How to Go Live on YouTube Shorts

Going live on YouTube in a vertical format can place your stream directly in front of the millions of users scrolling the Shorts feed. It's a powerful way to connect with your audience in real-time and grow your channel without the pressure of producing a highly edited video. This guide walks you through exactly how to set up a vertical live stream, offers strategies to keep your audience engaged, and shows you how to repurpose your content long after the stream ends.

First, Let's Get One Thing Straight: There's No "Live on Shorts" Button

This is the most common point of confusion. YouTube doesn't have a separate feature or a button labeled "Go Live on Shorts." Instead, when you go live on the YouTube mobile app and set your stream orientation to vertical (a 9:16 aspect ratio), YouTube is eligible to feature that live stream within the Shorts feed. Viewers scrolling through Shorts may see your live video pop up, giving you a chance to capture their attention instantly. The key is in the setup - you’re creating a vertical live stream that is optimized for discovery in the Shorts feed.

Your Pre-Flight Checklist: What You Need Before Going Live

Before you tap that live button, a little preparation goes a long way. Make sure you have these foundations in place to ensure a smooth, professional stream that attracts and retains viewers.

Channel Requirements for Mobile Live Streaming

YouTube has a few basic requirements your channel needs to meet before you can stream from your phone. Thankfully, they've become much more accessible for smaller creators.

• Subscribers: You need at least 50 subscribers to go live from a mobile device. This is a big change from the old 1,000-subscriber threshold, opening the door for new channels.
• Channel Verification: Your channel must be verified, which simply involves confirming your phone number with YouTube. The verification process can take up to 24 hours, so do this well in advance of your first planned stream.
• No Live Streaming Restrictions: If your channel has received a Community Guidelines strike, you might have live streaming privileges restricted for up to 90 days. Keep your content clean and compliant to avoid issues.

Essential (and Affordable) Gear

You don't need a Hollywood studio to produce a great live stream. Focus on these core components to cover the basics.

• A Modern Smartphone: The camera on most modern smartphones is more than enough to produce a high-quality vertical stream. Clean your lens before you start!
• A Strong Internet Connection: A stable Wi-Fi connection is usually more reliable than cellular data. If you have to use data, make sure you're in an area with a strong 5G or 4G LTE signal. A choppy, lagging stream is the fastest way to lose viewers.
• Basic Lighting: You don't need expensive studio lights. Sit facing a window for excellent natural light. If it's dark, a simple ring light can make a massive difference in video quality and helps you look more professional.
• A Tripod or Stand: Nobody wants to watch a shaky, handheld video for more than a few seconds. A small, inexpensive tripod will keep your phone stable and your shot steady.
• An External Microphone (Optional but Recommended): Your phone's built-in mic will work, but clear audio is often more important than perfect video. A simple lapel mic that plugs into your phone can drastically improve audio quality and cut down on background noise.

Plan Your Content

Never go live without a plan. You don't need a full script, but you should have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. Ask yourself:

• What's the topic? Is it a Q&A session, a tutorial, a behind-the-scenes look, or just a casual chat?
• What is the goal? Do you want to gain subscribers, promote a new video, or build a stronger connection with your community?
• What are your talking points? Jot down a few bullet points to keep you on track if you get sidetracked or nervous.
• How long will it be? Aim for a specific duration. A 15-30 minute stream is a great start. It's better to end a great stream on time than to let an unfocused one drag on.

Step-by-Step: How to Launch Your Vertical Live Stream on YouTube

Once you’ve done the prep work, starting your stream is straightforward. Just follow these steps within the YouTube mobile app.

1. Open the YouTube App and make sure you're signed into the correct channel.
2. Tap the Create Button. This is the large plus sign (+) at the bottom center of the screen.
3. Select "Go Live." It's usually the third option in the menu that appears.
4. Create a Title. Write a compelling, searchable title. Think about what people might be looking for. Including phrases like "Live Q&A," "Behind the Scenes," or keywords related to your topic works well.
5. Set Privacy and Scheduling. Set the visibility to "Public" if you want to go live immediately. You can also set it to "Unlisted" for a test stream or use the "Schedule for later" option to build hype.
6. Choose Your Orientation (The Most Important Step!). In the stream settings, you’ll find an "Options" or "Advanced Settings" menu. Look for the screen orientation setting and make sure it is set to Vertical. This locks your stream into the 9:16 format required for Shorts feed discovery.
7. Write a Description. Add a brief description with relevant keywords and any links you plan to mention during the stream.
8. Adjust Other Settings. You can also manage monetization options (if eligible), enable or disable chat, and configure age restrictions in the advanced settings. For most creators, leaving chat enabled is essential for engagement.
9. Take a Thumbnail. The app will prompt you to take a photo or upload a custom thumbnail. A custom thumbnail with text or an expressive photo is always a better choice than a random auto-generated one.
10. Tap "Go Live"! You’ll see a 3-2-1 countdown, and then you'll be live to the world. A small smile just before it starts helps you seem open and ready right from the first frame.

How to Host a Vertical Live Stream That People Actually Watch

Getting live is the easy part. Keeping people engaged is where the real skill comes in. Here are some proven strategies to make your stream a must-watch event.

Promote Your Stream in Advance

Don't just go live out of the blue. Let people know when to tune in.

• Create a Teaser Short: A day or two before, post a quick YouTube Short announcing your upcoming live stream. Say what you'll be talking about and at what time.
• Use the Community Tab: If you have access, the Community tab is perfect for announcements. Use a poll to ask your audience what they want to see, or just post a graphic with the date and time.
• Mention it in Long-Form Videos: In the days leading up to your stream, mention it at the end of your regular videos as a call-to-action.

Master the Vertical Frame

Vertical video has its own rules. Keep the most important action - your face, the product you’re demonstrating - in the center of the frame. Viewers are on mobile, so avoid tiny text or wide shots where details get lost.

Acknowledge and Interact From a Script

The first 30 seconds are crucial. People are dropping in and deciding whether to stay. Instead of a generic "hey everyone," be specific and energetic.

"Welcome, everyone, to our live Q&A about starting a YouTube channel! We're kicking off in just a moment. As you come in, drop a comment with the #1 question you have. I'm going to try to answer as many as I can. Shoutout to Sarah and Mike, thanks for joining early!"

Having a simple script for your intro and outro keeps things professional and on track. Most importantly, read comments and say people's names. Hearing their name live from a creator is a powerful way to make someone feel seen and valued.

Use Interactive YouTube Features

Don't just talk at your audience, talk with them. Use the tools YouTube provides:

• Polls: Set up a poll directly within the live chat asking a simple question. It's an easy, low-effort way for viewers to participate.
• Pin Comments: If there's a specific question you want to address or a topic you're discussing, pin that comment to the top of the chat.
• Super Chats & Super Stickers: If you're monetized, encourage viewers to use Super Chats. Always thank anyone who donates by name and respond to their comment or question.

Always End With a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA)

What is the single most important thing you want your viewers to do after the stream? Make it clear and direct.

• "If you enjoyed this, hit that subscribe button so you don't miss my next stream!"
• "Check out the link I just dropped in the chat to my new video on this topic."
• "Thanks for all the great questions! Follow me on Instagram [username] where I'll be sharing behind-the-scenes a bit later."

After the Stream: Repurpose Your Content for Maximum Impact

Your work isn't over when the live stream ends. That replay is a content goldmine.

• Create Standalone Shorts: After your stream, the full replay will be available on your channel. Watch it back and find the best moments - a great answer to a question, a funny story, or a key tip. Use YouTube's clipping tool to turn each of these "aha" moments into its own distinct YouTube Short. You can easily turn one 30-minute live stream into five to ten engaging Shorts.
• Publish a Highlights Reel: Take the top 3-5 best moments and edit them together into a 5-minute "highlight reel" long-form video. This gives viewers who missed the live stream a chance to catch up on the most important information.
• Share Clips Everywhere: Use snippets from the live stream as content for your Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok videos, and more. A single stream can provide you with content for days or even weeks.

Final Thoughts

Going live in a vertical format is one of the most direct and authentic ways to engage with viewers and leverage the discovery power of the YouTube Shorts feed. By planning your content, mastering the technical setup, and focusing on real-time interaction, you can build a deeper connection with your community and fuel your channel's growth.

A successful streaming strategy relies heavily on smart planning and consistent follow-up, whether you're promoting your upcoming live session or repurposing the best moments afterwards. At Postbase, we designed our platform to handle exactly that. We use our visual content calendar to plot out promotions for our own live events and see exactly where gaps in our content plan exist. When the stream is over, we use our scheduler to easily share the replay and repurposed clips across all our social platforms at once, which saves our team hours of manual work without missing an opportunity to connect with our audience.