Live streaming lets you interact with your audience in real time with a video feed, chat, and more. Intro To Live Streaming on YouTube Enable live streaming To live stream, you need to have no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days and you need to verify your channel . Choose a way to stream There are multiple methods of streaming: mobile, webcam, encoder, and console. Choose the one that's best for what you're streaming. Good for vlogging and quick updates from your phone or tablet. To create a mobile live stream, you need to meet the requirements . Learn how to mobile stream . Quickly live stream from your computer using a webcam. You’ll need a computer with a webcam. Learn how to stream with a webcam . Encoders let you stream gameplay, overlays, and use hardware like preamps, mics, and cameras. This type of stream is commonly used for gaming, sporting events, concerts, and conferences. Learn how to stream using an encoder . Modern game consoles from PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo allow you to directly stream from the device. Please review each console maker’s instruction manual for directions to stream. Vertical live streams When your live stream is vertical (more tall than wide), viewers on mobile will now enter a full screen viewing experience when watching it. This experience includes a scrollable live stream feed where viewers have access to fan funding features like Super Chat , Super Stickers , channel memberships , and gifts, depending on eligibility . Viewers (not limited to existing channel subscribers) can also find these live streams when browsing YouTube Shorts. Stream in both horizontal and vertical formats By default, your live streams will go live in both horizontal (16:9 aspect ratio) and vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) formats at the same time when you stream from the Live Control Room. The vertical stream is a center crop of the horizontal stream. This setting gives your audience more ways to view your content, whether they’re watching on a computer, TV, or in the Shorts feed on the YouTube mobile app. To edit both horizontal and vertical layouts through a third-party encoder: From the Live Control Room, click the “Stream” tab .

From the vertical preview, select the Auto dropdown Encoder . Choose the RTMP(S) streaming protocol for third-party dual streaming. Select the Stream key dropdown to choose your second stream key to use for your vertical stream. Check that the vertical and horizontal content match, and the correct formats are sent to the corresponding stream key. Select the Stream key dropdown to choose your second stream key to use for your vertical stream. Check that the vertical and horizontal content match, and the correct formats are sent to the corresponding stream key. Go live from YouTube Studio. To turn this setting off: From the Live Control Room, click the “Stream” tab . Under the Stream settings tab, turn off Dual stream . A vertical stream will no longer be created from your horizontal live stream. Subscribers will receive one “go live” notification with a shared stream URL. Viewers watching your stream in the Shorts feed on mobile will see the vertical version. All other viewers will see the horizontal stream. The same live chat is shown to viewers of both your horizontal and vertical streams. You can view your live stream metrics combined for both streams in the Live Control Room in YouTube Studio during and after the live stream. Metrics for just your vertical stream become available 24 hours after the stream. Learn how to view your stream metrics . Members-only live streams Members-only live streams are a great way to offer special content to your most loyal viewers. It's a simple way to create a more intimate community, and it can also encourage non-members to join your channel. To learn more about how it works, see Live stream to members-only . Vertical live feed What you can stream All content in live streams must adhere to our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service . If you suggest that you’ll live stream content that violates our Community Guidelines, we may age-restrict or remove your live stream. YouTube also reserves the right to restrict a creator's ability to live stream at its discretion. If you receive a warning on your live stream for violating our Community Guidelines, you can take a policy training to allow the warning to expire after 90 days. However, if the same policy is violated within that 90 day window, the warning will not expire and your channel will be given a strike. If you violate a different policy after completing the training, you will get another warning. We may prevent repeat offenders from taking policy training in the future. If your live stream is restricted, you may get a strike on your account. A strike will prevent you from live streaming for 14 days. If your account has been restricted from live streaming, you’re prohibited from using another channel to live stream on YouTube. This policy applies for as long as the restriction remains active on your account. Violation of this restriction is considered circumvention under our Terms of Service and may result in termination of your account. How many active streams can you broadcast on YouTube? Was this helpful? Need more help? Try these next steps: