How to Stream to TikTok from OBS

Looking to make your TikTok LIVE streams look less like they were broadcast from a potato and more like a professional production? You've come to the right place. Streaming to TikTok from OBS Studio is the best way to elevate your live content with high-quality cameras, microphones, custom graphics, and screen sharing. This guide will walk you through everything, from the initial setup to best practices for creating a stream your audience will love.

Why Stream to TikTok from OBS Anyway?

Streaming directly from your phone is fine, but it has limits. Once you switch to OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), a free and powerful tool, a whole new world of creative possibilities opens up. It’s the difference between self-producing a short film and just hitting record on your phone.

Here’s what you gain by making the switch:

• Epic Video Quality: Forget your phone's front-facing camera. With OBS, you can use a high-end DSLR, mirrorless camera, or a professional webcam for buttery-smooth, high-resolution video that a phone simply can’t match.
• Crisp, Clear Audio: Plug in a high-quality USB or XLR microphone to give your viewers crystal-clear audio. No more muffled sound, background noise, or a voice that sounds like it’s coming from the other side of the room. Good audio is just as important as good video.
• Professional Graphics & Overlays: Add your logo, follower alerts, branded backgrounds, and on-screen graphics to create a polished, professional look. This reinforces your brand identity and makes your stream feel like a real show.
• Seamless Screen Sharing: Are you a gamer, a coder, an artist, or a presenter? OBS allows you to share your screen, a specific window, or a game capture with your audience. This is a game-changer for tutorials, live gameplay, product demos, or reaction content.
• Multi-Camera Magic: Want to switch between a close-up shot and a wide-angle view? With OBS, you can set up multiple camera scenes and switch between them on the fly, adding dynamic energy to your stream.

Ready to Start? Here’s What You'll Need

Before you get into the fun stuff, let's do a quick checklist to make sure you have all the necessary components. This process is straightforward, but having everything ready will make it smoother.

• A TikTok Account with LIVE Access: This is a feature TikTok grants to users who meet certain criteria, which typically includes having at least 1,000 followers and being over 16. If you don't see the LIVE option, focus on building your community first.
• A Decent Computer (PC/Mac): Streaming uses a good amount of your computer's processing power. While you don’t need a supercomputer, a modern machine with a dedicated graphics card will deliver the best results.
• OBS Studio: It's completely free! If you don't have it yet, you can download it directly from the official OBS Project website.
• Your Streaming Gear: This includes your webcam or camera, your microphone, and any lighting you plan to use.
• A Stable Internet Connection: Your download speed isn't what matters here - it's your upload speed. Run a free speed test online and aim for an upload speed of at least 6-10 Mbps for a stable 1080p stream.

How to Find Your TikTok Stream Key

Your Stream Key is a unique code that tells TikTok you’re the one sending the video feed from OBS. It's the secret handshake that connects OBS to your TikTok account. Think of it like a password, and never, ever share it with anyone!

Here’s how to find it:

1. Open the TikTok app on your smartphone.
2. Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom center of the screen, just like you're about to create a new video.
3. Along the bottom menu, swipe right until you get to the LIVE option.
4. Set a title for your stream and choose a category. Below the "Go LIVE" button, you should see an option labeled "Cast on PC/Mac" or something similar. Tap on that.
5. This next screen is your treasure map. Here, TikTok will provide you with a Server URL and a Stream Key. You'll need both of these for OBS.
6. Keep this screen open on your phone or copy and paste the URL and key and send them to your computer. A messaging app or a private note is perfect for this.

Now that you have your credentials, it's time to set up OBS.

Configuring OBS for a Perfect Vertical TikTok Stream

Out of the box, OBS is set up for horizontal streaming to platforms like Twitch or YouTube. We need to tell it we’re working with TikTok’s vertical 9:16 format. This is the most important step for making your stream look native to the platform.

Step 1: Get Your Canvas and Output Vertically Aligned

First, we need to flip OBS’s canvas from a landscape (16:9) orientation to a portrait (9:16) orientation.

• In OBS, navigate to File >, Settings (or OBS >, Preferences on Mac).
• Go to the Video tab on the left-hand menu.
• Set the Base (Canvas) Resolution to 1080x1920.
• Set the Output (Scaled) Resolution to the same value: 1080x1920. This ensures a crisp, pixel-perfect stream without any unnecessary scaling.
• Set your Framerate. 30 FPS is standard and reliable, but if you have a powerful machine and are streaming fast-paced content like gaming, you can push it to 60 FPS.
• Click Apply, then OK. Your OBS preview window will now look tall and narrow - just like a phone screen.

Now, everything you add to your scenes will fit correctly within the TikTok mobile layout.

Step 2: Dial in Your Streaming Settings

Next, we’ll tell OBS how to package and send your video feed to TikTok's servers for the best quality and reliability.

• Head back into File >, Settings.
• Go to the Output tab. Set the Output Mode at the top to Advanced to unlock all the options.
• Under the Streaming tab, make the following adjustments:
  • Encoder: If you have a modern NVIDIA graphics card, choose NVIDIA NVENC H.264 (new). This uses your GPU for encoding and lightens the load on your main processor. If you don't, x264 is the CPU-based alternative and still works great.
  • Rate Control: Set this to CBR (Constant Bitrate).
  • Bitrate: This determines your stream's video quality. A good starting point for a 1080p stream on TikTok is between 4,000 and 6,000 Kbps. If your internet struggles, you can lower this to around 2,500-3,500 Kbps. Don’t go too high, as TikTok’s servers might not support it reliably.
  • Keyframe Interval: Set this to 2 seconds.
• Now, switch over to the Audio tab (still in the Output settings). Set the Audio Bitrate for Track 1 to 128 or 160. This is plenty for great-sounding audio.
• Click Apply and OK to save your settings.

Step 3: Connect OBS to TikTok

Alright, time to use that Server URL and Stream Key we grabbed earlier.

• Go back to File >, Settings.
• Navigate to the Stream tab.
• For the Service dropdown, select Custom...
• In the Server field, paste the Server URL you got from the TikTok app.
• In the Stream Key field, paste the Stream Key. Double-check there are no extra spaces at the beginning or end.
• Click Apply, then OK.

Your technical setup is complete! OBS is now configured and ready to send your professional vertical stream directly to your TikTok profile.

Building Your Professional Stream Scenes

Now for the creative part! In OBS, you use Scenes and Sources to build what your viewers see. Think of a Scene as a specific layout (e.g., "Main Camera," "Screen Share," "Be Right Back"), and Sources are the individual elements within that layout (your camera, mic, overlays, etc.).

1. Create your first scene: In the bottom left "Scenes" box, click the '+' to add a scene and give it a name like "Main Welcome."
2. Add your sources: In the "Sources" box next to it, click the '+' to add your elements. The most common ones you'll use are:
   • Video Capture Device: This is for your camera (webcam, DSLR). Once you add it, you can drag the corners to resize it and position it within the vertical frame.
   • Audio Input Capture: This is for your microphone. Add it to make sure your audience can hear you!
   • Image: Use this to add logos, banners, or static overlays. You can place these in layers to create a professional look.
   • Display Capture: This shares your entire monitor.
   • Window Capture: This shares just one specific application window, hiding everything else on your desktop from view.
3. Go live: Back in the TikTok app on your phone, you should still be on the "Cast on PC/Mac" screen. Now, in OBS, click the Start Streaming button on the bottom right. After a few seconds, you should see your OBS preview appear on your phone screen. If it all looks good, hit the Go LIVE button on your phone, and you’re officially streaming to TikTok from OBS!

Quick Tips for a Better TikTok Live Experience

• Test Before You Broadcast: Before your main stream, run a test. Click "Start Recording" instead of "Start Streaming" in OBS to see what a local recording looks like. Check your audio levels and camera positioning.
• Design for Vertical: Remember, you’re in a 9:16 world. Arrange your camera, screen share, and graphics to fill the vertical space effectively. Don't leave huge empty gaps at the top or bottom.
• Engage with Comments: Engagement is the name of the game on TikTok. Keep your phone or a second monitor nearby so you can read comments in real-time. Shouting out viewers and answering questions is the best way to build a community.
• Have a Clear Purpose: What is your stream about? Is it a Q&,A, a gaming session, a tutorial, a co-working sprint? Having a theme helps attract and retain viewers who are interested in your topic.

Final Thoughts

Making the jump from phone-based streaming to an OBS broadcast on TikTok is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your content quality. By following these steps to configure a vertical setup and connect your stream key, you unlock the ability to create truly engaging, professional, and memorable live experiences for your audience.

We know that creating a great live stream is just one piece of the content puzzle. After your broadcast ends, the real work of repurposing begins - slicing up the best moments into short-form videos for all your platforms. At Postbase, we built our tool specifically for today’s video-heavy social landscape. Our platform makes it simple to plan your content calendar visually and schedule all your clips to TikTok, Reels, and Shorts without the usual headaches, so you can spend less time uploading and more time creating.