How to live stream on YouTube
Phone, webcam or encoder, and how to keep a stream running around the clock.
There are three ways to live stream on YouTube: from your phone's camera in the mobile app, straight from your browser with a webcam, or through encoder software or a cloud service using a stream key. The mobile app is the quickest route, but it requires 1,000 subscribers to go live. Webcam streaming runs in a browser with no subscriber requirement, so a brand-new channel can go live from a laptop. The encoder route sends video over RTMP with your stream key, which is how you broadcast gameplay, overlays, or a pre-recorded video. Whichever path you pick, you first verify your account with a phone number and turn on live streaming, which can take up to 24 hours the first time. Once live streaming is enabled, that same setup can keep a video live 24/7.
How to go live on YouTube
Enable live streaming
In YouTube Studio, open Create then Go Live. Verify your account with a phone number if prompted. The first activation can take up to 24 hours.
Go live from your phone
In the YouTube app, tap Create then Go Live and choose the camera. This mobile route needs at least 1,000 subscribers.
Go live with a webcam
On desktop, open Go Live and pick Webcam to broadcast from your browser and microphone. There is no subscriber requirement on this route.
Go live with an encoder
Choose the Stream option, copy your stream key and the RTMP URL rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2, and paste them into software like OBS or a cloud service.
Keep a video live 24/7
To run a recorded video around the clock, paste your key into StreamZop, upload the file, and it loops from the cloud with automatic restarts.
Streaming from your phone (the mobile app)
The mobile app is the fastest way to go live, since you tap Create then Go Live and broadcast from the phone's camera with no extra software. The catch is the threshold: live streaming from the YouTube app requires at least 1,000 subscribers, which rules it out for new channels. Mobile streaming is best for casual, in-the-moment broadcasts such as events, vlogs or quick updates, where you want the camera in your hand rather than a full production setup. It is not suited to looping a recorded file or running overlays, because the source is always the live phone camera.
Going live with a webcam in your browser
On a desktop, you can go live directly from your browser by opening Go Live and choosing Webcam. It broadcasts from your webcam and microphone with no encoder to install, and unlike the mobile app it has no subscriber requirement, so a new verified channel can use it. Webcam streaming is ideal for talking-head streams, Q&As and simple presentations. What it cannot do is bring in gameplay capture, multiple scenes, custom overlays or a pre-recorded video file, which is where the encoder route takes over.
Streaming with an encoder or software (stream key)
The most flexible route uses a stream key. You pick the Stream option in Go Live, copy your stream key and the RTMP ingest URL, and paste them into encoder software such as OBS or into a cloud service. The encoder sends your video to YouTube over RTMP, so you can broadcast gameplay, screen shares, multi-camera scenes, overlays or a recorded file. There is no subscriber requirement on this path, which is why creators use it to go live on a fresh channel. Matching the right live encoder settings keeps the picture stable, and the same key and URL work for a one-off stream or a continuous one.
From a one-off go-live to an always-on stream
Once live streaming is enabled, the encoder route also lets you keep a video live around the clock. Instead of pushing a live camera, a service pushes a recorded file on a loop, which is a pre-recorded live stream. This is how creators stream 24/7 on YouTube without leaving a machine on. Paste your stream key into StreamZop, upload a video, and it broadcasts from the cloud and restarts itself if the connection drops. If you are weighing tools for this, the best 24/7 streaming software guide compares cloud loopers against self-hosted OBS and FFmpeg.
Frequently asked questions
How do I live stream on YouTube?+
Enable live streaming in YouTube Studio, then choose one of three routes: go live from the mobile app, from a webcam in your browser, or through an encoder using your stream key. Verify your account by phone first, since the first activation can take up to 24 hours.
Can you live stream on YouTube without 1,000 subscribers?+
Yes. The 1,000-subscriber requirement applies only to live streaming from the mobile app. Webcam streaming in a browser and encoder streaming over RTMP have no subscriber requirement, so a new channel can go live from a desktop or a cloud service.
How many subscribers do you need to go live on YouTube?+
You need 1,000 subscribers to live stream from the YouTube mobile app. There is no subscriber requirement to go live with a webcam in the browser or through an encoder with a stream key.
Do you need software to live stream on YouTube?+
Not always. Webcam streaming runs in the browser with nothing to install. You only need encoder software, such as OBS, or a cloud service when you want to stream gameplay, overlays, multiple scenes, or a pre-recorded video over RTMP.
How do I go live on YouTube from my phone?+
In the YouTube app, tap Create then Go Live and pick the camera. Your account must be verified and you need at least 1,000 subscribers to stream from the mobile app.
Can you live stream a pre-recorded video on YouTube?+
Yes. Using the encoder route, a service pushes a recorded file to YouTube's live endpoint over RTMP, so it appears as a live broadcast. Looping it keeps the channel live 24/7, and a cloud service like StreamZop does this without a PC left on.