{"id":423,"date":"2025-05-26T14:05:40","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T05:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alive-project.com\/en\/streamer-magazine\/?p=423"},"modified":"2025-10-17T12:07:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T03:07:03","slug":"1298","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alive-project.com\/en\/streamer-magazine\/article\/1298\/","title":{"rendered":"OBS Setup Guide for Beginners: How to Stream Games on YouTube"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Let’s Prepare for Streaming Games on YouTube with OBS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Gather Necessary Equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you’re thinking “Let’s start streaming games on YouTube!”, you might wonder what equipment you need. Of course, you can stream with just a smartphone, but if you want to stream PC games, deliver your unique voice, or showcase your play style to the audience, aiming for high-quality streaming by getting some equipment is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equipment<\/th>
Description<\/th>
Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Computer<\/td>
Necessary for running the streaming software.<\/td>
Higher specs can stabilize the image quality and processing speed during game streaming.<\/td><\/tr>
Streaming Software (OBS)<\/td>
Software for streaming your PC screen and audio to YouTube.<\/td>
It’s free to use and popular among streamers, so there is a lot of information on how to use it.<\/td><\/tr>
Microphone<\/td>
Delivers your enthusiastic commentary and calm explanations clearly to viewers.<\/td>
There are various types, such as earphone mics, headset mics, and condenser mics.<\/td><\/tr>
Camera<\/td>
Brings you closer to your audience by showing your presence.<\/td>
You can use the built-in camera, but an external webcam is recommended for better quality.<\/td><\/tr>
Game Capture Card<\/td>
Required for streaming games played on consoles like the PS5.<\/td>
The HDMI ports built into computers are usually input-only, so you can’t directly connect and stream from gaming consoles.<\/td><\/tr>
Others<\/td>
Prepare as needed depending on your streaming environment.<\/td>
For instance, lighting can enhance the visual appeal of your stream. A green screen is convenient if you wish to conceal the background.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
These pieces of equipment are not mandatory, but having them can help ensure high-quality streaming that viewers will enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set Up Your YouTube Channel for Streaming and Prepare Live Streaming Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To stream games on YouTube, you need to first create a channel and set up your streaming preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t have a channel yet, follow these steps to create one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2460 Log in to YouTube. \u2461 Click your account icon at the top right and select “Create a Channel”. \u2462 Choose whether to set up a personal channel or a brand account. \u2463 Set up your channel name and icon, then click “Create”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you already have a channel or after creating one, enable live streaming by following these steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2460 Log into YouTube Studio. \u2461 Select “Content” from the left menu and open the “Live” tab. \u2462 If this is your first live stream, click “Get Started” and complete account verification via phone number. \u2463 Once verified, the live streaming settings screen will appear. \u2464 Configure the stream’s title, description, and thumbnail image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2465 Set detailed streaming settings like visibility and monetization options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2466 After configuration, click the “Start Streaming” button to begin your live stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Link Your Google Account with OBS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Open the OBS settings and set the service to “YouTube – RTMPS” in the streaming settings section. Next, link OBS with the YouTube account you will use for streaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the specific procedure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2460 Launch OBS and click “Settings”. \u2461 Click “Stream”, the second from the top in the left column. \u2462 Click “Service” and choose “YouTube – RTMPS”. \u2463 Click “Connect Account”. \u2464 The Google account login screen will appear. Choose the account you want to link with OBS and sign in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Configure Video and Audio Settings for YouTube Live Streaming with OBS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After launching OBS Studio, first set up the video and audio settings suitable for YouTube Live streaming. OBS Studio has various setting options such as streaming service, resolution, bitrate, encoder, frame rate, and audio input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Streaming Settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Open the “Settings” menu in OBS Studio and select “Stream”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Select Streaming Service<\/li>\n\n\n\n
In the “Service” section, select “YouTube \/ YouTube Gaming”.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Input the Stream Key Get the stream key from the YouTube Studio’s streaming dashboard and enter it in the “Stream Key” field in OBS Studio.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Output Settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Open the “Output” tab and set the “Output Mode” to “Advanced”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Select Encoder Choose the appropriate encoder based on your PC’s specs. If you have a high-performance graphics card, select a hardware encoder like “NVIDIA NVENC” or “AMD Video Coding Engine” to achieve high-quality streams without putting too much load on the CPU.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Set Bitrate The “Bitrate” indicates the amount of data for streaming video. Higher bitrate is necessary for high-quality streaming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Refer to this table to set an appropriate bitrate according to your streaming resolution and frame rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Set Resolution and Frame Rate The “Output Resolution” determines the resolution of the streaming screen, and “Common FPS Values” determines the frame rate, which affects the smoothness of the video. High-quality streaming requires high resolution and frame rates but should be set according to viewers’ viewing environment and PC specs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Audio Settings Set up your microphone and desktop audio in the “Audio” tab. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Configure Microphone Select the audio input device for streaming from “Desktop Audio” and “Mic\/Auxiliary Audio”. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Configure Desktop Audio Select an appropriate audio output device in “Desktop Audio” to include game sounds in your stream. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
Adjust Volume Adjust the volume levels for each audio input device for balanced audio. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
By applying these settings, you can stream games on YouTube Live with suitable video and audio quality using OBS Studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Configure OBS to Capture Your Game Stream<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The streaming screen is a crucial element that determines the impression of your streaming room. Aim for a layout that allows viewers to comfortably watch. OBS Studio enables you to freely create layouts by combining multiple sources like screens and images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2460 Click the “+” button under “Sources” and select “Game Capture”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2461 Select “Create New” and click “OK”. Set the mode to “Capture Specific Window” and choose the game you want to stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2463 Confirm that the game screen appears on the streaming display and click “OK”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2464 Similarly, select “Video Capture Device” from the “+” button and add your camera’s video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2465 If you want to add images or text, select “Image” or “Text” and configure each setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each source can be freely resized and repositioned on the streaming screen. Drag and drop to move them, and resize by dragging the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Adjust the size to prevent the game screen from being cut off or shrunk too much in the streaming display.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Display the camera video at the corner of the screen or overlay it on the game screen, adjusting according to your streaming style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Use images and text for titles, channel names, or comments display.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If your game capture isn\u2019t showing up in OBS, this article breaks down the most common causes and how to fix them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n