How to Stream on Twitch with OBS: A Beginner’s Guide

A basic Twitch stream needs a Twitch account, a computer with a stable upload connection, and broadcasting software such as OBS Studio. Add a microphone if you want viewers to hear you. A webcam, capture card and follower counter are optional; start with one scene and get the picture and sound right first.

1. Prepare your Twitch account

Sign in to Twitch and open your Creator Dashboard. Set a useful title and the appropriate game or category so viewers know what they are opening. Check your account and community settings before your first broadcast. Turn on two-factor authentication for account security; PlayStation also lists it as a requirement for Twitch broadcasts from its consoles.

OBS can connect to Twitch through account authorisation or a stream key. Keep the key private: anyone who has it may be able to broadcast to your channel. Twitch places the key in Creator Dashboard → Settings → Stream. If you accidentally reveal it, reset it there and reconnect the affected encoder. Twitch explains the current steps in its stream key FAQ.

2. Connect OBS to Twitch

1. Install OBS Studio from the official OBS website and open it.
2. Run Tools → Auto-Configuration Wizard. Choose streaming and let the wizard suggest settings based on your computer and connection. You can rerun it after changing hardware or networks.
3. Open Settings → Stream, select Twitch and follow OBS’s account connection flow. If you use a stream key instead, paste the key privately; do not put it in a public overlay, chat, screenshot or shared support log.
4. Apply the settings and return to the main OBS window. Test your actual upload connection; a speed-test peak is not the same as a stable upload over a whole broadcast.

The wizard provides a starting point, not a guarantee that every game will run smoothly. If your computer or connection struggles, reduce the output resolution or frame rate and run a short test. OBS documents the setup in its quick start guide.

3. Build a scene and test audio

In OBS, a scene is a layout; its sources are the things inside it. In the Sources panel, use the plus button to add a game or window capture. Add a microphone input and, if you want one, a camera. The available capture options differ by operating system.

Look at the audio mixer while speaking and while the game plays. Make a short local recording, then play it back with headphones. If the microphone is missing, select the intended input. If audio echoes, check whether the same source is being captured twice and whether a Twitch preview is playing through your speakers.

Arrange sources in the list: items above other items appear on top in the preview. Before sharing a whole display, close private messages and hide notifications. The OBS sources guide explains capture types and ordering.

4. Start streaming and check the result

1. Check the stream title and category in Twitch’s dashboard.
2. In OBS, select the scene you want viewers to see and press Start Streaming.
3. Open your Twitch channel or dashboard preview on another device and confirm the picture and audio. Mute the preview on the streaming computer to avoid a feedback loop.
4. When finished, stop the stream in OBS. Check the dashboard before closing everything.

Remember that a live test can be visible to other people. Treat anything in the scene or audio as public, including party chat. Tell other participants before including their voices.

Add a Twitch follower counter to OBS

To show a counter on top of a game, open our OBS overlay builder, choose the Twitch follower counter, and enter the channel name. Preview it, choose the appearance and copy the browser-source URL and displayed dimensions.

1. In OBS, use the plus button under Sources and choose Browser.
2. Paste the overlay URL into the URL field and enter the width and height shown by the builder.
3. Move the browser source above the game capture in the Sources list and position it in the preview.
4. Open the URL in a normal browser if the overlay is blank; check the selected channel and dimensions before changing OBS settings.

The overlay is optional and the embed is ad-free. It displays the count available from the underlying source, which can update later than an event on Twitch. For the counter outside OBS, use the Twitch follower count. OBS documents the URL, dimensions and refresh options in its Browser Source reference.

Troubleshoot a first stream

• Black game capture: verify that the correct source and scene are selected and that no opaque source sits above it. Capture options differ by operating system; try an appropriate window or display capture and check the OBS sources guide.
• Missing or doubled audio: make a local recording, inspect the mixer and remove duplicate capture paths. Mute any local playback of your stream.
• Dropped frames or interruptions: check upload stability and other network use. Rerun the OBS wizard and test a less demanding output before raising settings again.
• Can’t connect: confirm the Twitch account connected in OBS and check Twitch’s current status. If using a manually entered key, reset and re-enter it privately when needed. Never paste it into a public troubleshooting forum.
• Counter looks frozen: open the overlay URL separately, verify the username and wait for a new source reading. A follower count is different from the number of people currently watching your stream.

What about a phone or console?

You do not need OBS on a computer for every Twitch broadcast. Twitch’s mobile streaming guide describes mobile broadcasting apps and setup. Features, permissions and overlay support vary by app; never share your key with someone offering to configure a stream for you.

On PS5, link your Twitch account and use the console’s Broadcast controls. Sony’s PS5 broadcast guide covers account linking, audio and what viewers can see. A browser-source overlay in OBS is a separate workflow and is not automatically available in the console’s built-in broadcast.

Next steps

Once a short stream works, consider a second scene, moderation tools and a schedule. For a stream dedicated to a counter, see how to run a 24/7 live subscriber count stream. The platform requirements guide compares follower thresholds, with links to verify current rules.

Source links and interface names checked 8 November 2026. Twitch and OBS can change their interfaces, available features and account requirements; follow their current help pages when a step looks different.