Streaming From OBS To TikTok: Step-By-Step

When people think about live streaming platforms, YouTube Live or Twitch often come to mind. TikTok is coming on strong, though.

In fact, TikTok is now ranked as the second most-watched streaming service worldwide. YouTube has a solid grasp on the #1 spot, but TikTok had more than 100 million live streamers last year, capturing more than 25% of the total market and surging far past third-place Twitch.

Analysts say the social media platform’s growth is largely because Twitch focuses primarily on gaming, while TikTok users originate live streams on a much larger range of topics. That’s the same advantage that propelled YouTube to a dominant position in the streaming market.

Another advantage TikTok boasts is its ease of use. Live streaming is built right into the app. Beginners find it easy to set up and begin broadcasting right from their phone via TikTok Live Studio, without having to download and learn how separate streaming software works.

If you’re an experienced streamer and need more than the basic tools available in the app, however, or if you want to stream from your computer, you’ll need specialized streaming software. The most popular choice is OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), an open-source free program that lets you stream to multiple platforms and works with both PCs and Macs.

Here’s what you need to know.

The Fly in the Ointment

We’ll begin with one caution: using OBS to stream on TikTok is much more complicated than it used to be.

You need a unique identifier that looks like a password before TikTok allows you to connect to the app from streaming software. It’s called a “stream key,” and until fairly recently, it was provided to those who qualified to run TikTok Live sessions once they met the platform’s streaming requirements (the most important is having at least 1,000 TikTok followers).

That simple process has, unfortunately, been discontinued. To receive a TikTok stream key these days, you must be working with a verified creator network or TikTok agency. They primarily help content creators and businesses maximize growth, but they can also help you obtain a working stream key. It can take several weeks to be approved and receive your key.

Once you’ve cleared that hurdle, here’s the step-by-step process for going live.

How to Stream to TikTok From OBS

Now that you have a TikTok stream key, you’re ready to set up and start broadcasting.

1. Install OBS Studio on your computer. It can be downloaded from obsproject.com.
2. Open OBS Studio and go to File > Settings > Stream.
3. Under “Stream Type,” choose “Custom Streaming Server.”
4. Enter your TikTok stream key in the proper field.
5. You’ll also need a TikTok server URL. Open the app’s Creator screen by tapping on the “+” at the bottom of the screen, click the “LIVE” option, enter a title for your stream, and select “PC or console” (some app versions may call it “Connect to PC”). Your server URL should appear on the screen; copy it and enter it into OBS.
6. Now, on OBS, go to Settings > Scene, choose your video and audio sources, and add any graphics you want to appear on your stream.
7. Next, open Settings > Output and enter your desired settings (Video Bitrate between 4,000 and 6,000 kbps and Audio Bitrate 128 kbps are common choices).
8. Ensure that you’re streaming in a vertical resolution suitable for TikTok by going to Settings > Video and choosing 1080×1920, and make sure the FPS (frames per second) is set at either 30 or 60 (60 will provide better quality on quality connections).
9. When everything’s ready, click “Start Streaming” in OBS and make sure it looks the way you want it to in your TikTok app.

Obtaining a streaming key is sadly the most difficult part of this process, but once you’ve got one, you’ll be able to use your OBS software to conduct live streams that can compete with those run by long-time influencers. Have fun!