You need three things: the Stream Deck plugin, a running copy of HWiNFO, and a one-time setup in HWiNFO that lets the plugin read its sensors.

Windows only. HWiNFO is a Windows application and this plugin reads its shared-memory or Gadget-registry interface locally. There is no macOS or Windows-on-ARM build; the plugin needs 64-bit (x64) Windows. No ads, no telemetry, MIT licensed.

System requirements

Requirement Notes
Windows 10 or later, 64-bit (x64) Windows-on-ARM is not supported (keys show Needs x64 / Windows). There is no macOS build; the plugin doesn’t install there at all.
Stream Deck software 6.9+ The Elgato desktop app that hosts plugins. Update it from within the app if you are on an older build.
HWiNFO (free or Pro) Installer or portable. Download from hwinfo.com. The plugin does not bundle HWiNFO; you run it yourself. The free version works; Pro removes the 12-hour Shared Memory limit, and I recommend it if HWiNFO runs all day.

Any Stream Deck hardware works for the Sensor Reading key action. The Sensor Dial action needs a Stream Deck + or Stream Deck + XL (the models with dials and a touchscreen). The HWiNFO Control key action goes anywhere a key action can, including the Stream Deck Pedal and Corsair G-keys, and drives Sensor Dials on other connected decks. The full device matrix is on Hardware compatibility.

Install the plugin

There are two ways to install, depending on where you got the plugin.

From a GitHub Release (.streamDeckPlugin file)

  1. Download com.lawrensen.hwinfo.streamDeckPlugin from the releases page.
  2. Optional: the native addon inside is unsigned, so verify the download against the pack SHA-256 printed in the release notes. In PowerShell: Get-FileHash com.lawrensen.hwinfo.streamDeckPlugin -Algorithm SHA256. More in SECURITY.md.
  3. Double-click the file. The Stream Deck app opens and asks you to confirm the install.
  4. Confirm. HWiNFO Sensors appears in the actions list on the right, under its own HWiNFO Sensors category.

From the Elgato Marketplace

The plugin is on the Elgato Marketplace. Install it from there in one click and the Marketplace hands the package to the Stream Deck app. I publish each version to GitHub Releases first, so while an update is in review the Marketplace can be a version behind. Check the version shown on the listing if you want the newest build.

Note: No admin rights are needed to install the plugin. If a key later shows Access denied, Windows refused access needed to read the sensor source. That error alone does not identify an account, session or privilege mismatch. Open the key or dial settings and choose Copy support report under Advanced → Support; see Troubleshooting.

Updating and removing

  • Update: double-click a newer .streamDeckPlugin (or install the newer version from the Marketplace) and the Stream Deck app replaces the old copy in place. Your keys keep their sensors, themes and thresholds.
  • Uninstall: in the Stream Deck app, right-click the HWiNFO Sensors category (or any of its keys) in the actions list on the right and choose Uninstall, or manage it under the app’s Preferences → Plugins. HWiNFO is a separate program; remove it on its own if you no longer need it.

One-time HWiNFO setup

The plugin reads HWiNFO through one of two interfaces. You only need to enable one; the plugin picks the best available source automatically and falls back on its own (see Data sources).

Shared Memory exposes every reading HWiNFO measures, with min / max / average. It is the preferred source.

  1. Install and start HWiNFO. On the startup dialog, choose Sensors-only (you don’t need the summary window).
  2. Open Settings (the gear icon).
  3. Turn on Shared Memory Support.
  4. Recommended, so HWiNFO is always feeding the deck without a window in your way:
    • Auto Start: HWiNFO launches with Windows.
    • Minimize Sensors on Startup: the Sensors window starts minimized.
    • (Combined with Sensors-only, HWiNFO runs in the background with its window minimized.)
  5. Click OK.

Free version: 12-hour limit. Shared Memory Support switches off after 12 hours; HWiNFO Pro removes the limit. Re-enable sharing or restart HWiNFO to resume it. Auto can use Gadget if reporting is enabled, but saved Shared Memory readings do not automatically match Gadget readings. 1.7 adds explicit provider links.

Free path: Gadget reporting

Gadget reporting never expires on the free version, but it only exposes the sensors you tick, and only their current value (no min / max / average).

  1. Start HWiNFO in Sensors mode.
  2. In the HWiNFO sensor window, click Configure Sensors and open the HWiNFO Gadget tab.
  3. Tick “Enable reporting to Gadget”, then tick “Report value in Gadget” for each value you want on the deck, and click OK. Tick only the readings you put on the deck: each one adds to every scan, and a Shift-click range can tick a reading HWiNFO reports twice under one name, which 1.7 withholds.

The plugin reads these from HKCU\Software\HWiNFO64\VSB. HWiNFO 8.48 creates that key only once a reading is ticked: with reporting enabled and nothing ticked, keys show Start HWiNFO / not detected while HWiNFO is running. Tick sensors / in Gadget appears when the key is there but holds no rows, which unticking everything can leave.

You can enable both interfaces. Auto prefers Shared Memory and can switch to Gadget when needed. To configure only Gadget readings, set Data source to Gadget registry only under Advanced → Connection before choosing them. Since 1.7, Gadget shows Age unknown until a value change is observed, and again after 15 seconds without another. Gadget supplies no historical min/max/average.

Portable HWiNFO caveats

The portable build of HWiNFO works identically, but there is no installer to wire things up for you:

  • Keep HWiNFO running and publishing sensors. Exiting it stops new data, and keys show Start HWiNFO. A killed or crashed HWiNFO can leave old Gadget values behind, which 1.7 shows as Age unknown.
  • Add it to autostart yourself. There’s no installer to register Auto Start, so if you want it running at login you must add the executable to your own startup (e.g. a Startup-folder shortcut or Task Scheduler).
  • Review access settings if needed. Access denied / open settings means Windows refused access needed to read the sensor source. Review the Windows account, session and privilege settings used to launch HWiNFO and Stream Deck; the error alone does not identify which access rule failed. See Troubleshooting.

Verify it works

  1. Drag HWiNFO Sensors → Sensor Reading onto a key.
  2. In the settings panel (property inspector), click the Reading search box and choose a reading. The list groups readings by source (CPU, GPU, drives, …) and shows live values; type to filter. The panel’s header then shows the key’s face and its state: Live with the data source while data arrives.
  3. With a readable source, the key shows the value. Since 1.7, Gadget can show Age unknown until a value change is observed; see Status screens.

If instead the key shows a status screen like Start HWiNFO or Shared Memory off, HWiNFO isn’t publishing yet; recheck the setup above, or see Troubleshooting for what each screen means and how to fix it.

Next steps

MIT licensed. No ads, no telemetry. Not affiliated with REALiX/HWiNFO or Elgato. © Stephen Lawrensen.

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