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Run a macro from a hotkey

Stepping away mid-stream usually means three things at once: switch to your BRB scene, mute the mic, tell chat. In this tutorial you put all three on one key combination. The hotkey is global: it works anywhere on the computer, even while a game has the focus, so you never have to alt-tab.

What you'll build

  • A Be right back macro that switches OBS to your BRB scene, mutes your microphone and posts a message in chat.
  • A Welcome back macro that does the reverse.
  • Two hotkey triggers: Ctrl+Shift+F7 to go, Ctrl+Shift+F8 to come back.

CroStream Be right back, chat! Grab a drink.

Time: about 10 minutes. Level: beginner.

Before you start

  • CroStream runs on the computer where you press the keys, and is connected to OBS. See Connect OBS.
  • OBS has a scene called BRB (or use your own name), and you know the name of your microphone source in OBS.

  • Your system supports global hotkeys:

    Works out of the box.

    CroStream needs the Accessibility permission: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, then switch on CroStream. Insert, F21 to F24 and the media Stop key can't be used.

    Works in X11 sessions (and apps under XWayland). Not available on a pure Wayland session.

    See Hotkeys for the details.

Step 1: Build the "be right back" macro

  1. In the sidebar, click Macros, then New macro. Set Name to Be right back.
  2. Filter the palette for scene, click Switch scene, and set Scene to BRB.
  3. Filter for mute and click Mute or unmute an OBS audio source. Pick your microphone in Audio source and set Audio to mute.
  4. Filter for chat, click Send chat message, and set Message to Be right back, chat! Grab a drink.
  5. Click Save.

The Be right back macro with Switch scene, Mute or unmute an OBS audio source and Send chat message steps

Step 2: Add the hotkey trigger

  1. Click Triggers, then New trigger. Set Name to Be right back hotkey.
  2. Under When, pick Hotkey as the Event.
  3. Click the Keys box and press Ctrl+Shift+F7. CroStream records the combination as you press it; there is nothing to type.
  4. Under Then run, pick Be right back, then click Save.

A Hotkey trigger with Ctrl+Shift+F7 recorded in the Keys box

Choosing a combination

Every combination needs a modifier (Ctrl, Alt, Shift or Super) plus one key. The exceptions are F13 to F24 and media keys, which work on their own. That rule stops a trigger from eating a key you type with. If you own a Stream Deck or a macro keypad, map its buttons to F13 to F24 and give each one a trigger.

Step 3: Make the way back

A hotkey runs one macro, so build the return trip as a second pair:

  1. Make a macro called Welcome back with Switch scene set to your normal scene and Mute or unmute an OBS audio source set to unmute. Add a chat message such as I'm back! if you like.
  2. Make a trigger called Welcome back hotkey on Hotkey Ctrl+Shift+F8 that runs Welcome back.

One key for both?

Audio also has a toggle choice that flips the mute each time. It is handy for a plain mute key, but for BRB two separate keys are safer: you always know which way you are going.

Check it works

  1. On the Be right back hotkey trigger, click Test. OBS switches to BRB, the mic mutes, and chat gets the message.
  2. Click into another window, such as a game or a text editor, and press Ctrl+Shift+F7. The same happens. Holding the keys down fires the trigger only once.
  3. Press Ctrl+Shift+F8 to come back.
  4. Open History to see each run and every step it took.

Troubleshooting

What you see What to do
The trigger shows a warning that the combination "could not be registered" Another program already owns that combination. Pick a different one.
Hotkey is greyed out and marked Unavailable in the Event list Your system can't do global hotkeys, for example a Linux desktop on pure Wayland. Log in to an X11 session instead.
On a Mac, the trigger shows a warning about the Accessibility permission Grant it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Test works but the keys do nothing Make sure the trigger is Enabled and look for a warning on the trigger. Try a different combination.
The mic doesn't mute Pick the microphone from the Audio source list so the name matches OBS exactly.

Next steps