How to Get a Facebook Live Stream Key

If you're ready to professionalize your Facebook Live broadcasts with software like OBS Studio or Streamlabs, you'll need a stream key to make it all work. This key is the essential link between your powerful broadcasting tools and your Facebook audience. This guide walks you through exactly where to find your Facebook Live stream key, how to use it, and what to do if you run into any trouble.

What is a Facebook Live Stream Key, Anyway?

Think of a stream key as a unique password for your live broadcast. Its job is to tell Facebook, "Hey, this video feed coming from this specific computer and software is authorized to go live on this particular Facebook Page, Profile, or Group." Without it, Facebook would have no way of knowing where to send your stream.

This all works using a technology called RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol). You don't need to know the technical details, but just understand that RTMP is the digital pipeline that carries your video from your computer to Facebook's servers. The stream key is what unlocks that pipeline, ensuring your content goes to the right place and that nobody else can stream to your page without your permission. It's a simple but vital piece of the puzzle for creating a professional-looking live video.

Whenever you go live from a third-party application instead of directly from the Facebook app or website, you're using this method. It’s what allows you to add custom graphics, switch between multiple camera angles, share your screen for a gaming stream, or bring in remote guests - all the features that elevate a simple phone broadcast into a polished production.

Getting Your Facebook Live Stream Key: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding your stream key is done through Facebook's own broadcast hub, the Live Producer. The interface can feel a bit busy at first, but the key is right there once you know where to look. Follow these steps, and you'll have it in minutes.

1. Go to the Facebook Live Producer

First, you need to tell Facebook that you want to start the process of going live. You can get there from a few different places:

• From your Facebook Page or Profile: Go to your page, profile, or group. Look for the "Live Video" button below the composer where you’d normally type a status update. Clicking this will take you directly into the Live Producer interface.
• Direct Link: You can also just go directly to facebook.com/live/producer.

Once you are in the Live Producer, Facebook will ask what you want to do. You'll see options to "Go live" now or "Create live video event" to schedule one for later. For finding your stream key quickly, select Go Live.

2. Select "Streaming Software" as Your Source

This is the most important step. Once you're in the Live Producer setup screen, look at the main panel on the left. You’ll be asked to select a video source. The default option might be "Webcam," but you need to click on Streaming Software.

The moment you select "Streaming Software," the screen will populate with the information you need, including the Server URL and, most importantly, the Stream Key.

3. Find and Copy Your Stream Key

After selecting "Streaming Software," you will see a section titled "Stream Key Setup." Your stream key is a long string of random letters and numbers, typically hidden behind asterisks for security.

Do not share this key with anyone. Anyone who has it can stream directly to your Facebook Page. Treat it with the same care you would a password.

Facebook provides a convenient "Copy" button right next to the key. Click it to copy the entire key to your clipboard without having to manually highlight it.

4. Understand Persistent vs. Non-Persistent Stream Keys

Before you leave this page, it's worth understanding a powerful option found under "Advanced Settings." Here, you'll find a toggle for "Use a persistent stream key."

• Non-Persistent Key (Default): This key is a one-time-use code. It expires 24 hours after you get it, or as soon as you close your broadcast. Pro: Highly secure. If it ever leaks, the damage is very limited because it will quickly become useless. Con: You have to go through this process of finding and copying a new key every single time you want to go live.
• Persistent Stream Key: As the name suggests, this is a permanent key that stays the same for all your future streams from that Page or Profile. Pro: Extremely convenient. You can paste it into your streaming software (like OBS) once and never have to touch it again. Con: Less secure. If this key is ever accidentally shared or leaks, someone could stream to your page at any time until you manually reset it.

For frequent streamers who broadcast from a secure computer, enabling the persistent key is a massive time-saver. Just remember to reset it immediately if you ever suspect it has been compromised.

Using Your Stream Key with OBS Studio (And Other Software)

Now that you have your key, it's time to connect your software. The process is very similar for most streaming applications, but here's how to do it in OBS Studio, one of the most popular free options available.

Step 1: Open Settings in Your Streaming Software

Launch OBS Studio. In the bottom right corner, click on the Settings button.

Step 2: Navigate to the Stream Tab

In the Settings window, find the Stream tab on the left-hand menu. This is where you'll tell OBS where you want to send your video feed.

Step 3: Configure Your Stream Destination

In the Stream settings, you'll see a few dropdown menus.

• For Service, select "Facebook Live."
• For Server, you can usually leave it on "Default." OBS knows the correct Facebook server address.
• The third field is Stream Key. This is where the magic happens.

Step 4: Paste Your Facebook Stream Key

Click inside the "Stream Key" field and paste the key you copied earlier from the Facebook Live Producer (Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac). Click Apply, then OK to close the settings window.

Your broadcasting software is now officially linked to your Facebook account for this single broadcast (or for all future broadcasts, if you used a persistent key).

Step 5: Start Streaming from OBS and Go Live on Facebook

You're almost there! The final sequence is:

1. In OBS Studio, click the Start Streaming button. This sends your video feed to Facebook, but you are not live yet. This only makes your video preview visible within the Live Producer.
2. Go back to your browser tab with the Facebook Live Producer. You should see a preview of your stream from OBS appear in the video window after a few seconds. The health meters should show a stable connection.
3. Fill out your post details - add a title, a description, and tag any relevant brands or people.
4. When you are completely ready, click the blue Go Live button in the bottom left corner of the Facebook Live Producer screen. Now you are broadcasting to your audience!

Troubleshooting Common Live Stream Key Issues

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are fixes for a few common hiccups.

• "Facebook isn't receiving my video." First, make sure you actually clicked "Start Streaming" in OBS or your other software. Second, double-check that you copied and pasted the entire stream key correctly. If you're using a non-persistent key from an old session, it has probably expired. You'll need to go back to the Live Producer and get a new one.
• "My stream key was exposed. What do I do?" Don't panic. If you were using a temporary (non-persistent) key, it will expire on its own. If you were using a persistent key, go back to the Stream Key section in the Live Producer, click on the Advanced Settings, and hit the "Reset" button. This will invalidate the old key and generate a new permanent one that you can then update in your software.
• "I can't find the 'Streaming Software' option." You may have accidentally clicked through an old interface or a simplified setup modal. The best bet is to start fresh by heading directly to facebook.com/live/producer. This will load the full broadcast dashboard where the option is clearly visible.

Final Thoughts

Your Facebook stream key is the bridge between your live production software and your audience. Finding it is a simple process in the Live Producer, and once you have it configured in a tool like OBS, you unlock the ability to create far more dynamic and engaging live broadcasts than what's possible from a phone app.

Mastering the technical side of live streaming is huge, but it's just one part of a solid content plan. We actually built Postbase to solve our own frustrations with managing the rest of our content - like short-form videos, stories, and daily updates - across multiple platforms. Our goal was a tool that offered rock-solid post scheduling and a clean, visual calendar to see our entire strategy at a glance. It helps us spend less time fighting with clunky software and more time focused on creating great content, whether it's live or scheduled.