How to Go Live on YouTube in 2026 (Phone, Webcam, or OBS)

To go live on YouTube from a computer, open YouTube, click Create in the top right, then Go live, pick Webcam, add a title and privacy setting, and click Go live. On a phone, open the YouTube app, tap Create, then Live, and tap Go live. Before either works, your channel has to be verified, you need no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and you must be at least 16. Phone streaming also needs at least 50 subscribers. All of this comes from YouTube's Get started with live streaming and mobile live streaming help pages, which we checked on November 1, 2026.

The rest of this guide covers each method step by step, the first-time wait, and what small channels should expect.

What you need before you can go live on YouTube

YouTube lists these requirements on its live streaming help page:

• A verified channel. Verification means adding a phone number and entering the code YouTube sends by text or voice call. The Verify your YouTube account page lists live streaming among the features you get once you're verified. You can start at youtube.com/verify.
• No live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. A Community Guidelines strike blocks live streaming for 14 days, according to the same page.
• Age 16 or older.

On top of that, the mobile requirements add at least 50 subscribers and an Android 8.0+ or iOS 8+ device. Webcam and encoder streams have no subscriber minimum listed on YouTube's pages, which is why many small channels start from a computer.

The first-time wait

Plan ahead for your first stream. YouTube's encoder guide says "enabling a live stream for the first time may take up to 24 hours," and the mobile page says you may need to wait 24 hours before your first stream. After that, you can go live right away. So turn live streaming on a day before you actually need it.

How to go live on YouTube with a webcam

This is the simplest option on a laptop or desktop. YouTube's webcam streaming page says it works in Chrome 60+ and Firefox 53+.

1. Sign in to YouTube on your computer.
2. Click Create in the top right, then Go live.
3. Select Webcam in the left menu.
4. Enter a title and description and choose a privacy setting (public, unlisted, or private). You can also schedule the stream for later here.
5. Click More options, then Advanced settings, if you want to change chat or other options.
6. Click Next. Your camera takes a thumbnail.
7. Check that the right webcam and microphone are selected.
8. Click Go live.

To stop, click End stream at the bottom of the screen. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are archived automatically, so the recording shows up on your channel afterward. You can share your screen during a webcam stream as long as a webcam and microphone are connected.

Going live from your phone

From the mobile help page:

1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Tap Create, then Live.
3. Tap Edit to set privacy, scheduling, or screencasting.
4. Tap Go live.
5. Tap Finish when you're done. YouTube creates a recap and an archive on your channel.

To start a stream you scheduled earlier, tap Create, Live, then Calendar, pick the stream, and tap Go live.

Limits for channels under 1,000 subscribers

This catches a lot of new streamers off guard. The same page says that for channels under 1,000 subscribers, YouTube "may limit the number of viewers" on mobile live streams, and the archived streams are set to private by default. After you pass 1,000 subscribers, it can take several weeks for the limit to lift. If you drop back under 1,000, the limit returns, and below 50 you lose mobile streaming altogether.

If your channel is small, streaming from a computer avoids that viewer cap. Not sure where you stand? Here's how to see your subscribers on YouTube.

Going live with OBS or another encoder

An encoder is software or hardware that sends your video to YouTube. You need one for gaming, screen recording with overlays, multiple cameras, or an external mic and mixer. YouTube's encoder guide lists Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) as a software option "at no charge," along with a list of YouTube Live verified encoders, and notes that none of them are made by YouTube.

If you'd rather make videos than read about it, VidPuff turns a title into a faceless video. No waitlist, cancel anytime.

1. Turn on live streaming (allow up to 24 hours the first time).
2. Install your encoder and connect your camera, mic, or headset to it.
3. In YouTube Studio, click Create, then Go live to open the Live Control Room, and open the Stream tab.
4. Copy the stream key (and the server URL if your encoder asks for it) and paste it into the encoder's stream settings.
5. Start streaming from the encoder. Wait for the preview to appear in the Live Control Room, then click Go live.
6. To finish, click End stream and stop the stream in your encoder.

Treat the stream key like a password. Anyone who has it can stream to your channel. YouTube also caps each channel at 10 active streams and each stream key at 3.

Game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo) can stream directly as well. YouTube points you to the console maker's own instructions for that. If you're building a gaming channel, our guide on how to start a YouTube gaming channel covers the rest of the setup.

Settings worth checking before you go live

• Privacy. Do a private or unlisted test stream first to check audio and video. YouTube's default privacy is private (or unlisted on mobile) for creators aged 13 to 17 and public for 18 and over.
• Scheduling. A scheduled stream gets a watch page in advance, so you can share the link before you start.
• Chat and monetization. You can change these from Edit at any time, during the stream or after.
• Stream length. Keep it under 12 hours if you want the automatic archive.

Can you make money from live streams?

Yes, but only once your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program. Viewers can then pay you during a stream through Super Chat and Super Stickers. YouTube's Super Chat page says you first need to meet its fan funding minimum requirements and live in an available country, and Super Chat isn't available on unlisted, private, made-for-kids, or age-restricted streams. We cover the two Partner Program tiers and what each one includes in YouTube monetization requirements.

Any money you earn from YouTube is taxable income. The IRS explains how self-employment tax works.

Live streams vs uploaded videos

Streaming suits people who like being on camera, playing games, or answering questions in real time. It doesn't suit everyone. You have to show up at a set time, and a two-hour stream is two hours of your evening.

If you'd rather build a channel without going live or showing your face, uploaded videos are the other route. VidPuff is built for that: you type a title, and it writes the script, generates narration, creates a visual for each scene, adds music and captions, and renders a long-form 16:9 video that you review before you upload to YouTube from the app. Plenty of channels mix both: uploads for search traffic, streams for the regulars.

FAQ

Why can't I go live on YouTube?

The usual reasons are an unverified channel, a live streaming restriction or strike in the past 90 days, being under 16, or turning on live streaming less than 24 hours ago. On a phone, you also need at least 50 subscribers. YouTube's live streaming help page lists these requirements.

How many subscribers do you need to go live on YouTube?

From a computer with a webcam or an encoder, YouTube's pages list no subscriber minimum. From the mobile app, you need at least 50, and channels under 1,000 may have their viewer count limited.

How long does it take to be able to go live on YouTube?

The first time you turn on live streaming, it can take up to 24 hours. After that, you can go live instantly.

Can I go live on YouTube without a camera?

Yes. With an encoder like OBS you can stream your screen, a game, or slides with just a microphone. During a webcam stream, screen sharing needs a webcam and mic connected.