How to connect OBS with Twitch, Kick and YouTube

Before you choose a platform

Prepare the stage, the correct microphone and image source. Use the current version of OBS from the official project website. If you don't know the capabilities of your computer and connection yet, start with the automatic configuration wizard, not with the maximum settings from someone else's guide.

For each service, you need broadcasting permissions for that account. OBS login, Thunderstream transmission key and authorization have different roles. Don't paste the app ID or secret in place of the stream key.

A dictionary without difficult abbreviations

Step by step · 1–4

1. Action

   Set up a simple scene with an image and a microphone.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   In the preview, you see content intended for viewers.

2. Action

   Open Settings → Stream in OBS.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   You see the selection of the broadcasting service, not the source Browser.

3. Action

   For Twitch, select the Twitch service.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   Account linking or using a key is available.

4. Action

   When you connect your account, check your login in the Twitch window.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The consent applies to the intended channel.

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Step by step · 5–8

5. Action

   If you use a key, download it from your own creator dashboard.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   You have your channel's secret key, not someone else's example.

6. Action

   For Kick, open the creator panel, Channel → Stream URL and Key.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   There are two separate fields: the server address and the key.

7. Action

   In the manual configuration of the OBS, select the Custom service.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The Server and Stream Key fields appear.

8. Action

   Paste the server into Server and the key into Stream Key.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   Each value goes to its own field.

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Step by step · 9–12

9. Action

   In the Kick panel, enter a title and category.

   ✓ After this step you will see

   The channel has updated broadcast information.

10. Action

    For YouTube, in YouTube Studio, go to Create → Broadcast Live.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The LIVE control center opens.

11. Action

    Select the encoder broadcast and the appropriate event.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The name and visibility match your sample.

12. Action

    Merge YouTube into OBS or paste the encoder data of the selected event.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    You are transmitting to the intended channel and broadcast.

Step by step · 13–16

13. Action

    Click Apply and OK after entering your details.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The settings remain after closing the window.

14. Action

    First, make a local recording of movement and speech.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The image and audio are correct regardless of the Internet.

15. Action

    Click Start Stream in OBS.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The transmit counter and sent bitrate start.

16. Action

    Check out the platform preview; in YouTube confirm start if you are not using autostart.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The right player really shows off your scene.

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Step by step · 17–18

17. Action

    On the other device, listen for a few seconds with headphones.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    You confirm the image and single sound.

18. Action

    Mute the public player on the broadcasting computer.

    ✓ After this step you will see

    The returning stream sound does not create an echo.

An example you can reproduce

The channel address Kick.com/name is for viewing. The RTMPS://… address from the creator panel goes to the Server field in OBS. The secret key goes to Stream Key. The Thunderstream overlay link goes to the Browser source. These values ​​do not replace each other.

Server address and key: two fields with different tasks

The server address indicates where the image is received. The Broadcast Key assigns broadcasting to your channel or selected broadcast. When connecting an account, some of this data may be completed automatically; with manual configuration, you copy them from your own platform panel.

Do not paste the channel page address into the Server field. Also, do not add the key to the end of the address if OBS shows a separate field for the key. Select the entire previous value and replace it with the new one, instead of adding another fragment.

Twitch: Find the key and set OBS step by step

If the key has been exposed, reset it in the same section of Twitcha and correct the data in the encoder. The old key then no longer fits. Don't reset the key on every regular startup - check your selected account and settings first.

1. Log in to Twitchu with the account you want to broadcast from. Open Creator Panel, then Settings → Stream.
2. Find the Primary Stream Key in the English Primary Stream Key interface. Use Copy - you don't have to show it on the screen to copy the key.
3. In OBS, open Settings → Stream and select Twitch. You can use Link Account if this option is available, or connect using a key.
4. For manual configuration, paste the key into the appropriate field. Apply the changes and verify that the correct service is set.
5. Set the title and category in the creator panel. Start uploading with OBS and preview your channel.

Kick: Copy the server and key separately

If your version of OBS offers out-of-the-box Kick integration, please follow its screen. The custom configuration described uses two separate values ​​from the panel. After resetting the key using the Reset button, update it in OBS as well.

1. Open the Kick Creator Panel in the appropriate account. Select Channel → Broadcast URL and Key. In the English menu it is Channel → Stream URL and Key.
2. Copy the server address. In OBS, go to Settings → Stream, select Custom and paste the address into the Server field.
3. Return to Kick, copy the transmission key and paste it into the separate Transmission Key field in OBS. Confirm with the Apply button.
4. In the Kick panel, complete the title and category, save the broadcast information, and then start sending in OBS.
5. Check the image and sound on your channel. When finished, stop streaming in OBS.

YouTube: select a broadcast and download its key

The first broadcast activation on YouTube may take up to 24 hours. Please check your account messages before your first attempt. Also set the visibility of the broadcast consciously: non-public material is suitable for testing with a link, but it is not a private local recording.

1. Log in to YouTube Studio and check your avatar and channel name. If there are several channels, select the one on which LIVE should last.
2. Click Create → Go Live. In the control room, select encoder transmission. If you are preparing a scheduled LIVE, open the appropriate event.
3. Find the broadcast settings: server address and broadcast key section. Select the key assigned to this LIVE and copy the values ​​you need.
4. In OBS, select YouTube / YouTube RTMPS. Connect an account and select a channel or use manual configuration with a key. Complete your own server and key fields according to the YouTube panel.
5. Start sending in OBS, wait for the preview in YouTube Studio and check the transmission status. If auto start is disabled, start LIVE in the control room as well.

YouTube: key reset, scheduled LIVE and auto start

The key and the event are not the same. After preparing the new LIVE, make sure that OBS sends to the key you selected in this event. When you switch configurations, don't assume it's still using the previous recording's data.

Automatic start and stop options determine whether sending from the encoder starts or ends the broadcast without an additional click in the panel. Also review them after copying the settings from a previous broadcast.

If you need a new key, in YouTube Studio, open Create → Broadcast Live, go to the broadcast section and use Reset next to the hidden key. Copy the new value to the encoder. You need permissions from the channel owner or manager.

TikTok: LIVE Studio and key broadcast access

TikTok LIVE Studio can broadcast after logging in to an account authorized to LIVE. Do not confuse this with manual server configuration in OBS. To add an overlay in LIVE Studio you use the Thunderstream link, not the stream key.

If TikTok enables broadcasting from an external encoder on your account, find the server and key data as well as instructions for this method of transmission in the current LIVE panel. Only use the data shown for your account. The availability of this option depends on the account and the current capabilities of the TikTok.

If you don't see this data, there is no single public key you can paste in its place. Check available sending methods and TikToka help. In the meantime, configure the Thunderstream overlay in a supported Link source in LIVE Studio.

The most important test: can the viewer really hear you?

Moving meters are a good start, but they are not a substitute for listening. Record a short clip locally, say a few words and trigger one sound or alert test. Play the recording and check if the microphone is not too quiet and the music is not drowning out your voice.

If you use Thunderstream, its audio must go to the app or desktop capture source. Choose one way to restore TTS and alerts to avoid creating two overlapping copies.

Resolution, bitrate and stable connection

The overlay area, OBS canvas and upload resolution are different settings. Overlay may be configured correctly and the stream may still drop frames due to too heavy encoding or weak sending.

Start with the OBS auto-configuration wizard and check the recommendations of your chosen platform. Don't choose bitrate based solely on internet downloads: streaming uses uploads. Leave room for connection variability and other devices on the network.

In OBS, watch statistics and messages. Network issues, encoder overload, and slow rendering have other causes. Lower the load one change at a time and repeat the short test. The trial pattern should contain image movement and sound, just like the actual LIVE.

For YouTube, select parameters for resolution, frame rate and codec according to the current platform table. Do not use one bitrate number for all websites and formats.

What about broadcasting to multiple platforms?

Simultaneous reception of four chats in Thunderstream does not mean automatic sending of the image to four services. For such broadcasting, you need properly configured outputs or a multi-stream service and sufficient connection and computer resources.

Start with one proven platform. When adding another one, compare the current requirements and rules of both websites. In case of problems, check the correctness of the key, the selected service and sending stability; do not change several settings at once.

OBS not connecting? Check the cause one by one

Don't post your key when asking for help. All you need is the name of the platform, a message, the time of the attempt and a description of the stage that does not work. Take a settings dump with the key completely hidden.

After a successful attempt, save the configuration. For the next LIVE, check for changed items rather than setting everything up again. To Thunderstream, connect the same account and current broadcast to which you are currently sending the image.

What do you see on the screen and how to fix it

Fix one thing at a time and try the same thing again. If you change several options at the same time, it will be difficult to determine what solved the problem. Don't delete a working source or entire configuration just because one widget isn't responding.

If you still need help, write down the program name and version, platform, approximate time of trial, expected result, and what actually happened. Attach a dump without passwords, keys and full private links. This description is much more useful than just the "not working" message.

Last attempt before use on LIVE

1. Save the changes using the button assigned to the edited function. If there are separate forms, check each changed part separately.
2. Open the settings again and compare the most important values. Simply moving the slider does not always mean a permanent save.
3. Check the result outside the editor itself: on the target scene, in the recording, or in the reopened configuration.
4. If the function uses the platform, separately acknowledge the new handled event during the active LIVE. Don't expect the appearance test to confirm account authorization.
5. Save the working values ​​and make a copy before the next major change. Next time you start up, start with a quick check.

Frequently asked questions