How to stream videos from Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive
Upstream imports videos straight from a Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive share link, so you don't have to download a large file and upload it again. Once it is in your Media Library, you can stream it once, on a schedule or around the clock, to up to 10 platforms.
For public link imports, the part that changes between the three is how you copy the link. Everything after that is the same.
- No download or re-upload
- Free plan works
Before you start
- An Upstream account (the free plan is enough to test)
- The video or audio file in Google Drive, Dropbox or a personal OneDrive
- The platforms you want to go live on
Step 1
Get a share link for the file
Google Drive public link: select the file and click Share. Under General access, open the menu and choose Anyone with the link with the Viewer role. Click Copy link, then Done. A work or school Google account may not let you share outside your organization; your admin decides that.
Dropbox: on dropbox.com, hover over the file and click Share, then Copy link. A view-only link is enough: under Manage, Link for viewing gives one. Copy a link to the file itself, not to the folder it is in.
OneDrive: on onedrive.com, select the file and click Share. Open
the link settings (the gear) and choose Anyone, then click
Copy link. Use a personal OneDrive: its links start with 1drv.ms or
onedrive.live.com.
Share one file per link, whichever service you use.
Step 2
Import it into your Media Library
In Upstream, open Media Library and press Upload file. Switch to Import from link, paste the link into Paste a cloud storage file link and press Add. Add more links the same way if you have several files, then press Import.
The file is copied into Upstream, so the stream doesn't depend on Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive once the import is done.
Step 3
Add it to a stream
Open a stream, or create one with Prerecorded and/or 24/7, and add the video on the Background tab. Audio files go on the Audio tab. Choose Loop continuously for a stream that runs around the clock, or Play once and end for a single showing.
Step 4
Add platforms and start
Add the platforms you want to go live on, up to 10, then press Start stream, or set a schedule so it starts on its own.
Which links work
| Service | Link to copy | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Anyone with the link, Viewer | Restricted links need the Google Drive picker |
| Dropbox | Link for viewing, to the file | Folder links |
| OneDrive | Anyone, from a personal account | Work or school links on sharepoint.com |
Links from other services, such as iCloud or WeTransfer, aren't accepted. Download the file and use Upload files in the Media Library instead.
Troubleshooting
My OneDrive link is rejected
Work and school OneDrive links (sharepoint.com) are not supported. Copy the file to a
personal OneDrive, or download it and use Upload files instead.
My Google Drive link is rejected
For a public link import, check that General access is set to Anyone with the link. For a private file, choose Connect Google Drive, then Choose from Google Drive and pick the file. Upstream only gets access to files you pick. On a work or school account, your admin may block sharing outside the organization; download the file and use Upload files instead.
FAQ
Can I import private Google Drive files?
In the Media Library, open Upload file, then Import from link, and paste a Google Drive link. Choose Connect Google Drive, then Choose from Google Drive to pick private files. Upstream only gets access to the files you pick.
Which cloud storage services can I import from?
Google Drive, Dropbox and personal OneDrive. For anything else, download the file and upload it to the Media Library.
Set it up now
The free plan includes 24 hours of streaming a month and up to 10 of 30+ supported platforms.