This wikiHow teaches you how to stream live video from your computer's webcam to the Internet. You can use OBS Studio to encode a broadcast for use with any streaming service, although you can also stream your webcam directly to YouTube or Facebook without having to use an encoder.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Encode a broadcast with OBS Studio
Step 1. Understand what it means to code
Encrypting a broadcast allows you to send a content broadcast from a third-party application (in this case, OBS Studio) to a streaming service (for example, YouTube or Twitch). Since many streaming services do not support direct streaming from a webcam, this is the only way to stream on some platforms.
- Streaming from an encoder often results in a higher quality live stream than using a website's built-in stream with your webcam.
- When encrypting a broadcast, you will have to retrieve a key and an address from the selected streaming service and then add both data in OBS Studio (or any other streaming application).
Step 2. Install your webcam if necessary
If your computer does not have a built-in webcam, you will need to connect and configure an external USB webcam before you can transmit.
You can buy webcams at virtually any tech store or large online marketplace (for example, Amazon). They tend to vary in price depending on their quality
Step 3. Open the "Live Stream" section of your service and retrieve the broadcast key
To link the broadcast of your webcam with your preferred service, you will need to retrieve a link that allows you to do it from your service. This process varies from service to service:
- Twitch: Go to https://www.twitch.tv/ and sign in if necessary, click on your username in the upper right corner, click on the Control Panel, click the tab Channel which is under "Settings" on the left side of the page, under Stream key, on Show key, on It is understood and copy your password.
- Facebook: go to and sign in if necessary, click Live video, click the tab Connect and copy the content of the "Stream Key" text box.
- YouTube: go to https://www.youtube.com/live_dashboard_splash and sign in if necessary, click Stream now on the left side of the page, click To reveal next to the box "Name or transmission code" and copy the issuance code.
Step 4. Open OBS Studio
The application icon looks like a three-bladed fan on a black background.
- If you haven't installed OBS Studio yet, go to https://obsproject.com/download in your browser, select your operating system, click Download installer and install it before proceeding.
Step 5. Click File
This option is in the upper left part of the window.
- On a Mac, click OBS Studio in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 6. Click Settings
It's in the drop-down menu File. Doing so will open the "Settings" window.
- On a Mac, click Setting… in the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Click the Issuance tab
You will find this on the left side of the window.
Step 8. Select a streaming service
Click the "Service" drop-down box and then click the name of your service (for example, Twitch) from the drop-down menu.
Step 9. Enter your broadcast key
Click in the "Issuance Key" text box and then paste your Issuance Key by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).
Step 10. Click Apply and then in To accept.
Both options are at the bottom of the page. This will save the settings and close the window.
- If you don't see Apply and To accept on a Mac, just close the "Preferences" window.
Step 11. Add your webcam to the broadcast
By default, OBS Studio will record the desktop. You will need to add your webcam by doing the following:
- Click on ＋ below the "Sources" box at the bottom of the page.
- Click on Video capture device
- Check the "Create New" box and enter a title.
- Click on To accept.
- Select your webcam.
- Click on To accept.
Step 12. Adjust your webcam view
You can click and drag the lower right corner of the red box that surrounds your webcam to expand the amount of screen space it covers.
Skip this step if you are happy with your current webcam settings
Step 13. Click Start Streaming
It's a button in the lower-right part of the OBS Studio window. The broadcast will start.
Step 14. Add your OBS broadcast to your preferred platform
Depending on the selected service, this process will vary:
- Twitch: You will be live automatically. Open the page Channel to watch the broadcast.
- Facebook: click To transmit at the bottom right of the tab Connect from which you retrieved your issuance key previously.
- YouTube: click Broadcast live in the tab Stream now from which you retrieved your issuance key previously.
Method 2 of 3: Stream Directly from Your Webcam on YouTube
Step 1. Install your webcam if necessary
If your computer does not have a built-in webcam, you will need to connect and configure an external USB webcam before you can transmit.
You can buy webcams at virtually any tech store or large online marketplace (for example, Amazon). They tend to vary in price depending on their quality
Step 2. Make sure to use Google Chrome
As of April 2018, streaming to YouTube directly from your computer's webcam was only available in Google Chrome.
Streaming directly from your webcam is only available in Chrome version 60 and up. If you're still using an older version of Chrome, please update it before continuing
Step 3. Open YouTube
Go to https://www.youtube.com/ in your computer's web browser. This will open your YouTube home page if you are signed into your Google account.
- If you are not logged in, click LOG IN at the top right of the page, and then enter your email address and password when prompted.
Step 4. Click on the "Upload" icon
It's the video camera icon at the top right of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 5. Click Go Live
This option is in the drop-down menu. Doing so will open the YouTube Live Stream section.
Step 6. Click Get Started
It's a blue button in the middle of the page. This will start YouTube validating your account, which will unlock the ability to go live within 24 hours.
- If you have already activated your account to stream on YouTube, skip to step "Click Camera".
Step 7. Reopen the live streaming page after 24 hours
Once your account can broadcast, return to YouTube, click the "Upload" button corresponding to your browser and select the option Broadcast live.
Step 8. Click Camera
It's a tab on the left side of the page. This option allows you to stream directly from your webcam without having to download an encoder.
Step 9. Click Allow when prompted
This notification will appear in the upper left corner of the window. Doing so will allow Chrome to use the webcam and microphone.
Step 10. Enter your broadcast information
Type the title and description for your broadcast in the "Title" and "Description" text boxes and then select a thumbnail if you wish.
Step 11. Click BROADCAST
It's a blue button. When you do, YouTube will start streaming from your webcam.
Method 3 of 3: Stream Directly from Your Webcam on Facebook
Step 1. Install your webcam if necessary
If your computer does not have a built-in webcam, you will need to connect and configure an external USB webcam before you can transmit.
You can buy webcams at virtually any tech store or large online marketplace (for example, Amazon). They tend to vary in price depending on their quality
Step 2. Open Facebook
Go to in your computer's web browser. This will open your Facebook News if you are signed in.
- If you are not logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password in the top right of the page, and then click Log in.
Step 3. Click Live Video
It's near the top of the "News" page, just above the text box where you would generally post a status. Doing so will open the "Create Live Stream" pop-up menu.
Step 4. Allow Facebook to access the webcam and microphone
Click on Let (or something similar) when you are asked to allow Facebook to use your webcam and then do the same if you are asked to allow access to your microphone.
Step 5. Add a description to the video
In the "Comment on this live video …" text box, type a description for your broadcast.
This is optional, but recommended
Step 6. Add a title
If you want to put a title on your broadcast, type the title in the "Title" heading near the bottom of the pop-up menu.
Step 7. Click Cast
It's in the lower-right corner of the page. As you do so, your webcam will start broadcasting to Facebook.
- You can close the live broadcast at any time by clicking End Live Video and then in Finalize when indicated.
Advice
- Do lots of test runs before going live. Broadcast privately first to make sure everything works as planned.
- If you want more viewers, keep sharing your link and keep telling your family and friends about it. Let your broadcast spread with the links and by the mouth of others.
- Play around with your broadcast settings to get the performance and quality you want.
- Practice what you want to broadcast before going live to keep mistakes to a minimum.
Warnings
- Feel free to remove users who are disturbing your broadcast. It is your broadcast and you can choose who sees it.
- Be careful what you choose to share on your live broadcast. Anyone can be watching, so don't divulge any personal information or act in a way that you don't want to be seen by the general public. Suppose your employer or family is watching, and don't do anything you don't want them to see.