If you’re an avid gamer or prolific content creator, you’ve more than likely heard about Twitch. What started as a platform to share gameplay with others has evolved to cover video streams of the latest battle royale shooters like Apex Legends to art, music and more.

If you’re looking to get started with livestreaming, here’s a quick guide on how to stream on Twitch.

How to Stream on Twitch

Here’s how to stream on Twitch with your PC and the mobile app:

PC

Connect to Twitch

Though most streaming software has a configuration wizard to help users set up their connection to Twitch automatically, here’s how to do it manually.

Step 1: Open your broadcasting software. (For this guide, we’ll be using OBS.)

Step 2: On the toolbar, under File, select Settings.

Step 3: Select Stream.

Step 4: Set the Service to Twitch.

Step 5: The easiest way to connect your Twitch account is to click Connect Account. This will prompt a pop-up asking you to log in to your Twitch account.

Step 6: You can use a stream key if you don’t want to connect your account directly through Twitch. To find your stream key, log in to your Twitch dashboard and find your stream key under Settings and Stream.

Step 7: You can copy this key and paste it into your streaming software settings.

Set up Your Scene

A scene is a layout of your stream as it appears to viewers. Your stream scene can be as simple or as complicated as you like, and many streamers have separate scenes suited for different types of content. Here’s how to set up your scene:

Step 1: On the OBS interface, find the Sources window. Right-click or click the + symbol to add a new source. The most commonly used sources are Game Capture for video games, Video Capture Device for webcams, Window Capture for specific windows and Display Capture for entire screens.

For this guide, we’re going to add a game with Game Capture.

Step 2: You can name the source if you’d like.

Step 3: You can either set it to capture a full-screen application or a specific window.

Game capture properties:

Step 4: By following steps 1 and 2, you can add additional sources, such as images, text, webcams or screen captures.

Step 5: You can move, resize and transform sources on the scene layout via the WYSIWYG screen.

You can resize sources in your broadcasting software.

Stream!

All that’s left to do is hit the Start Streaming button and you’re live!

Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Step 1: Tap on the camera icon in the top center of the Android or iOS device.

• First-time Android streamers need to grant microphone permissions and allow overlay content permissions for chat & alerts.

• Since your entire screen will be captured, be cautious of displaying personal info or typing passwords. Enable Do Not Disturb mode to avoid notifications during streaming.
• Your network settings are auto-detected and set to broadcast in optimal quality. You can adjust it using the triple dot menu on the top right of your screen.

Step 2: Select the game to stream or search for it if it’s not listed.

• For iOS: Tap the red record button to start streaming.
• For Android: After adding your stream, tap Launch Game to automatically open the selected game and the stream manager.

The stream manager is ideal for adjusting settings, viewing alerts and chatting with your audience. Tap Start Stream to begin broadcasting. Close the stream manager by tapping the X in the bubble to continue playing your game.

Step 3: When you are done streaming, you can end the video manually by tapping Stream Manager and the red End Stream button.

Streaming Requirements

Before you start, it’s critical to read the community guidelines.

Let’s be honest – if skipping the Terms of Service was a crime, we’d all be in jail. However, if you’re serious about being a content creator on Twitch, we strongly recommend going through the community guidelines at least once. Few things are more detrimental to the popularity of an up-and-coming streamer than an untimely suspension or ban from the platform.

With that out of the way, here’s a list of everything you need to start your Twitch stream:

Twitch Account

It may go without saying, but you’ll need to create a Twitch account to stream to the platform. The process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes.

Step 1: Visit Twitch.tv.

Step 2: Click Sign Up in the top right corner.

Step 3: Fill out the required information: choose a username, set your password, and enter your birthday and email address.

You may need to enable two-factor authentication for extra security, which sends a one-time password to your phone via text or an authenticator app to make sure it’s you who’s logging in.

Streaming Device

There is a common misconception that you need to spend lots of money on microphones, webcams and other gear to stream – but all you need is a device that can do it. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a next-gen gaming console like an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, which have built-in support for streaming to Twitch.

Check out Twitch’s hardware recommendations for compatible laptops and peripherals if you’re streaming from a laptop. You can stream from your PC, Mac or even smartphone, as long as they have the right technical specifications and applications.

However, streaming from a PC can offer the highest degree of customization. Here’s what you need to ensure a smooth experience:

• CPU: If you want to stream at 720p @ 60fps or 1080 fps @ 60fps, you must have a CPU that can handle the software encoding workload (we recommend a hexacore processor like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600x or the Intel i5-11400). Without correct specifications, you might experience low frame rates, poor audio and video quality, pixelation and stuttering, all of which can lead to a poor viewing experience.
• GPU: To stream a game on Twitch, you’ll need a graphics card capable of running the game at 60 fps, in whatever resolution you require. The graphics requirements can vary depending on the game, but for a smooth streaming experience, we recommend Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon 6600 XT (you can always get a better graphics card if you can afford it in today’s GPU economy).
• RAM: To be on the safe side, you should go for a minimum of 16GB RAM, distributed in a dual-channel configuration.
• Dual-Computer Setup: You can dedicate one computer solely to streaming and the second to gaming or additional content. A dual setup enhances the quality and flexibility of streams and reduces the chances of system lags or interface issues.

Additional Hardware

These are some nice-to-have peripherals and equipment you may consider to start streaming on Twitch:

• Microphone: A good-quality microphone establishes clear voice communication with your viewers. USB microphones like the Blue Yeti or XLR microphones with an audio interface are common choices.
• Webcam: Many streamers use a webcam to show their faces while streaming for a more personal connection with viewers. Logitech C920 and C922 are popular choices for webcams.
• Gaming Headset: It helps you hear game audio and chat with your viewers without audio feedback from your speakers.
• Lighting: Good lighting can improve the quality of your webcam feed. Soft, diffused lighting is generally preferred over harsh, direct lighting.
• Green Screen: It helps you remove the background from your webcam feed, allowing viewers to focus on you without distractions.
• Stream Deck: It’s a customizable control pad that allows you to switch scenes, control audio levels and perform other tasks with the push of a button.

Fast and Stable Internet Connection

While you don’t need the fastest Gigabit internet to stream, having a stable, decent connection will improve your stream’s quality. Twitch recommends at least three to six Mbps of upload speeds – not download speeds – for broadcasting a stream. Most internet connections — even those for mobile devices – should hit this minimum. To check your upload and download speeds, you can use tools like Speedtest.net or inquire with your internet service provider.

Using an Ethernet cord instead of wifi can also help ensure that your internet connection stays steady throughout your stream since a wired connection is more reliable.

Broadcasting Software

For PC, you’ll need to download and install third-party streaming software to produce content and livestream it to Twitch. To simultaneously stream on both Twitch and YouTube, you’ll require a multistreaming tool such as Restream.

The most popular broadcasting tools include OBS (Open Broadcasting Software), Streamlabs OBS and XSplit — all of these are available for free. Each tool comes with different levels of functionality and learning curves.

For example, Streamlabs OBS is generally considered easier to use for beginner streamers but has limited customization options and gates many of its features behind its paid subscription. In comparison, OBS is more customizable and lightweight but can be quite complicated and confusing for newer streamers. The jury is still out on which is better, but feel free to try them both and choose for yourself.

Streamers on mobile devices can stream directly to Twitch from their mobile app. Xbox streamers can stream from the Twitch app available on the Microsoft Store, or PlayStation streamers can press the “Share” button on their controller and choose “Broadcast Gameplay.”

There are many options for broadcasting software out there, but which one is right for you? It all comes down to personal preference and the features you need. Make sure to research and compare tools, then decide based on what you need and how comfortable you feel about customizing the software to your liking.

Content

Whether you want to stream yourself playing video games, working, playing an instrument or just chatting (a popular category on Twitch), you need some sort of content to stream. It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking or never seen before; your content just has to be yours.

For each broadcast, it’s important to decide beforehand what you want to create. Make sure you have all the necessary materials and peripherals before you start streaming. It can be anything from purchasing a copy of the game you want to play to buying ingredients for a cooking stream or getting a microphone good enough for your music stream.

Why Stream on Twitch?

Twitch streams are a great way to connect with your friends and share your interests with the world. Here are some of the popular reasons to stream:

• Connect and engage with a community.
• Build your following.
• Entertain others.
• Document a journey or process.
• Share gameplay and notable moments with others.
• Meet people with similar interests.
• Make money – streamers can apply for the Twitch Affiliate and Partner Programs to earn income based on viewer subscriptions, ad revenue and donations.

Customizing Your Stream

Getting started on Twitch is simple, but once you have the basics of your broadcasting software down, you can customize your stream with any number of toolsets.

Streaming Widgets

Step 1: Most streamers use either StreamElements or StreamLabs widgets to design custom layouts and alerts that display on their stream when someone follows, donates or subscribes to their channel. This adds a level of personalization and interaction that helps viewers feel like part of your community.

Your stream can be decked out to the nines with customized scenes and layouts, or as simple as just one source: your content. All that matters is that your stream reflects your vision for it — and more importantly, that you’re having fun.

Dual Monitors

Step 2: Interacting with your audience is crucial to promoting your brand. Having a second monitor to view your Twitch chat can significantly increase viewer engagement.

With a second monitor, you can simply use Streamlabs OBS to view your chat without using windowed mode or chat overlays. It can mean the difference between acknowledging all your donations and subscriptions and missing a chunk of them.

Overlays

Step 3: If you want your Twitch stream to push your brand, it’s time to use overlays. Adding that unique element to your stream makes your channel more recognizable. It can be anything from a simple chat overlay to a custom one with personalized logos, color schemes and banners.

You can create your own overlays or purchase premade ones. Add panels that include your socials, your sponsors and the About Me section. Your overlay should reflect your brand and personality to cultivate a loyal viewership. You can also add custom screens when starting or ending your stream and going away from the keyboard.

Countdown Timer

Step 4: Sometimes, minor things can bring great joy. Timers to count down the start of your stream, announcements, co-streams, watch parties and in-game activities can help viewers engage with your content.

AutoMod

Step 5: Keeping your Twitch chat civil and hate-free can be essential in promoting a safe space for your audience. AutoMod provides some much-needed help to your Moderators to flag discriminatory content, hate speech, hostility, profanity and sexual content. As the owner of your channel, you are also responsible for the content in your Twitch chat.

Music

Step 5: Play some music while waiting for your queue to pop, playing a deathmatch or taking a bathroom break. Your music can contribute a lot to the vibe your channel gives and the type of audience it attracts.

However, steer clear of any copyrighted music, as streaming it without permission can result in your VODs getting muted or a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) takedown. Prepare your non-copyrighted playlist or use Soundtrack by Twitch, still in its beta version.

Tips for Livestreaming

Whether you’re a seasoned streamer or just starting out, running a successful Twitch stream requires creativity, technical know-how and audience engagement. Let’s delve into some essential tips and strategies to elevate your live streaming experience on Twitch.

• Ensure a Clear and Engaging Introduction: Start your stream in a welcoming way to attract viewers’ attention. Introduce yourself briefly, mention what game or content you’ll be streaming, and share any exciting updates or plans for the stream.
• Optimize Your Streaming Setup: Use separate computers for streaming and gaming to mitigate performance issues. Test your setup thoroughly before each stream to address any potential issues that could affect the viewing experience. You can also invest in a quality capture card to integrate your gaming setup and streaming software and produce crisp visuals and audio.
• Enhance the Visual and Audio Quality of Your Stream: Prepare scenes beforehand to ensure an easy transition between different segments of your stream, and choose a clutter-free and visually appealing background. Beyond welcome and end screens, consider incorporating overlays that display information such as recent followers or donation goals.
• Maintain Consistent Interaction and Engagement: Promptly respond to viewer comments and questions. To build and maintain your audience, you can communicate your schedule through social media, Twitch notifications and channel updates so they know when to tune in. Encourage participation through polls, challenges or viewer-controlled game elements to keep viewers invested and entertained.
• Adhere to Twitch Etiquette: Don’t use offensive language, engage in harassment or discrimination, or discuss sensitive topics that could alienate or offend members of your audience. Actively participate in moderation efforts to create a positive and supportive streaming environment for all.
• Promote Your Channel Beyond Twitch: Repurpose stream highlights and create engaging content for platforms like YouTube or TikTok to attract new viewers. Maintain an active presence on social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram for direct engagement with your audience.

FAQs

Do I need a powerful computer to stream on Twitch?
No. Twitch works on PCs, game consoles and smartphones.

Can I stream on Twitch for free?
Yes, using Twitch Studio.

What should I do if I experience stuttering or buffering during streaming?
You can use Twitch Inspector to assess your stream or visit Guide to Stream Health for further troubleshooting steps.

How do I run a test stream before going live?
You can run a network test. Learn more about this feature in the Twitch Stream Key FAQ.

Can a 13 YO use Twitch?
You must be at least 13 years old to create a Twitch account. Underage users can have their accounts suspended. Let admins know about underage users by contacting Twitch at [email protected]. For more information, visit Children on Twitch.

Does Twitch pay users?
Once you qualify to start generating revenue, Twitch issues payouts every 15 days as long as your account balance is more than $50.

What type of content should I stream on Twitch?
Twitch allows you to stream a wide range of content. While genres such as gaming, music and food are the most popular, the platform offers diverse categories, including art, food and drink, outdoor and just chatting.

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s a hobby or a side gig, anyone can learn how to stream on Twitch. Our tips can help get your Twitch stream up and running in no time.

So, did we miss anything? What would you stream on Twitch? Let us know in the comments!

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