How to Broadcast from your Computer to Facebook Live
By 
Want to use Facebook Live from your Computer?
...On your Facebook Profile, Page or Group?
...For Free? On your Mac or PC?
Since 2016 you have been able to broadcast to Facebook Live from your computer. You can stream to your Facebook profile, pages, groups or event pages.
Facebook allows you to do this simply via the Facebook website.
But in this article, I am going to show you how to take things further so you can use multiple cameras, embed videos and audio files, and overlay images all with slick transitions.
Cool eh? Want to know how? Read on!
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Walkthrough Video
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Your Live Video Toolkit
#1 Live Video Tools
If you want to broadcast from your computer, you'll need to use a live video streaming tool. This can be a web app that runs in your browser (such as Facebook itself, or a 3rd party tool like Streamyard or BeLive) or an app that runs on your Mac or PC (usually known as an encoder).
There are quite a few that work with Facebook Live, but the most popular ones are Ecamm Live, OBS Studio, StreamYard and Wirecast, but there are others.
Top recommendations:
- Ecamm Live (Mac Only, from $15/mth)
My top pick for Mac users - Streamyard (PC & Mac - Browser-based, free & from $25/mth)
My top pick web app. This runs in your browser and so works for both Mac and PC users. Really easy to use and integrates with Facebook, YouTube, Periscope, Twitch and more. Screensharing on the free version and bring in up to 5 guests. Paid version allows multicasting to up to 5 destinations (web app, free and from $25/mth). - SwitcherStudio (iPhones & iPads only from $39/mth)
Use your iPhones and iPads to create a mobile video studio. Really powerful yet easy to use solution. - OBS Studio (Macs, PCs, Linux - Free)
This is what I cover in this article. My top pick for a free app that works for both PCs and Macs. A bit difficult to use, but extremely powerful and flexible. - Wirecast (Macs & PCs, from $599)
Taking things to the next level - for Macs and PCs. More powerful but also more difficult to use. Gives you the ability to stream to more than one destination at the same time.
Other live video tools:
- BeLive (Browser-based, free & from $30/mth)
- vMix (PC only, free & from $60)
- XSplit Broadcaster (PC only, free and from $4.17/month)
- mimoLive (Mac only, from $199/yr)
- Lightstream (Browser-based, free)
- BlueJeans Streaming (Browser-based, from $12.49/mth)
- Zoom - (Macs & PCs, from $14.99)
Then there are some apps and tools that offer video meetings or broadcasts but don't currently integrate with Facebook Live. The good news, you can integrate these with Facebook Live by sharing the window in OBS Studio and Wirecast. Examples include:
- Skype
- GoToMeeting
- Amazon Chime
- Webinar platforms such as GoToWebinar, WebinarJam etc
In this article, I will guide you how to set up the free OBS Studio to broadcast to Facebook Live (to your profile, groups or pages). OBS Studio is incredibly powerful, and it's free!
Both OBS Studio and Wirecast can use many different sources for your live stream including:
- Multiple webcams
- DSLR cameras
- Image and Videos on your computer
- Your phone's camera (via an IP Camera app)
- Your display
- A Window on your computer
They support multiple displays at the same time (including picture-in-picture) and you can easily set up keyboard shortcuts with slick scene transitions. OBS Studio and Wirecast allow you to stream to a plethora of services including Facebook Live and YouTube.
For a full comparison of all the top live video streaming tools, read my full guide on the
Top Live Video Streaming Tools for 2020
#2 Video-Conferencing Tools
If you want to bring in guests, then most of the tools I recommended above allow you to invite guests into your live show very easily. The easiest tools are web apps such as Streamyard and BeLive as these are all done via the browser. Ecamm Live currently integrates really well with Skype - so you just invite your guest via Skype. vMix has a browser-based guest app called vMix Call and Wirecast has one called Rendezvous.
For OBS Studio, you'll need to use a video-conferencing tool. You can integrate these with Facebook Live by sharing the window in OBS Studio and Wirecast. Examples include:
- Zoom (if you don't want to use their in-built live streaming feature)
- Skype
- GoToMeeting
- Amazon Chime
- Webinar platforms such as GoToWebinar, WebinarJam etc
#3 Internet Speed Tools
I'll cover this in more detail shortly, but before you go live I highly recommend you test your internet speed every time. It's important that you have a stable upload speed. The most reliable speed testing tool I've found is Speedtest. It's available as a computer app or a mobile app:
If you're live streaming from your computer, make sure you close down as many apps running in the background - especially internet hogging tools like Dropbox and Google Drive. It's important that your live video streaming tool can use as much internet bandwidth as possible.
There's a cool tool called TripMode which restricts internet use to specific tools. So you can make sure that only your live video streaming tool only has access to the internet.
- TripMode (Macs & PCs)
#4 Managing Comments
Many live video tools allow you to highlight comments from Facebook onto your live broadcast. Streamyard, BeLive and Ecamm Live all do this. vMix and Wirecast have separate software that allows you to highlight comments on the screen.
But, once your live video has ended, don't just leave it there. Make sure you go through your comments and reply to each of them. Show that you care about your audience.
That can be a real pain on Facebook (or indeed LinkedIn or YouTube). That's why using a social media management tool to manage your comments, reply, like, delegate and review is so useful.
As you go through your comments you can like, reply or delegate to another team member. Once you've done that it will be reviewed and disappear from view meaning you can get down to inbox zero really quickly.
Your Live Video Gear
Your Computer
Streaming to Facebook Live from OBS Studio or Wirecast requires a good internet connection. Check the following:
- Fast Upload Speed:
You'll need a fast internet speed (10Mbps Upload).
It's the UPLOAD speed that counts. Facebook mention you should have at least 3Mbps UPLOAD speed. However, to get good results, I recommend an upload speed of at least 10Mbps is more like it.
I've had reasonable quality with lower (say 4Mbps) and I've heard reports from some who have worked with as low as 2Mbps, but it depends on what quality you are happy with. A good download speed is useful, but it is the upload speed that is important. Check your upload speed with the speedtest tool.
Or try the compari.tech speed test app which donates $0.01 to charity for each user.
Go Wired: You'll get a higher and more stable upload speed if you connect straight to your router with an ethernet cable.
WiFi is great, but your internet speed can reduce rapidly the further away you are from your router. To give you an example, my download speed when plugged in is 200Mbps, but it goes down to 34Mbps when I use WiFi. The same is true for my upload speed - it goes down a lot when I use WiFi. - Fast & Powerful Computer:
You need a pretty powerful computer to broadcast live video.
Ideally, you should have a modern i7 processor and 16Gb of RAM.
Your computer needs to encode the video before sending it over to Facebook. Encoding video requires a fast processor and a modern i7 can cope with this. If you have a dedicated graphics card that helps too - as will a good bit of memory. To help things, it is best to close as many apps running in the background as possible - so that OBS Studio can have as many resources as possible to encode the video. To give you an example, my 6yr old Dell with an i5 processor, 8Gb RAM and a dedicated graphics card almost copes - but it's not perfect. I'm waiting for a new computer as we speak! - Enabling Pop-ups:
If you're using the Go Live button on this page, you'll need to allow pop-ups from this site (iag.me). Usually, the first pop-up will open, but once that closes, a 2nd pop-up should open. If it does not, you'll need to enable pop-ups. - Allow RTMP:
Really, this shouldn't be an issue for most people. However, make sure your firewall, router and ISP all allow RTMP. You don't need to know what that is, apart from that it's the method (or protocol) Facebook Live use for Facebook Live. If you can't connect, you'll need to check your firewall settings or contact your ISP. - If you're still having issues, Facebook recommends you "disable all ad blocking software or browser plugins that could prevent the video player from loading". I think that's a bit extreme, but if you're having issues, it's best to try.
Webcams & Microphones
If your computer has an integrated webcam and microphone, you can get going straight away. However, if you want to enhance the quality, I recommend investing in a decent webcam and if budget allows, a webcam.
Webcams
I recommend the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920.
There is a newer version, but the C920 works really well, has amazing reviews and is fairly inexpensive.
SLR Cameras & HDMI
If you want to take things to the next level, then you could consider an SLR camera such as the Canon EOS 70D, but you'll need to connect it to your computer via an HDMI capture card.
Microphones
The microphone in the C920 is pretty good, but if you can afford the cost of a microphone, it's well worth it.
Audio quality really matters. If people can't hear what you're saying, they'll just turn off. There are so many amazing microphones out there, and you can get really geeky and get mixing desks, external sound capture cards and more.
I'm really happy with my Blue Yeti Microphone (Amazon) - It's lasted me a while. You do need to set it up correctly and minimize background noise as it can pick up noise from the background very easily. You can plug this microphone straight into your Mac or PC and it should just work! It also can be used with your iPhone or Android (with the appropriate cables)!
Samson Q2U
The Samson Q2U is a dynamic microphone with both an XLR and USB output. It's a really high-quality microphone with a great price (around $80) and is used and recommended by many top podcasters around the world.
It's not cheap ($327), but the Heil PR-40 dynamic microphone from Heil is probably the most highly rated microphone by professional podcasters. Cliff Ravenscraft (the Podcast Answer Man) has used it for years. Leo Laporte from TWiT TV uses it and so do many others. You'll need an XLR to USB converter or use a USB mixing desk so you can channel the sound into your computer.
Getting Creative
You can get really creative at this point and invest in multiple webcams. That way you can change camera angles throughout your broadcast. To get an idea of what you can do, check out this live broadcast by David Antunes. He produces live band sessions "David Antunes & Amigos" every week using OBS Studio, his Macbook Pro, 4 webcams and a Bluetooth keyboard which he controls while playing the piano. He regularly gets 50,000 views, with around 1,500 watching live:
Building Your Live Video Studio
In this article, I will guide you how to set up the free OBS Studio to broadcast to Facebook Live (to your profile, groups or pages). OBS Studio is incredibly powerful, and it's free!
Both OBS Studio and Wirecast can use many different sources for your live stream including:
- Multiple webcams
- DSLR cameras
- Image and Videos on your computer
- Your phone's camera (via an IP Camera app)
- Your display
- A Window on your computer
They support multiple displays at the same time (including picture-in-picture) and you can easily set up keyboard shortcuts with slick scene transitions. OBS Studio and Wirecast allow you to stream to a plethora of services including Facebook Live and YouTube.
Boring but Important Stuff!
Copyright Warning!
This is really important! Facebook is very good at detecting the use of copyrighted music. A number of users have been banned from broadcasting to Facebook Live for up to 3 months for inadvertently or intentionally playing copyrighted music. I'd hate that to happen to you.
Facebook Live Specs
You don't need to know this stuff, but it's useful, particularly if you encounter any issues.
- RTMP - Facebook uses RTMP as the method (or protocol) to stream your live video. RTMP stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol and was developed by Macromedia (and then Adobe) to stream audio and video via Flash.
- Length: 4hrs (or unlimited for a continuous broadcast)
- Resolution: 720p (1280 x 720), although some pages have 1080p enabled
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (widescreen), 9:16 (portrait) 1:1 (square)
- Frame rate: 30fps (maximum)
- Bitrate (video): 4mbps (maximum)
- Bitrate (audio): 256 Kbps (maximum)
- Key frame: 2 seconds
- Video codec: H264
- Audio codec: AAC
- Audio sample rate: 48kHz
- Channel layout: Stereo
- Maximum characters in Titles: 255 characters
- Maximum characters in description: 63,206 characters
- Minimum date to schedule a broadcast in advance: 10 minutes
- Maximum date to schedule a broadcast in advance: 1 week
Broadcasting to Facebook Live: Getting Started
#1 Download OBS Studio
As I said, in this tutorial, we're going to be using the free and open source software, OBS Studio:
So, head on down to the Open Broadcaster Software website and download OBS Studio:
IMPORTANT! Please download OBS Studio (for Windows, Mac or Linux) and not the old OBS Classic (Windows Only). OBS Studio has built-in support for Facebook Live while the classic version does not.
#2 Get your Stream Key
In order to start streaming to Facebook Live, you need a Stream Key and the ability to publish a live video via Facebook.
First of all, do you want to go live from your Facebook page or your profile?
There is a different method for each.
The first is for Facebook Pages only. The 2nd method is mainly for Facebook Profiles & Groups, but also Facebook Pages.
Method 1: Facebook Pages Only
The easiest way to go live on your Facebook Page via your computer is to use the button at the top of this page.
However, the traditional way to go live from your page is to use the "Publishing Tools" on your page.
Log on to your Facebook page and click on Publishing Tools in the top menu: 
Then click on Videos on the left menu:
Then click on the +Live button on the top right:
Then copy the stream key in the modal window that appears:
You can't go live yet, since you'll need to enter the stream key into OBS and start your stream so that Facebook can receive it.
Once Facebook receives your stream it will no longer display "OFFLINE" and will start to display your stream preview. Now skip to
Now skip to #3
Method 2: Facebook Profiles & Groups (and pages)
If you want to go live via your Facebook profile and share to your own timeline, a friend's timeline or a group you'll need to do things a little differently.
Facebook doesn't give you Publishing Options for profiles. They do, however, provide developers the Live Video API.
That's fine for developers, but not very helpful for everyone else! So, I've made it easier for you all by creating a button that connects to Facebook Live using the official Live Video API. All you need to do is click the button above!
So what are you waiting for?
Firstly, Click on the "Broadcast on Facebook Live" button above (at the top of this article). You should see a pop up window.
Then, choose whether you want to go live on your profile or group and click next: 
If you select "Share in a group", you'll need to search for the group you want to broadcast to.
Then first pop-up window should close and a second pop-up window should appear.
If this second pop-up does not appear, you'll need to check your pop-up settings to allow pop-ups. See the troubleshooting section at the bottom of this article.
In the pop-up, enter your update text and video information:
You can't go live yet since you'll need to enter the stream key into OBS and start your stream so that Facebook can receive it.
Once Facebook receives your stream it will no longer display "OFFLINE" and display your stream preview.
#3 Start Streaming
Click settings in OBS Studio and then click stream in the left menu.
Select "Streaming Services" as the Stream Type and "Facebook Live" as the service.
Paste the stream key you obtained from the previous step into the "Stream Key" box:
You shouldn't need to enter the server URL because OBS uses the standard URL.
However, Facebook has recently changed this so that it requires a secure connection. As I write this update, OBS Studio hasn't updated it to use the new URL. If you find you can't connect, you'll need to select the custom server and paste in both the server URL and the stream key:
Click Apply and OK.
Make sure you have selected a video source (such as your webcam) and that you can see this in the preview section.
Then click the "Start Streaming" button:
Go back to the Facebook Live pop-up window in your browser.
After a few seconds, it should display "Fetching video stream". If it does not, check the troubleshooting section at the bottom of this article for possible causes.
And then after a few more seconds, display your stream in all its glory:
Please note, there will be a 5-7 second delay in the stream. This is normal.
IMPORTANT! If you are testing, it is a good idea to select "Only Me" for the "Who should see this?" option. That way no one else will see the live video while you are testing. You could then view your live video on a secondary device such as your smartphone: 
If you are happy to go live click the "Go Live" button in the browser window: 
Check your feed and you should see your live video has appeared. That's it. Enjoy!
To end your live stream, simply click the stop streaming button in OBS Studio.
Facebook Live Demonstration
Here is a Facebook Live video I created earlier which goes through the set up above
Using OBS Studio
This article is work in progress. I'll be expanding this section to explain how to choose sources, change scenes, about scene transitions and keyboard shortcuts. If there is anything you would like to know specifically let me know in the comments below.
Facebook Live with OBS Video Course
Want to know how to use OBS Studio with Facebook Live, set up webcams, scenes and screencasting?
My Facebook Live video course covers how to use the tool and how you can use Skype for multi-person broadcasts and even your phone to make an amazing broadcast using Facebook Live to your Facebook profile, group or page.
With the Pro version, you'll also get access to a members-only community for extra support, tips and techniques, extra modules and I also go through how to add the button to your website including creating the Facebook app and the embed code.
I've gone to great lengths to make this as painless as possible!
There are 12 videos and all are quick and easy to follow and will help you get started with Facebook Live and the free OBS software.
The alternative is buying Wirecast at $249! The cost for this course is $57.
Yes, show me how to broadcast to Facebook Live >>
You can watch the first two videos for free:
Module 1
Introduction (Free)
Introduction to OBS Studio.
How to add Scenes & Sources. (2'46")
Module 2:
Adding Webcams & Text to Scenes (Free)
Covering adding webcams & Text to Scenes as well as arranging layers. (5'28")
Other Modules in the course...
- Module 3: Adding image layers in OBS Studio
- Module 4: Sharing multiple screens & monitors
- Module 5: Managing multiple scenes with slick transitions.
- Module 6: Adding lower third graphics.
- Module 7: Adding video intros & segments.
- Module 8: Sharing app & program windows.
- Module 9: Streaming Interviews using Skype.
- Module 10: Streaming Interviews with other platforms
- Module 11: Streaming Periscope to FB Live & Sharing your smartphone's screen.
- Module 12: Saving your Streams.
Buy the Facebook Live with OBS Video Course
Troubleshooting Guide
Having trouble with the button above?
Do check the comments below, many other people may have asked similar questions to you and will save you some worry!
Here are some common questions and answers...
#1 The first pop-up closes after I select where I want to go live to
When you click the go live button, your browser will normally display a pop-up. You'll be able to choose where you want the live video to be posted to. Once you've done this, this window should close and another pop-up should appear. Here you'll be able to craft your post, get the stream key and see your preview. However some browser's block this second pop up. If this happens to you, check your browser settings to allow pop-ups from this site (iag.me). Check this article out to find out how to allow pop ups for your browser.
#2 I get a "Cannot connect to server" or a blank preview
Something is blocking your connection between OBS Studio and Facebook Live. It's likely that your ISP is blocking your connection. If this is happening to you, could you let me know in the comments below along with the name of your ISP? I'm interested to know. This is happening rarely, but it is happening to some people. If this is the case, I highly recommend that you try connecting on a different internet connection (such as at a friend's house or at your local coffee shop). If it works there then you know it's your internet connection. If it is your internet connection then check you don't have any firewalls that could be blocking the connection. Also restart your router to see if that solves it. If it doesn't then try and call your ISP and ask them to unblock Facebook Live. They'll probably fob you off, but keep trying. Please let me know how you get on in the comments below!
#3 There is a big delay in my stream
This is a more difficult issue to solve. There is always going to be a delay (perhaps up to around 5-10 seconds) but some people have complained of a much longer delay. Firstly make sure you check your upload speed using a service like Speedtest.net. It's not your download speed that makes a difference, it's the upload speed - since you are uploading the video to Facebook in effect. You should have an upload speed of at least 3Mbps, although 4Mbps and higher is preferable. You can use Facebook Live if you have a slower speed, but you may have issues. Also, the speed of your computer is important. Older and less powerful computers will take their time encoding the video. Keep an eye on the CPU usage in the bottom
Also, the speed of your computer is important. Older and less powerful computers will take their time encoding the video. Keep an eye on the CPU usage in the bottom right-hand corner of the OBS Studio window. If it's really high (above 90%) then your computer may be struggling.
In OBS Settings you can change the encoding preset to “ultra fast” or “super fast”. You can find this in Settings->Output.
This will mean your computer’s processor will be used a little less.
#4 I use a Mac, and I'm not able to stream the audio from other apps such as Skype in OBS to Facebook Live
Macs handle desktop sound a little differently to Windows. On the Windows version of OBS Studio, the sound from Skype will automatically be captured as desktop audio in OBS Studio. On a Mac you need to route the sound from another app to OBS Studio.
This requires a 3rd party app. Wirecast has this functionality built in (a driver that records desktop audio), but with OBS Studio you’ll need a bit of extra help.
There are a number of options...
- Soundflower - An extension that allows other apps (like Skype) to route audio to other apps. There were some issues with Soundflower not being compatible with later versions of OSX but the developer has made some updates.
- JackAudio - Not tried this, but looks like a good alternative too.
- Loopback - Is a premium Mac app, which is highly recommended by a friend of mine. It costs $99, but apparently, it’s worth it!
- Sound Siphon - Similar to Loopback but cheaper.This was recommended by Leslie Samuel. I've not tried it myself, but it looks good!
When you install one of these, you can then route the audio output from Skype into OBS Studio and it should just work. It’s a pain that you have to jump through a few hoops here, but it’s just the way Macs work.
#5 My webcam appears black!
If your webcam preview just appears black in OBS Studio, you may need to adjust the resolution by changing it to custom. Right-click the webcam source and click properties to change the resolution.
#6 Audio and Video are out of sync
There are a number of factors that can affect a delay between audio and video. The first thing to ensure is that you close as many background apps as possible. Close down as many apps as you can, check for any bandwidth draining apps such as Google Drive, Dropbox etc. You could also see what else is running in the background and shut down any other apps.
The 2nd thing is to check your upload speed. Use something like speedtest.net. If you have at least 3Mbps or 4Mbps upload speed you should be fine. Ideally use a wired connection as opposed to a wireless one.
The 3rd thing is to turn up the encoding preset. Go to settings and then output, and put the encoding preset up to max.
If none of that solves your issue, your computer may just be struggling with streaming the video. Live streaming takes a lot of processing power. Although OBS Studio as amazing - particularly for a free app, it's not quite as efficient as the likes of Wirecast. So, you may need to give it some help and manually fix the "sync offset".
To do this, click on the cog by the mixer on the main screen, and then adjust the sync offset of your audio. There is no ideal setting here, unfortunately, so you'll have to play around until you get a setting that works for you:
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how to fix this?
This endpoint is deprecated and will not be accessible once the next Graph API version is released. Please use the Live API instead.
to get my stream key..after I click broadcast on facebook live..
Thanks Ian!! This was super helpful! I’ve been dreaming of doing this for awhile. It’s great as a local real estate agent to be able to do live market updates and such directly into specific community groups.
Is there anyway to manage the video once it goes live? So that I can monitor the chat, post polls, etc.? I noticed that the FB Live window goes away.
hey ian! the new layout has me very confused, where can I find the stream key?
The stream key should still be there. Can you describe the new layout you are seeing?
HI SIR IAN, when i clicking the blue bar (BROADCAST ON FACEBOOK LIVE) didn’t working or not loading it, how can i fix this problem?
It should be working now. There was a bit of blip in August which could
HI SIR IAN, when i clicking the blue bar (BROADCAST ON FACEBOOK LIVE) didn’t working or not loading it, how can i fix this problem?
Sorry about that. It should now be working again. Ian
Thx your instructions are great. Problem- my live image is always inverted. What is the fix for this?
it says failed to connect. could not access the stream key and channel.
same problem if i use the custom server
Sorry to hear that, Simon. Check out the troubleshooting section here – https://iag.me/socialmedia/broadcast-computer-facebook-live/#troubleshooting There are a number of things you can try there.
Hello! How could I fix this? Ive done everything by adjusting the settings yet it will not work when i click ‘Start Streaming’ and this will appear in event logs. Maybe it’s the internet connection or else that could’nt perform to go live? Thanks
Hi Carl. Sorry for the late reply. It looks like a connectivity issue due to an unstable internet connection. Facebook initially receives the stream and then it disconnects. Have you tried a different connection? Can you try tethering from your phone and see if that is better? Ian
Hello everyone! Can anyone knows how to fix this problem? Ive done everything by adjusting the settings either resolution, bitrate etc. Please I really need ur help. Thanks.
we need to buy this? just asking
Hi! What were you referring to? OBS Studio is free, so you don’t need to buy it. But there are other tools and gear you could buy.
i want streaming on my facebook page but doesnt work hope you help me
Hi mahdi, Can you explain more about your issue? It’s working for me.
My hubby has been live streaming daily devotions on FB. Today when he logged in to do his live streaming the big blue box you click on to “go live” has disappeared. Any inkling as you why this happened. Thanks, Linda
Hi Linda. Do you mean the blue button on this page, or on Facebook? The button is still on this page. If on Facebook, that is really weird. Has it
Wonderful program. Am a comedian and content creator. Thanks for this . i followed all the lesson in details and it worked for me. Just uploaded by first pre-recorded Facebook live video. Everyone is amazed. hahahaha. Thumps up.
Thanks! So glad it has all worked for you. All the best! Ian
Why i can’t connect to fb live even I tried to connect the website fb live?
Hi Richie, Sorry, I don’t really understand your question. I assume you have followed all the steps in this article?
Hai
After i click next button , nothing happen.. i could not get the URL and Stream key .
May i know what is the problem and how to solve it ?
Sorry for your issues. If you check the troubleshooting area of this article, it goes through some of the issues with your browser potentially blocking pop-ups. Could you check that? Ian
My facebook page does not have ANY reference to Publishing tools or live stream
Hi Don. Publishing tools may be under the “more” tab at the top. But Facebook is moving over to Creator Studio for managing live videos. Could you try that? You should find it here – https://www.facebook.com/creatorstudio/
Hi Ian, thanks for the video for using OBS and FB Live. It seems that you’re either using older systems or the software has been significantly updated since you made your video. FB looks quite different with its new skin, and OBS options were different also. Do you have a newer version of the advice?
Hi Ronald. Thanks for your comments. You are right in saying that the version of any studio I was using when I recorded the video is quite a bit older. OBS Studio has added a few new features over the years, Aand the interface has a default of dark mode now. That really not a huge amount has changed. And all the things I talk about in this video is still current.
Facebook have recently switched over to using the Live producer tool.
however you can still use the older version, and there are some advantages in using that. For example at the moment I can’t tag other profiles pages using Live Producer. So I tend to toggle between the two.basically the advice and remains pretty much the same. The interface may have changed very slightly, but everything else is working pretty much the same. Hope
I can’t get the window to open up to copy the stream key, it just sits and spins.
Hi Mandy. Sorry if you have been experiencing some problems with this. It should sit and spin for a few seconds, before showing you the stream key.
Perhaps restart your computer what close down your browser. Or even log out of Facebook log back in again. Sometimes doing these things will help.
Sorry, I can’t help with any specific tips to this one. It’s just a case of trying and trying again. Ian
I can´t connect to Facebook Live and this is the message I get. I could connect yesterday with a jumping image from zoom but suddenly this happened.
Hi Marien, that’s odd. Is there a way you could copy and paste that message here so I can get a translation? I’ve just tried and it’s working for me.
This is the translation: The user chose to leave the platform: The attempted action is not allowed, because the user disabled the Facebook platform…
I can connect with my profile but not with my fan page.
What issues are you having? Does it give you an error message? Ian
Thanks, Marien. That is very strange. I don’t recognize that error message.
Have you tried again? Could you try completely logging out of Facebook, closing your browser, waiting 10 seconds, and then opening your browser and logging back into Facebook, before trying again? I am not sure what else to
Hello friends, I would like to know if there is the possibility of making transmissions of videos by other artists, if I have to pay any authorization to Facebook or how can I do about copyright?
Hi Elvio. I’m not an expert when it comes to Facebook and copyright. But from my understanding, it is a bit of a mess. They don’t have the same system as YouTube. The best way is not to use music, or at least use royalty free music.
Agghhhh! Hi Ian – thanks so much for this great post. I’ve been setting everything up to do a FB live quiz for a load of friends at 7.45 tonight. Every practice run has worked fine. I’ve just gone in, plugged in my Group name – and the next screen, I’m just getting black with a twirling “working” symbol – but not the FB screen where you input the Stream info. Please help! Why’s it suddenly not working, just when I’ve got 100 mates ready to play my quiz?? Cheers!
…When I get rid of the black screen, I get the IAG says You’re Live window. But I’m not.
There will be a pop up saying you are live, once you close down the window.
If you haven’t actually started the live stream, then you won’t be.
Hola, perdon no hablo ingles y recien utilizo su servicio pero creo que esta fallando, podria orientarme por favor
Hi there. Sorry, I don’t speak Spanish. But you can use the translate button below. I’ve checked and the button is working on this page. However, Facebook Live is under a huge amount of strain due to the large numbers of people using Facebook Live right now. Ian
Hey Ian-
This is a great article, thank you. I am having difficulty with Facebook Live on my desktop (Windows 10) but not on my iPhone.
Everything is configured properly in OBS and the webcam does stream to Facebook. From there however, it loses and regains the feed and when it does, it has a frozen image and is buffering.
My upload speed is about 6 mbps and there is no issue with any other connections or with WiFi.
Any ideas?
Hi Jason,
It’s difficult to know what the issue is. Your upload speed is fine.
Although, I would look into whether it occasionally drops. It might be 6mbps when you test, but if it occasionally drops to below 1mbps and then up again, you may have issues. Also, check your computer’s resources. OBS is very resource-intensive, and so your computer might be struggling to encode the video.
I’ve followed these directions through, and gotten as far as seeing the preview coming from facebook, but it just keeps waiting, and the go live button never actually comes on. I’ve waited 15-20 minutes…. Perhaps relatedly, I have an artist page, but not a personal page. The live producer button on my page is not working–nothing comes up. This is a fresh install of chrome with no extensions that has only been on facebook (although now it’s on your page….) Not only doesn’t the live producer page come up, there is no ‘go live’ button under POST, and there is no ‘live video’ option in the menu on the left side of the publishing page. I do have the other two video options, video library, and crosspost. I recently had facebook popup something saying ‘you have completed all four steps to something-something’ so I thought it might start working then. But no luck. I started this page in 2012, and have ignored it until the last week, but I do have 155 likes… The only thing I can think is that the fact that I don’t have a personal page is keeping this feature from being activated…. So I am… Read more »
Hi Eric, That is weird. I am not sure what’s going on. I’m a little confused with what you are saying about having an artist page but not a personal page? I assume you have a personal profile which is linked to your artist page? Or perhaps not? I know some people who used to set things up with just a page without a profile.
Out of interest, can you use other tools like StreamYard to go live to Facebook? If yes, then that’s good. If not, then that highlights an issue with your Facebook account.
Hope that helps.
Unfortunately your button doesn’t work (firefox under ubuntu). I have enabled pop-ups on https://iag.me in my browser, and I click on the button and nothing happens. No pop-up, no new tab, nothing.
Hi Robert, sorry to hear that. I’ve not tried it in Linux. But I see no reason why it wouldn’t unless your browser has some specific privacy settings. Could you try a different browser?
SOLVED:
Hi Ian,
Facebook is continuously trying to load my stream… What am I doing wrong? Kind regards.
Hi Geert. That’s great. How did you solve the issue? Ian
mismo problema y no se como solucionarlo….ud logro entrar?
Have you entered the stream key and URL into OBS Studio first? It can take 10-15 seconds for the stream to appear in Facebook. Are you receiving an error message?
Hi Ian, it was indeed great to read your post in these demanding times. With the tone and recommendations that have been used in the blog, I can easily make out that you have vast knowledge of OTT service providers and live streaming platforms. Could you please suggest me an OTT provider who can offer state-of-the-art security for the video content. Just wanted to curb the menace of piracy.
Thanks for your comment. I am not sure what you’re looking for exactly. In this article I am focussing on Facebook Live and general live video. I don’t really cover Over-the-top media services. If you could go into more detail, I’ll try and help. Ian
Hi Ian!
I have two questions:
1. Using OBS with Facebook Live, what is the easiest way to include Live Chat so that the participants can ask questions, make comments, etc.?
2. Is there a way to rehearse my Facebook Live using OBS and record the session so that I can review it and tweak, if necessary, before I actually stream live?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Much appreciated!
Regards,
Jay
By the way, Ian, I need to do this in my group and not my page.
Hi Jay, Sorry for the delay. The last few weeks have been mad in the run-up to Social Media Marketing World. I’ll try and answer your questions.
1. OBS Studio doesn’t integrate with chat, so there are no built-in ways.
There are plugins out there, but your issue is that you want this to work with groups. There are easier tools out there such as StreamYard and Ecamm Live that have integrated comments and work with groups. However, bear in mind that unless the person leaving the comment has given their permission to the tool you use, you won’t be able to see their name and photo. This is down to Facebook introducing draconian privacy rules.
2. The best way to rehearse your live is to stream to your personal profile first and set the privacy settings to “only me”. Then no one will be able to see it (except for you). Then you can stream to your group.
Alternatively, set up a secret group where only you are admin, and stream to that.
Hope that helps.
Hi Ian, thanks SOOOO much for laying this all out so clearly. I just have one question regarding good quality audio when performing music. I’m a singer-songwriter and would like to start doing live streaming little concerts on Facebook. I tested this out on my Macbook today and was sending the audio from my mixer through a USB mic (the Zoom H2) line-in port. It all worked well EXCEPT that when I listened to the playback, I could hear that Facebook was applying some kind of noise-reduction to my audio input, which probably is normally good when the audio is voice only. But with guitar in the background it was obviously trying to filter out that background sound. I’ve seen this on other live-stream software such as Google Hangouts, where they would actually offer an option called “Studio Mode” that would allow your audio to come through unfiltered. Do you know how to fix this with Facebook?
Thanks so much,
Erik
Hi Erik, so glad you have found this article helpful. What you say is interesting, because I’ve never encountered any noise reduction on Facebook. I’m pretty sure they don’t have a noise reduction algorithm. But they certainly compress the quality so it won’t be the same quality as you are sending. But I know plenty of people who broadcast music on Facebook Live without any issues. I assume you’ve checked the levels you are sending through to Facebook? I’d test the audio by listening to the preview window before you go live. Listen on headphones so you don’t get the echo. I’m not
Hi Ian, that’s a great article! I’ve noticed you mentioning other encoders like Wirecast and vMix, but it seems that OBS is your favorite among the others. Why? Unrelated (but close) topic to Facebook Live streaming. Did you stream on Instagram? If yes, is OBS involved?
Thanks, John. I wouldn’t say OBS Studio is my favourite. I like to write and recommend lots of different encoders – because they all have their pros and cons. I’m a big fan of Ecamm Live for Mac, StreamYard as a web app, vMix for PC, Wirecast for Mac and PC and a few others. I do live stream to Instagram Live via the official Instagram mobile app. Unfortunately, the official Instagram API doesn’t yet support Instagram API, so the only official way to stream to Instagram Live is via their app. I know there are apps (such as yours) that have reverse engineered the Instagram API and allow you to stream to Instagram Live from your computer, but it’s not something I can endorse right now – not until Instagram provide an official way to stream to Instagram Live via their API.
I’ve successfully livestreamed to Facebook using OBS many times. But recently, upon attempting to “Start Streaming,” it says “Failed to Connect To Server.” After doing some internet research, one fix is to uncheck the Use a Secure Connection box in the Facebook settings when Going Live, and use the updated link for the custom URL in OBS.
But I now see that Facebook says:
“On November 1, 2019, support for RTMP server URLs is being deprecated. Non-secure URLS cannot be used after that time to stream live videos. Please upgrade your encoder settings and use the secure RTMPS URL.
If you do not update to the RTMPS protocol by November, you will no longer be able to use the Live API to stream videos.”
So what are your thoughts as to what the fix will be come November 1st?
Hi Venus. One thing you could try is to change from streaming to Facebook to a custom server.
To do this, click on Settings and then Stream and then change the Service to Custom.
Then paste in your secure stream URL and key into the input boxes.
Let me know if that works for you?
Ian
Hi, great info, however even after searching around I still can’t find the answer to one persisting issue; my goal is to broadcast live from 2 places simultaneously – i.e. FB & Instagram – via 2 different devices, so after saving each of the 2 respective live videos I can import them into Final Cut and create a new video, editing back and forth between footage from both. The issue is that when importing the footage, needing to stick with one audio source throughout, the video whose audio I did not choose goes out of sync with the chosen audio. I thought this was a set-up-to-go-live setting (either audio or video?), where both platforms were not set to the same resolution/frame-rate/audio sample-rate prior to going live, but I am not finding options to set these parameters ahead of time in either FB or Instagram (and furthermore, I thought that the settings in Final Cut would “up-sample” etc. everything to the same specs so as to force a common denominator, but no go there either). What am I missing?
Hi Doug. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
I’m not sure I fully understand you.
So, you want to broadcast to two platforms from two devices. For example to Instagram Live from your smartphone, and to Facebook Live from your computer. I assume you are broadcasting from the same place and the audio will be the same.
When you’ve finished broadcasting to those two destinations, you’re downloading them and then trying to use them to create a video where you switch between each video.
If I understand you, I think you’ll find this very difficult to achieve – because you are using two different devices.
I suppose I’d like to ask why you want to do this? What ultimately are you wanting to achieve?
There’s a tool called vMix (PC only) that allows you to broadcast to multiple destinations (except for Instagram Live which currently is only via the official Instagram app), and record multiple cameras and videos at the same time. You can then get all those videos into Final Cut. But I assume you are a Mac user, so vMix won’t be an option unless you have access to a powerful PC.
Hi Ian. I just tried this but nothing got posted to Facebook. Everything connected and recorded and I could see the live stream in the popup window with the 8 sec or so delay. But at the end of the stream it wasn’t on my Page timeline.
Hi Marian, So sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Did you manage to fix this?
8 seconds is the normal delay. I am not sure why it didn’t appear on your timeline. There are other tools that are easier to use such as StreamYard (for Mac and PC) and Ecamm Live (for Mac). Have you tried those? Ian
hi what is the speed internet requirement using this obs?
Hi. As I mentioned in the article, the minimum is around 3Mbps upload speed (although you might be able to cope with less). But I do recommend 10Mbps just in case your connection fluctuates. Ian
it was my PC apparently, idk why but it seem like the site is inconsistent and doesnt work 30% of the time i want to stream. again it might be my PC making it buggy but idk
Hi Jennifer. Sorry for the problems you’ve been having. It can often depend on your PC and how powerful it is. If it isn’t a powerful computer then you
How To Fix Blurry Video Live Stream in Facebook Gaming?
That could be down to several issues. Firstly, maybe your internet upload speed isn’t fast enough. Check it with Speedtest.net. It should be at least 4Mbps but preferably a lot higher. Also, don’t rely on WiFi as this can fluctuate a lot. Facebook Live is usually a max of 720p but often it ends up being lower than that. Ian
Having trouble broadcasting a live video to a facebook group with OBS, the stream key isnt working
Hi Chad. Facebook has moved over to a secure connection, so that might be why you’re struggling to connect. I’ve updated this article with information on how to do this. Ian
FB seems to have broken the system in their move to secure-only. It doesn’t work with OBS or Wirecast.
Yes, I heard a few people have issues with this.
One option is to choose the custom service. Then paste in the stream URL and the key. That should work. I am surprised that OBS Studio hasn’t updated to use RTMPS.
I did it and it says: Fail to connect to server.
What should I do, then? Thanks for your help.
I assume you’ve double checked the url and the stream key. It should then work. Can you try it on a different connection? It has worked for me and all the people I’ve worked with, so something strange is going on. Ian
This is terrific, thanks so much! The second popup is not showing up for me. I have even fully allowed popups, cleared all cookies, restarted chrome and the computer, and nada 🙁 Can you advise please. And again SO SO grateful. I was dying to find a comprehensive article like this one!
Hi Mara, glad you found this article helpful. Have you managed to get this sorted? I’m not sure what the issue is. Could you try a different browser?
Ian, I’m having issues with OBS connecting to Facebook live on MAC. Even after using the URL and Stream key custom settings. I am at a loss for what to do.
I’d like your feedback please. Thank you.
Hi Thereel. So, have you used the secure URL and stream key? Double check that you are on the latest version of OBS Studio and check again. Hope you
Hello big brother , we are using your facebook Button , this is very good from you , but , in last time your button one day working , one day not , where is the problem ? you are resloving all the time , we are all THANK YOU MAN . cheers , have a nice day and life !
Hi Jove. Sorry for the late reply. Did you manage to get it working? It’s working for me and I’ve not heard any other issues. Let me know what the
Hi There,
Been using OBS for years and it’s great !
Last night though it would’t connect to the facebook server , I was getting the message “Failed to connect to server ”
I’ve tried it from 2 locations both using BT Broadband , it’s always been fine so I’m not sure what’s stopping it . It works fine with other platforms like Chew TV .
thanks in advance
Anthony
Hi Anthony, Glad you like OBS Studio. It’s an amazing tool – and it’s free. Sorry to hear you’ve had this issue. I’ve had this in the past. For some reason, some Facebook servers have issues with some connections, and I’ve never been able to work out why. All I can say is to try on a different connection. It could be an issue with BY Broadband or even your router.
Have you tried using your mobile connection? Also have a check of the troubleshooting section in this article. Let me know how you get on. Ian
Thanks for getting back, I really appreciate it.
I will call BT and ask. It had always been OK in the past with BT, it’s just last week.
I’ll keep you posted tho
I keep getting a message from FB when trying to go live about the new RTMPS server and updating my encoder settings to the new secure URL. How do I do that in OBS? It’s not letting me stream to my group.
I should also state that I’ve been streaming on FB Live to my group for two years using OBS with no trouble. This new error message relating to FB switching to a secure RTMPS server has only been popping up for the last week or two and I have not been able to stream, even though I haven’t changed my method.
Hi Toni One option is to choose the custom streaming service option. Then paste in the stream URL and the key. That should work. I am surprised that OBS Studio hasn’t updated to use RTMPS. Let me know how you get on. Ian
Why can’t I get audio to go out on the FB livestream? It is going into the computer and video is going out, but no audio
It’s difficult to troubleshoot without knowing more information. But, can you check that you have added your microphone to OBS Studio? As well as adding your webcam, you’ll need to add your microphone separately. Ian
My mic feedbacks alot. How to fix please help. I hear my voice repeating what im saying
Hi. So, if you are using a PC, make sure you mute the preview window when clicking the button on this page. Because the preview window will play the audio of your Facebook Live, and so will pick up your microphone, and then the audio of the preview will loop back. Ian
I cant get the stream key. it wont appear. Please help
Hi Kenji, sorry that you are having issues here. Can you give me more information? What have you done? Are you able to click on the button in this article? Are you able to select your destination and create your post?
You should then receive the stream key on the final page. Let me know if
Yo, Hi! 🙂 I am trying to stream audio only with picture or cinemagraph/plotagraph…any advice?
Hi Dejan, You can definitely do this. Just add your microphone as an input in OBS Studio, and then add a video or audio file as an input. That’s it! Ian
Hi ,
I need your help , i use obs for mac your can see a video that explains my problem with facebook live .Here is the video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdCvY7uHHPY
Thank you for your response.
Hi Gadial. Sorry for the late reply. I couldn’t view your video as it seems to have been removed. Let me know if I can help. Ian
Hi I’m trying to do a FB live, but the FB Live is not working, help!?
Hi Gerardo. Sorry, you’ve had issues. What problems are you having? Are you getting an error message? Facebook is having issues right now. I’m not able to comment or log in. Hopefully, Facebook will sort this out soon. Ian
This is hugely helpful Ian. Thank you so much!
Thanks, Margaret. So glad it was helpful. Are you doing any live videos at the moment?
Can you tell me how to put another person in FB life from computer?
Hi, Tjasa. It depends on what software you are using to stream live with. With OBS Studio, you’ll need to bring in your guest in something like Skype or Zoom and then capture the audio and video from that into your broadcast. Other tools such as BeLive or Ecamm Live have this facility built in. If you want to find out more about how to do it in OBS Studio, then my OBS Studio course will help. Ian
Hi. So, are you streaming to Facebook Live from your computer? If so, you could use a tool like BeLive or StreamYard to broadcast. They both allow you to bring guests remotely very easily. If you’re on a Mac, then I recommend Ecamm Live which allows you to bring guests in via Skype. Ian
Can’t Load URL: The domain of this URL isn’t included in the app’s domains. To be able to load this URL, add all domains and subdomains of your app to the App Domains field in your app settings.
Hi. It should be working again now. Facebook is being a little weird today.
I tweaked a few settings and it is working for me. Let me know! Ian