YouTube Live Requirements
To live stream on YouTube you need a verified channel (phone verification), no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and you must be at least 16. Enabling live streaming the first time can take up to 24 hours. There’s no subscriber minimum on a computer, but streaming from the YouTube mobile app requires at least 50 subscribers.
YouTube live streaming requirements
These apply to every way of streaming (webcam, encoder, console and mobile):
- Verified channel. Verify with a phone number. YouTube texts or calls you with a code. One phone number can verify at most 2 channels per year.
- No live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. A recent strike or live restriction blocks access.
- Age 16 or older. YouTube raised the minimum age to live stream to 16. Streams that break this rule can be removed, and the account can temporarily lose live access.
- Live streaming turned on. The first time you enable it, it can take up to 24 hours. After that you can go live instantly.
Mobile live streaming has extra requirements
| Method | Subscribers needed | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam (browser) | None | Chrome 60+ or Firefox 53+, a webcam and microphone |
| Encoder (OBS, hardware) | None | Streaming software or a hardware encoder, plus your stream key |
| Game console | None | A PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo console that supports streaming |
| Mobile (YouTube app) | At least 50 | Android 8.0+ or iOS 8+ (as listed by YouTube) |
Between 50 and 999 subscribers, YouTube may limit how many people can watch your mobile stream, and your archived stream is set to private by default. After you reach 1,000 subscribers it can take several weeks for the limit to lift. Drop back below 1,000 and the limit returns; drop below 50 and you lose mobile streaming.
Under 1,000 subscribers? Stream from a computer instead. Webcam and encoder streams have no subscriber minimum, and the mobile audience limit doesn’t apply to them.
How to enable live streaming
- Verify your channel with your phone number if you haven’t already.
- On a computer, sign in to YouTube and click Create → Go live. On mobile, open the YouTube app and tap Create → Live.
- If it’s your first time, YouTube starts enabling live streaming. This can take up to 24 hours.
- Once it’s enabled, the same button opens the Live Control Room, where you can go live immediately or schedule a stream.
Choosing how to stream
Webcam
The quickest way to go live from a computer, with no software to install. Click Create → Go live, select Webcam on the left, add a title and privacy setting, then click Go Live. You can share your screen from the Live Control Room while live. Streams under 12 hours are archived automatically.
Encoder (OBS and similar)
Use an encoder to stream gameplay, add overlays, or use separate cameras and mics. Install streaming software such as OBS Studio, then paste your YouTube Live server URL and stream key from the Live Control Room into it. See our OBS encoder settings and keyframe interval guides, and use the bitrate calculator to pick a bitrate your upload speed can handle.
By default, streams from the Live Control Room go out in both horizontal (16:9) and vertical (9:16) formats. The vertical version shows up in the Shorts feed. You can change the vertical layout or turn off Dual stream in the stream settings.
Game console
PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles can stream directly to YouTube. Follow your console maker’s instructions. The channel requirements above still apply.
Mobile
Good for vlogs and quick updates. Tap Create → Live in the YouTube app, add your details and tap Go live. Live Practice Mode lets you rehearse privately before going live to an audience. If you’re under 18, mobile streams default to unlisted, and you can change that.
Keeping your live access
All live content must follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines. If you get a warning on a live stream, you can take a policy training so the warning expires after 90 days, but breaking the same policy again in that window turns it into a strike. A strike blocks live streaming for 14 days, and starting a new channel to get around a restriction can get your account terminated.
Frequently asked questions
How many subscribers do you need to go live on YouTube?
None on a computer: webcam and encoder streams (like OBS) have no subscriber minimum. Mobile live streaming needs at least 50 subscribers, and channels under 1,000 may have their mobile audience limited.
Why can’t I go live on YouTube right away?
Enabling live streaming for the first time can take up to 24 hours. After that, you can go live instantly. If it’s still blocked, check that your channel is verified and has no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days.
Can I live stream on YouTube if I’m 13, 14 or 15?
No. YouTube raised the minimum live streaming age to 16. Streams by younger creators can be taken down, and streams featuring 13 to 15 year olds without a visible adult may have live chat disabled.
What happens if I get a strike on a live stream?
A strike stops you from live streaming for 14 days. While your account is restricted, using a different channel to stream counts as circumvention and can get your account terminated.
Sources: YouTube Help: Get started with live streaming · YouTube Help: Create a live stream on mobile · YouTube Help: Create a live stream via webcam · YouTube Help: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder · YouTube Help: Verify your YouTube account