Create a live stream via webcam

Webcam is an easy way to go live using your computer, without the need for live streaming encoding software.

How to Create a Webcam Live Stream on YouTube

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1. Make sure that you’ve enabled your channel for live streaming. Webcam streaming is compatible with Chrome 60+ and Firefox 53+.
2. Sign in to YouTube.
3. In the upper right, click Create   Go Live.
4. From the left, select Webcam .
5. Enter a title and description, and select a privacy setting. You can also schedule your live stream for a later date.
   • For users aged 13–17 on YouTube, your default privacy setting is set to private. If you’re 18 or over, your default privacy setting is set to public. All streamers can change this setting to make their live stream public, private, or unlisted.
6. Click More options  Advanced Settings for more settings.
7. Click Next. Your camera will then take a thumbnail.
8. Make sure you’ve chosen the correct webcam and microphone.
9. Click Go Live.
10. To manage your stream, like add tags, change monetization and chat settings, click Edit. You can change these settings at any time, whether your stream is live or not.
11. When you’re done streaming, click End Stream at the bottom. All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived. You can access previous, current, and upcoming streams in the Live Tab.

Note: To access or launch a scheduled live stream, go to the Live Control room and select Manage.

Use the Live Control Panel

When you live stream, you can use a compact version of the Live Control Room (Live Control Panel) to minimize the display area you need for your stream. The Live Control Panel shows you important info from the Live Control Room, such as Views and Chat revenue, in a smaller display area.

To turn on the Live Control Panel:

1. In the Live Control Room, go to the stream dashboard.
2. In the lower left-hand corner, click Popout dashboard .

To close the Live Control Panel, exit out of the window.

Note: You can only use the Live Control Panel feature when you live stream with an encoder or webcam.

 

Share Screen on Live Control Room using webcam

While live streaming using Live Control Room through a webcam, you can now share your screen. After you have gone live using a webcam:

1. Click SHARE SCREEN , in the bottom center, next to the mic button.
2. Select your entire screen, a window, or a tab.
   • If you present a browser tab that supports webcam, it shares that browser’s audio by default.
   • To present a different tab, select the tab you want to present, click Share this tab instead.
3. Click Share.

To stop sharing your screen on Live Control Room:

• In Live Control Room, click Stop Sharing, or
• In the browser window tab, click Stop sharing

Note: You can only screen share in a Live Control Room if a webcam and microphone are connected. 

Add a trailer to your live stream

Get your audience excited about your scheduled live stream by showing a trailer. Your trailer will play for viewers on the watch page before the live stream starts. 

Trailers can only be played on streams scheduled from the “Manage” tab in Live Control Room.

1. Upload your trailer to your YouTube channel like you would with a regular upload.
2. Go to YouTube Studio Go Live .
3. Create a scheduled live stream or choose a scheduled stream from the “Manage” tab.
4. From the top right, click Edit.
5. Click Customize.
6. Under “Trailer,” click Add.
7. Choose your trailer video.
8. Click Save.

Eligibility

This feature is available to creators that have more than 1,000 subscribers and no Community Guideline strikes. 

 

Requirements

• Video type: Use any YouTube supported video type.
• Video length: 15 seconds – 3 minutes.
• Aspect ratio and resolution: We recommend the same aspect ratio and resolution as the Premiering video.
• Audio and video rights: Make sure that the trailer does not infringe on other content.

Make sure there’s no content that will violate our Community Guidelines.

Manage live streams

From the YouTube Studio dashboard, you can access current, upcoming, and past live streams. Here’s how:

1. Go to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, select Content.
3. Click the Live tab.
   • Live Now: videos that are currently live streaming.
   • Upcoming: videos that have yet to stream, but are scheduled to be at a certain time.
   • Live Replay: videos that have already live streamed.

You can also access and launch scheduled live streams in the Live Control room.

1. From the left, select Manage.
2. Click the scheduled live stream you’d like to launch.
3. Click Go Live.