This wikiHow teaches you how to broadcast or live stream on YouTube. You can use both a computer and a mobile device, but you need to verify your account first to register with a streaming service. You can also broadcast content on your desktop, such as video games to YouTube using a free program called Open Broadcast Software (OBS) Studio.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Registering with a Live Streaming Service
Step 1. Open YouTube
Visit https://www.youtube.com/ through your computer's web browser. Your YouTube account will be unlocked once signed in.
If not, click " SIGN IN ” in the top right corner of the page, then enter your email address and password. Make sure you're signed in to the account you want to use to live stream.
Step 2. Click the "Upload" icon
It's in the list of icons in the top-right corner of the YouTube page. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Go live
This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, you will be taken to the live streaming registration page.
Step 4. Click Get started
It's a blue button at the top of the page.
If you have already registered, you can see the form to set up a broadcast. If so, skip to the streaming content creation step
Step 5. Select a country
Click the " Select your country " drop - down box, then click your country of residence from the drop - down menu.
Step 6. Check the box "Text me the verification code"
This box is below the "Select your country" drop-down box.
Step 7. Enter the mobile number
Click the text field under " What is your phone number? ", then type in your phone number.
Step 8. Click Submit
It's a light blue button below the phone number field, at the bottom of the page.
Step 9. Get the verification code
Open the messaging app or segment on your phone, display a message from YouTube (with a 6-digit number), and review the 6-digit code in the main body of the message.
Step 10. Enter the verification code
Type the 6-digit code you get into the text field at the top of the page, then click “ Submit ”.
Step 11. Click Continue when prompted
It's at the top of the page.
Step 12. Follow the other instructions shown on the screen
Give YouTube permission to use your computer's webcam or change other YouTube settings when prompted. Once you get to the page that says you need to wait 24 hours first, you can move on to the next step.
Step 13. Wait for 24 hours
YouTube takes a full day to verify your account so you can live stream. After 24 hours have passed, you can broadcast live via your computer or smartphone.
Part 2 of 4: Live Streaming Through the YouTube Desktop Site
Step 1. Return to YouTube after 24 hours have passed
After waiting 24 hours, you can re-access YouTube by visiting https://www.youtube.com/ and logging into your account if necessary.
Modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari support live streaming
Step 2. Set up the webcam if necessary
If you want to broadcast live on a computer, you'll need a camera or similar device.
If you want to broadcast a game or movie from your desktop, switch to the "Broadcasting Desktop Content to YouTube" method
Step 3. Click the "Upload" icon
It's a camera icon in the top-right corner of the page. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Click Go live
This option is in the drop-down menu.
Step 5. Click Allow when prompted
With this option, a web browser can access your webcam.
Step 6. Enter the name of the streaming content
In the "Title" field, type any name for your content.
This name becomes the title displayed on the streaming content after you end the broadcast and upload it to the channel
Step 7. Select viewing privacy settings
If you want to save the content as unregistered or private content, click the " Public " column, then select “ Unlisted " or " Private ” in the drop-down menu.
Step 8. Click NEXT
It's at the bottom of the page.
Step 9. Pose to take a thumbnail (thumbnail)
YouTube will use the built-in camera to take any room-facing photos within three seconds of the page loading.
If you don't like the captured image, place your cursor on the image and click “ RETAKE THUMBNAILS ” to re-take the photo.
Step 10. Click GO LIVE
It's at the bottom of the page. After that, the live broadcast will start.
Step 11. End the broadcast when desired
Click END STREAM ” at the bottom of the page, then select “ END ” when prompted. The live broadcast will end and be saved as a video on your channel.
Part 3 of 4: Live Streaming Through Mobile Devices
Step 1. Open YouTube
Tap the YouTube app icon, which looks like a white triangle on a red background. The main YouTube page will be opened if you are already signed in to your account.
- If not, select an account and/or enter your email address and password when prompted.
- Make sure you access your account at least 24 hours after signing up for the live broadcasting service.
Step 2. Touch "Upload" icon
It's at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Allow YouTube to use device camera and photos
Touch " ALLOW ACCESS, then select " OK ” for each command.
On the Android device, touch “ ALLOW " as a replacement " OK ” for each command.
Step 4. Touch GO LIVE
It's at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Allow YouTube to access the device again
Touch " ALLOW ACCESS " again, then select " OK " or " ALLOW ” on each command.
If you are asked to enable super chat, select “ TURN ON " or " NOT NOW ” when the command is displayed.
Step 6. Enter the content title
Tap the "Title" field at the top of the screen, then type in the desired title for the streaming content.
Step 7. Select the viewing privacy option if necessary
If you want to save streaming content as unregistered content, select “ Public ” under the title text field, then touch “ Unlisted ” from the drop-down menu.
- Unlisted content can only be watched by people who have a direct link to the video.
- You can't set content as private through the YouTube mobile app.
Step 8. Pose for content thumbnails
YouTube will take a photo of your face within three seconds of opening the page.
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If you don't like the captured image, you can touch the " Edit " icon
in the upper right corner of the image and select “ Thumbnail crack ” to re-take the photo.
Step 9. Touch GO LIVE
It's a blue button at the bottom of the screen. The live broadcast will start soon.
You may need to touch" STREAM IN PORTRAIT ” to confirm the orientation of the phone.
Step 10. Edit the content if necessary
Touch X ” in the upper right corner of the screen, then select “ END ” when prompted.
On the Android device, select “ OK " as a replacement " END ”.
Part 4 of 4: Stream Desktop to YouTube
Step 1. Get the YouTube stream key
Each user has a specific verification code that can be used to link the streaming program (eg OBS) to the YouTube live streaming tool. To get this code, follow these steps:
- Go to https://www.youtube.com/live_dashboard_splash in your computer's web browser, then sign in to your account if necessary.
- Click the tab " Stream now ” on the left side of the page.
- Scroll to the "ENCODER SETUP" section.
- Click " Reveal ” to the right of the " Stream name/key " column.
- Copy the stream code by clicking on it and pressing the shortcut Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac).
Step 2. Install OBS Studio
Open Broadcast Software Studio is a free program that allows you to broadcast content on your computer screen via various streaming services, including YouTube. To install it, follow these steps:
- Visit https://obsproject.com/download via a computer web browser.
- Select the computer operating system if the site does not detect it automatically.
- Scroll down and click " Download Installer ”.
- Double-click the downloaded installation file.
- Follow the installation instructions displayed on the screen.
Step 3. Open OBS Studio
Click or double-click the OBS Studio application icon, which looks like a white fan on a black background.
On Mac computers, you may need to open the “Applications” folder first to find the OBS Studio icon
Step 4. Click File
It's in the upper-left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
On a Mac computer, click “ OBS Studio ” in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Step 5. Click Settings
This option is in the drop-down menu “ File After that, the “Settings” window will be opened.
On a Mac computer, click “ Preferences… ” in the drop-down menu.
Step 6. Click the Stream tab
It's on the left side of the window.
Step 7. Select YouTube as the service
Click the " Service " drop-down box, then click " YouTube / YouTube Gaming ” in the drop-down menu.
Step 8. Enter the stream code
Click the " Stream key " field, then paste the code by pressing the shortcut Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
Step 9. Click Apply, then select OK.
These two options are at the bottom of the window.
If you don't see the option " Apply "and " OK ” on a Mac computer, simply close the “Preferences” window.
Step 10. Start any content you want to broadcast
If you are playing a game or showing a movie, open it and manage/play the media.
Step 11. Click Start Streaming
It's in the lower-right corner of the OBS Studio window. The live broadcast will start.
You can check if the live broadcast is still running by visiting https://www.youtube.com/live_dashboard_splash and looking at the video in the middle of the segment “ Stream now ”.
Step 12. End the broadcast when it's done
Click the button Stop Streaming ” in the lower-right corner of the OBS Studio window. Broadcast content will be saved to your YouTube channel as video.
Tips
- If your YouTube account was verified when you wanted to sign up for the live streaming service, you'll come to a page asking you to wait 24 hours.
- It's a good idea to watch live videos on YouTube before going live or streaming yourself if you haven't already so you can get a better idea of how to do it.
