Step 1: meet the Live eligibility requirements
TikTok’s PC streaming path goes through TikTok Live Studio (a separate Windows app), not the phone app. Before OBS can push to it, your account has to be Live-eligible. Typical conditions TikTok publishes for new streamers:
- At least 1,000 followers (the most common gate; can vary by region and account age).
- Account in good standing, age 16+ (18+ in some regions).
- Live access enabled for your account. Not every eligible account gets it instantly.
You can see your current state under Profile → Settings → Creator Tools → Live. If the option isn’t there, you may need to wait, post more public content, or open TikTok Live Studio and follow its own eligibility prompts. TikTok’s gating changes often — confirm current thresholds in the app before relying on this guide.
Step 2: install TikTok Live Studio and grab the stream key
Download TikTok Live Studio from TikTok’s official site. Sign in with the same TikTok account you want to stream from. Inside the app, open the Go Live flow and look for the option to stream from a PC or using a streaming key. TikTok shows:
- An RTMP URL (the server address).
- A stream key.
- Sometimes an orientation toggle (horizontal 16:9 or vertical 9:16).
Treat the stream key like a password. Anyone with the key can broadcast on your account. Don’t paste it into chat, screenshots, or a public guide.
Step 3: connect OBS to TikTok
Open OBS and go to Settings → Stream:
- Service: Custom.
- Server: paste the RTMP URL from TikTok Live Studio.
- Stream Key: paste the stream key.
Click Apply, then OK. OBS will report Disconnected at first; it only connects when you click Start Streaming.
Step 4: pick a safer output preset
TikTok Live is more forgiving than Twitch on bitrate caps, but viewers are mostly on phones — picture clarity and a stable stream matter more than chasing maximum resolution. A safer starter preset:
- Output mode: Advanced.
- Encoder: hardware H.264 (NVENC for NVIDIA, Apple VT on Mac, QuickSync on Intel, AMD HW H.264 on AMD GPUs).
- Rate control: CBR.
- Video bitrate: 3000-4500 kbps for 1080p30, 4000-6000 kbps for 1080p60.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds.
- Audio bitrate: 160 kbps AAC.
Run your upload speed through the stream bitrate calculator to confirm your preset fits your connection with 30% headroom.
Step 5: pick your canvas orientation
TikTok Live accepts both 16:9 (landscape) and 9:16 (vertical) streams. The right choice depends on what your audience watches most and what your camera and overlays assume:
- 16:9 / 1920x1080: traditional streaming shape; easier layout for gameplay + webcam.
- 9:16 / 1080x1920: matches TikTok’s phone-native feed; favored for portrait talking-head content, IRL, art, or chat-first streams.
In OBS Settings → Video, set Base (Canvas) and Output (Scaled) to the same orientation, then arrange your webcam and any game capture to fit. Vertical streams need the camera near the top or middle so the stream reads on a phone.
Step 6: sources and a 30-second test
Add a Game Capture (Windows), Display Capture, or browser source for the content, plus a Video Capture Device for your webcam and an Audio Input Capture for your mic. Run a 30-60 second recording with Controls → Start Recording. Listen with headphones. Confirm:
- Your voice is clearly louder than any game or music.
- No echo (headphones are on).
- No private windows or notifications are visible.
- Vertical layouts don’t crop off your face or controls.
Fix anything you find before going live. TikTok VODs are permanent and screenshot-friendly.
Step 7: title the broadcast and go live
Back in TikTok Live Studio, set the broadcast title and category. Add a clear thumbnail if TikTok prompts for one. Save, then click Start Streaming in OBS. Watch the OBS dock for the first minute: dropped frames point to the network, skipped frames point to the encoder.
- For network drops, read dropped frames vs skipped frames and run the dropped frames troubleshooter.
- For encoder pressure, drop FPS before dropping resolution, or switch to a hardware encoder.
Common first-stream problems on TikTok
- Stream key rejected: the key was regenerated in Live Studio or copied with an extra space. Re-paste.
- Live option not visible in the app: account isn’t eligible yet. Check the follower threshold and account standing.
- OBS connects but viewers see nothing: the Live Studio app may need to be open with the broadcast armed. Some regions also require Live Studio to stay open during the broadcast.
- Audio copyright mute: background music flagged. Use royalty-free or TikTok’s cleared music options.
After your stream ends
TikTok stores past Live broadcasts on your profile. Trim or unlist as needed from the Live history. Clips generated by viewers stay available long after the Live window closes, so a clean first stream keeps earning views in the feed.