YOUTUBE: Getting Started

A guide on how to set up YouTube for Live Streams

In this guide, we will go over how to set up a YouTube live stream. YouTube is different to most other Live Streaming services, in that you need to schedule a stream each time that you want to go live. You cannot just press “Start Streaming” in OBS, a stream must be scheduled in advance. This guide will cover both setting up a Live stream from the YouTube homepage, and YouTube Studio, on desktop.

Step 1

From the YouTube homepage; Click on the Camera icon, then “Go Live”.

Step 1a (YouTube Studio)

Within the YouTube Studio portal, click “Create” and “Go live”

Step 2

Click on Schedule Stream

Step 3

Put in a title and description, and scroll down

Select “Streaming Software” under Choose Broadcast Type and change the category to one which best matches your content

Add a thumbnail and change any other settings to suit your content, then click Next

In the customisation, select which best suits your content, then click Next

Select Public, if you want your Live stream to be publicly accessible, and the date and time you are planning to go live (doesn’t need to be exact), then click Done

You will then get the following screen. You will find your stream key under “Stream Key” – this is for use within OBS. 

Toggle Auto-Start and Auto-Stop

This is now all set up and once you send a feed from OBS, you will see it here. If you want to preview without going “Live” – turn off Auto-Start.