Quick Start Guide to Streaming on Twitch

1. If you don’t have one already, you’ll need to create a Twitch account. Don’t forget to turn on Two-Factor Authentication to keep your account safe. We also recommend downloading the Twitch app on your iOS or Android mobile device. Not only can you use it to watch streams wherever you are, you can also access your Creator Dashboard to modify basic settings, run ads, and even go live.

2. Review the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service fully. It’s also recommended that you establish your Moderation and Safety settings before your first stream to ensure the best experience for you and your growing community. AutoMod is a great tool to serve as your first line of defense for moderation, with settings you can adjust to your preferences.

3. Customize your channel so new viewers know who you are when they find you. You can modify your profile photo and bio via your mobile device, or customize a number of additional settings via a web browser. We’ve set up an entire Creator Camp page on Personal Branding to show you all of the places you can customize your channel page to reflect you and your brand.

4. Optimize your set up! You’ll want to consider which hardware you’ll need to stream your audio and visuals. We’ve created some helpful guides to help you get started in Setting Up Your Stream . Keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be complicated! If you’ve got a Playstation or Xbox, it’s likely you could be live in just a matter of minutes.

5. Select and set up your broadcasting software so you can get your content out there! Three other common options among broadcasters are third-party tools OBS , Streamlabs Desktop , and Xsplit which help you go live as well as get you up and running quickly with chat and alerts integrations, starter stream layouts, and more. You can dive deeper here in this help article to find the software that’s right for you!

6. Add a few extensions to your channel. Visit your Creator Dashboard and navigate to the Extensions tab right above the Creator Camp link. As an example try out the CTRL+ and Sound Alerts extensions to enhance your community viewing experience and drive viewer participation.

Now, you’re ready to go live, just don’t forget to title, categorize, and tag your stream so viewers can find you! Below you’ll find a list of references to help you troubleshoot if you have issues. And, once you’re ready to upgrade, we’ve got you covered with tutorials to help you with hardware, software, and strategies.

Resources