How to Connect OBS to Facebook Live

This guide walks you through connecting OBS Studio to Facebook Live so you can stream gameplay, events, or presentations directly to your Facebook page or profile. You’ll get your stream key from Facebook, enter it into OBS, and start broadcasting in about five minutes. Before you begin, make sure you have OBS Studio installed (version 28 or newer recommended) and a Facebook account with permission to go live.

What You’ll Need

OBS Studio installed on your computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
A Facebook account. To stream to a Page, you need to be an admin or editor of that Page.
A stable internet connection with enough upload speed (at least 4 Mbps for 1080p).

Step-by-Step

Open OBS Studio. If you haven’t already, set up your scenes and sources (game capture, webcam, mic, etc.) before connecting to Facebook. This ensures your stream looks ready when you go live.
Go to Facebook Live. In a web browser, navigate to facebook.com/live/create. Log in if prompted. You’ll see the Live Producer dashboard.
Choose where to stream. At the top of Live Producer, select whether you want to stream to your personal timeline, a Page you manage, or a group. Pick the one you intend to use.
Select “Streaming Software” as your source. In the “Go Live” section, click the dropdown that says “Camera” or similar and choose “Streaming Software.” This reveals the stream key and server URL.
Copy the stream key. Click the “Copy” button next to the stream key. Keep this window open—you’ll need it in a moment. Treat the key like a password; anyone with it can stream to your account.
Open OBS Settings. In OBS, go to Settings (gear icon in the bottom right, or File > Settings). Click the Stream tab on the left.
Select Facebook Live as the service. In the “Service” dropdown, choose “Facebook Live.” If you don’t see it, make sure OBS is updated.
Paste the stream key. Click in the “Stream Key” field and paste the key you copied from Facebook (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V). OBS will automatically fill in the server URL for Facebook, so you usually don’t need to touch it.
Click Apply and OK. Save the settings. OBS will now be ready to connect to Facebook.
Set up your stream details on Facebook. Back in Live Producer, give your stream a title, description, and choose a thumbnail if you like. Set the privacy (Public, Friends, etc.) and select any audience restrictions.
Start streaming in OBS first. Click the “Start Streaming” button in OBS (bottom right). After a few seconds, OBS should show a green “Live” indicator.
Verify in Facebook Live Producer. Look at the preview in Live Producer. If it shows your OBS feed, you’re connected. Click the blue “Go Live” button on Facebook to make the stream public.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong stream key. Copying the key from an old event or a different Page will cause connection errors. Always grab the key from the current Live Producer session.
Starting Facebook Live before OBS. If you click “Go Live” on Facebook before OBS is streaming, viewers will see a black screen or an error. Start OBS first, then go live on Facebook.
Forgetting to select “Streaming Software” in Facebook. If you leave it on “Camera,” Facebook will try to use your webcam, and your OBS feed won’t appear.
Not updating OBS. Older versions may not have Facebook Live as a built-in service, or may have outdated connection settings.

Tips

Use a wired internet connection. Wi-Fi can drop frames. For a smooth stream, plug your computer directly into your router.
Set a bitrate that matches your upload speed. In OBS Settings > Output, choose a bitrate around 4500 Kbps for 1080p, or 2500 Kbps for 720p. Lower it if your upload speed is under 5 Mbps.
Test with a private stream first. Set the Facebook privacy to “Only Me” for your first test stream. This lets you check audio and video without an audience.
Add a countdown or starting soon scene. This gives viewers a buffer before you begin speaking.
Monitor your stream health. In OBS, look at the status bar at the bottom. If you see dropped frames, reduce the bitrate or resolution.

Troubleshooting

OBS says “Connection failed” or “Invalid stream key.” Double-check that you copied the key correctly (no extra spaces). Go back to Facebook Live Producer and copy the key again. Also make sure you haven’t started a stream on Facebook already—each key is one-time use per session.

Facebook says “No stream detected.” This means OBS isn’t sending data. Confirm that OBS is actually streaming (the button says “Stop Streaming”). Check your internet connection and try lowering the bitrate in OBS Settings > Output.

Video is blurry or laggy. Your upload speed is likely too low. Lower the resolution to 720p or reduce the bitrate. Also close other programs that use bandwidth (like downloads or other streams).

Audio is out of sync. In OBS, go to Settings > Audio and set the sample rate to 48kHz. Also make sure your mic and desktop audio devices are set correctly in the mixer.

Stream disconnects after a few minutes. This is often due to an unstable network. Use a wired connection, and if you’re on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router. Also check if your ISP is throttling uploads.

OBS doesn’t have Facebook Live as an option. Update OBS to the latest version. If it still doesn’t appear, you can manually enter the server URL (rtmp://live-api-s.facebook.com:80/rtmp/) and paste the stream key as the stream path, but the built-in option is easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stream to a Facebook group? Yes, but the group must allow live streaming. In Live Producer, choose the group from the destination dropdown, and make sure you have permission to post there.

Do I need a Page to stream to Facebook? No, you can stream to your personal profile. However, Pages are often better for branding and analytics.

How long can I stream on Facebook? Facebook allows streams up to 8 hours long for most accounts. After that, you’ll need to stop and restart.

Can I use OBS to stream to Facebook and YouTube at the same time? OBS doesn’t support multi-streaming natively. You’d need third-party software like Restream, or run two OBS instances, which is resource-heavy.

Why is my stream key different every time? Facebook generates a new stream key for each live session. You must copy the key each time you go live, not reuse an old one.

What is the best bitrate for Facebook Live? Facebook recommends up to 4000 Kbps for 720p and 8000 Kbps for 1080p, but your upload speed determines what you can actually use. Start with 4500 Kbps for 1080p and adjust if you see dropped frames.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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