How to Livestream on YouTube?

Learning how to Livestream on YouTube is pretty straightforward. It’s also something anyone using a YouTube account for business purposes should consider doing. Research has shown that live broadcasts generate far more views and engagement than comparable pre-recorded posts.

Whether via the phone in your pocket or your computer’s web browser, a live stream can be the ultimate attention-grabber. Best of all, live streaming on YouTube is 100% free. As long as you abide by the platform’s community guidelines, it’s free to use as you see fit.

Build your brand, increase your online reach, and bring more subscribers to your channel—all perfectly possible with a high-quality live stream. Or, better yet, an established live-streaming schedule that keeps them coming back for more.

The question is: how do you livestream on YouTube in the first place? How difficult is it to enable the live streaming feature, and what criteria must be met to qualify?

How to Enable Live Streaming on YouTube?

Enabling live streaming on YouTube is actually very simple. If you plan to stream on a mobile device, you’ll need at least 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube. But this restriction applies only to iPhone and Android live streaming.

If you haven’t reached that threshold yet, you can purchase 1000 YouTube subscribers to hit that mark faster — unlocking mobile live streaming without waiting months for organic growth.

If you plan to live stream on YouTube via a laptop or desktop computer, it doesn’t matter how many followers you have. It’s worth highlighting that the most engaging streams are on mobile devices, so taking the show on the road is highly recommended rather than confining yourself to your desk.

In any case, the steps to enable live streaming are pretty simple. The feature is deactivated by default, so you need to activate it as follows:

Step 1: Verify your YouTube account by selecting a delivery method for your verification code and waiting for it to arrive. After which, you enter this verification code, and your account is verified.

Step 2: Head to the “Channel Features” page and “Enable” the live streaming feature.

Step 3: Wait for the live streaming feature to be activated, which in most instances takes approximately 24 hours.

That’s all there is to it, except for YouTube channels that are restricted in any way. For example, those that age-restrict the content they feature to adults.

How to Go Live on YouTube Using a Computer?

The easiest way to go live on YouTube is to do so via your computer. You won’t need any standalone streaming software or special equipment other than the microphone and webcam already connected to your computer.

Of course, you can also hook up a wireless camera and mic to your computer, letting you move around while broadcasting. Whichever way you go, the basic steps involved in streaming live via a home or office computer are as follows:

Step 1: Access your YouTube account and select the “Create a Video or Post” option in the corner of the screen at the top right.

Step 2: Click the “Go Live” option from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select “Built-in Webcam” when prompted.

Step 4: Provide your browser and YouTube with permission to access your microphone and camera, if requested.

Step 5: Enter the full details of your broadcast, including its category, description, title, and an appropriate thumbnail.

Step 6: Either schedule your broadcast to start at a later date and time or hit the “Go Live” button to start streaming right away.

At which point, you’ll be broadcasting live to anyone checking you out at the time. When you’re finished, hit the “End Stream” button to bring your broadcast to an end.

Recordings of all of your past streams can be found in the Live tab under Content in YouTube Studio. Which you can then make available in your library, in case anyone wants to check them out again.

How to Go Live On YouTube Via the Mobile App?

It’s worth remembering that you can only live stream from a mobile device if you have at least 1,000 subscribers. Otherwise, you will be limited to standard computer-based streaming.

Once you have reached this minimum subscriber count, going live via mobile is as easy as follows:

Step 1: Make sure you have the latest version of the YouTube app installed on your mobile device.

Step 2: Launch the application and tap the “Plus Icon” in the bottom menu.

Step 3: Tap the “Go Live” option again, granting the app all necessary permissions to access your camera, microphone, storage, and so on.

Step 4: Switch between the front and rear cameras on your device using the camera icon on the screen.

Step 5: Give your live stream a suitable title, description, thumbnail, and so on.

Step 6: Use the “Advanced Settings” menu to toggle live chat, monetization, and more.

Step 7: Choose whether you want to stream in portrait or landscape by selecting the appropriate option.

You’ll now be streaming live and will need to select “Finish” and “OK” to end your broadcast. Once again, you’ll be able to access recordings of all of your broadcasts via the “My Videos” page within the “Library” tab.

How to Go Live on YouTube Without 1000 Subscribers?

You’ll occasionally encounter a post or an individual claiming to hold the magic secret go going live on YouTube without 1,000 subscribers. If you plan to broadcast from a computer, then yes—the number of followers you have isn’t significant.

The 1,000 subscribers restriction applies exclusively to mobile broadcasting. Unfortunately, it’s also a restriction you cannot sidestep. Long story short – it is entirely impossible to activate mobile live streaming without 1,000 subscribers.

Millions have attempted to get one over the system and bypass this restriction – all to no avail. If you want to broadcast from your mobile device, you have to build an audience of 1,000 YouTube subscribers first.

Conclusion

The benefits of broadcasting live on YouTube go far beyond those of publishing pre-recorded videos. There’s something uniquely engaging about a live stream—particularly when coupled with interactive features like live chat.

Whether your goal is to make money, generate brand awareness, or get more subscribers on board, live streaming comes highly recommended. Though again, you’ll need at least 1000 subscribers to activate the Livestream feature on mobile devices.