

If a button needs work, edit it: the editor keeps the configuration and you can change any field without recreating it. You can also duplicate a button to build variants quickly.

• Duplicate buttons to start from a tested base
• Tune the pad density to your window size
• Turn on always on top if the pad must stay visible over other windows

Step 5: what comes next

Once the six buttons feel natural, the next step is automation: routines that chain up to 12 steps with apps, keys, waits, commands and sound.

If streaming is your goal, the OBS connection guide explains how to enable the WebSocket plugin.

And if you want the deck on your phone, the companion is enabled in Settings: same Wi-Fi and a 4-digit PIN.

Common issues

These are the usual snags when building a first deck and how to clear them.

• The button will not save: the name or the action is missing. Fill in both fields; CYPAD does not save incomplete configurations.
• The shortcut does nothing in the other app: the target application must support that combination. Windows also blocks input to elevated windows and security sequences.
• I cannot pick a shortcut: open the editor library; it groups 27 combinations by editing, browser and Windows.
• I have hit the button limit: the Free plan allows 6 active buttons. Disable the ones you do not use or consider Pro.
• The command does not run: if you use PowerShell or CMD, check the chosen interpreter and whether the terminal should be visible; hidden commands report failed exit codes.