How to stream to YouTube and Facebook at the same time
To stream to YouTube and Facebook at the same time, add both to one Upstream stream and send your video once. They connect differently: YouTube by signing in, Facebook with a persistent stream key from Facebook Live Producer.
Plan the length too. Facebook lives end at 8 hours, so Upstream stops the Facebook side at 7 hours 55 minutes while YouTube keeps going. Upstream's free plan covers both platforms, with 24 hours of streaming a month.
- Up to 10 platforms on one stream
- Free plan works
Before you start
- An Upstream account (the free plan is enough to test)
- A YouTube account that can go live
- A Facebook account that can go live
- YouTube: Your YouTube channel needs live streaming turned on. The first time, YouTube can take up to 24 hours to turn it on, so do it a day ahead.
- Facebook: A Facebook live you didn't schedule in Live Producer still needs Go live clicked there once the preview shows.
Step 1
Create a stream
In Upstream, press Create stream and pick where the video comes from: Multistream from OBS for OBS or any app with custom RTMP, Live Studio to go live from your browser, or Prerecorded and/or 24/7 for uploaded videos.
Step 2
Add YouTube as the main platform
On Select your primary platform, choose YouTube, then sign in with the Google account that owns your channel. Upstream creates the broadcast on your channel, so there is no key to paste.
Step 3
Add Facebook
On the Set up multistreaming step, press Add stream and pick the platform under Platform. You can add or change platforms later too, in Live Studio under Destinations.
Facebook: pick Facebook, then paste the stream key from Facebook Live Producer. Turn on the persistent stream key there, so the same key keeps working.
Step 4
Send your video and start
Send the video in: from OBS or another app, paste the RTMP Server URL and Stream Key from Live Studio into it (the OBS guide shows where); from the browser, join Live Studio with your camera. Then press Start stream, and the stream goes out to YouTube and Facebook together.
Why Facebook needs a persistent key
Facebook Live Producer can give you a new stream key for each live or one that stays the same. Upstream saves the key you paste, so turn on the persistent stream key in Live Producer. Otherwise the saved key stops working after one broadcast.
One more Facebook habit: a live you didn't schedule in Live Producer still waits for you to click Go live there once the preview shows. A live scheduled in Live Producer starts on its own.
Troubleshooting
YouTube is live but Facebook isn't
If you didn't schedule the live in Facebook Live Producer, click Go live there once the preview shows. Also check that the key in Upstream is Facebook's persistent key.
Facebook stopped after almost 8 hours
That is Facebook's limit. Upstream stops the Facebook side at 7 hours 55 minutes so it ends cleanly. YouTube keeps going.
FAQ
Can I stream to YouTube and Facebook at the same time for free?
Yes. Upstream's free plan includes 24 hours of streaming a month to up to 10 platforms, with no watermark. Both accounts still need live streaming turned on.
Can OBS stream to YouTube and Facebook at once?
Yes. Point OBS at Upstream and add YouTube and Facebook to the stream in Upstream. Don't put either platform's key in OBS.
Set it up now
The free plan includes 24 hours of streaming a month and up to 10 destinations.