To stream on YouTube with OBS, enable live streaming on your channel (allow up to 24 hours the first time), open YouTube Studio's Live Control Room, then in OBS go to Settings, Stream and either choose YouTube or paste your stream key. Add your sources, run a short test, and click Start Streaming.
OBS Studio is the free streaming software most YouTube creators start with, and YouTube lists it among its verified encoders. It's the route to take when a phone or webcam stream isn't enough: sharing your screen, adding slides, mixing in a good microphone, or showing more than one camera. The set-up has one step people forget, which is enabling live streaming a day in advance. Here's the full process.
Before you start: enable live streaming
YouTube says enabling live streaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours, so do it the day before you plan to go live. You also need a verified channel and no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and YouTube says you must be at least 16 years old to live stream. Once it's enabled, future streams can go live instantly.
Step 1: set up OBS
- Install OBS Studio from the OBS website.
- Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard. It appears the first time you open OBS, or find it under the Tools menu. It checks your computer and connection and suggests settings.
- Add sources in the Sources dock: Display Capture or Window Capture to show your screen, and Video Capture for your webcam.
- Check your microphone under Settings, then Audio, if the audio meters aren't moving.
Step 2: connect OBS to YouTube
- In YouTube Studio, click Create, then Go Live to open the Live Control Room.
- Open the Stream tab. For your first stream, edit the details and click Create stream.
- In OBS, go to Settings, then Stream.
- If OBS offers YouTube as a service, choose it. Otherwise paste the stream URL from YouTube as the server, then copy your stream key from YouTube into the Stream Key box.
- Click OK.
If you've streamed before, YouTube says your previous settings, including the stream key, load automatically, so you won't need to update OBS each time.
Step 3: test, then go live
The OBS team strongly encourages running a test for a few minutes before your first real stream. I'd add: set the stream to private or unlisted for that test, so nobody sees your fumbles. Then:
- Click Start Streaming in OBS.
- Watch the preview appear in YouTube's Live Control Room.
- For a stream started straight away, you're live once OBS is sending. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview, then click Go live in the Live Control Room.
- To finish, click End Stream in YouTube and stop streaming in OBS.
What you need, at a glance
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Verified YouTube channel | Required before you can live stream |
| Live streaming enabled | Can take up to 24 hours the first time |
| OBS Studio | Free encoder on YouTube's verified list |
| Stream key from YouTube Studio | Tells OBS which stream is yours |
| A test run | Catches audio and scene problems before viewers do |
Keep your stream key private
Your stream key works like a password for your channel's live stream. Anyone who has it can send video to your stream. Never show it on screen, in a screenshot or in a tutorial recording, and reset it in YouTube Studio if you think it's been exposed.
Common OBS problems on YouTube
- Preview doesn't appear in YouTube. Check the stream key in OBS matches the one in Live Control Room, and that OBS says it's live.
- No sound. Check the audio meters in OBS and your devices under Settings, Audio.
- Black screen capture. Try Window Capture instead of Display Capture, or the reverse.
- Choppy video. Rerun the Auto-Configuration Wizard and close heavy apps.
A simple first-stream layout
You don't need a fancy set-up for your first OBS stream. For a business live, Q&A or tutorial, three scenes cover almost everything:
- Starting soon: a still image with your name and the topic, so early viewers know they're in the right place.
- Main scene: your webcam in a corner and your screen or slides filling the rest.
- Camera only: just you, full screen, for introductions and questions at the end.
OBS lets you switch scenes with a click while you're live, which looks far more polished than fiddling with windows on camera. Build the scenes during your test stream, not five minutes before you go live.
After the stream
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are archived automatically, so your recording appears on your channel once you finish. You'll find past, current and upcoming streams in the Live tab of YouTube Studio, where you can edit the title or trim it before sharing.
If the recording takes a long time to appear, see my guide to a YouTube upload stuck processing, and seeing who subscribed to your channel shows whether live streams are bringing in new followers.
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My verdict
Enable live streaming a day early, set up OBS with the wizard, connect it with your stream key, and always run a private test first. Once that's done, going live with OBS takes a minute, and you've got far more control than a phone or webcam stream gives you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I connect OBS to YouTube?
Open YouTube Studio's Live Control Room, then in OBS go to Settings, Stream and choose YouTube or paste your stream URL and stream key.
Why can't I go live on YouTube with OBS yet?
Enabling live streaming for the first time can take up to 24 hours, and you need a verified channel.
Is OBS free for YouTube streaming?
Yes. YouTube's verified encoder list describes Open Broadcaster Software as open source and available at no charge.
Where do I find my YouTube stream key?
In YouTube Studio, click Create, then Go Live, and open the Stream tab in the Live Control Room.
Do I need to change my stream key every time?
No. YouTube says previous settings, including the stream key, load automatically for later streams.
Are OBS streams saved on YouTube?
Streams under 12 hours are archived automatically to your channel.
