How to Connect OBS to Facebook Live

Before you start

Streaming with OBS Studio to Facebook Live runs locally on your computer. OBS encodes the video and audio, then sends the stream to Facebook using an RTMP connection. Facebook receives that stream and delivers it to viewers. You need a Facebook Page or profile with access to Live Producer, the stream key and server URL from Facebook, OBS Studio installed on the computer, and a stable internet connection.

Prepare the scene before connecting. Add the video sources you want to use, such as a camera or capture source, and check that the audio meter responds when you speak or play sound. Set the canvas resolution and frame rate in the Video settings before opening the streaming settings, because changing them later can affect how the stream is encoded.

Step-by-step instructions

To connect OBS to Facebook Live, follow these steps in order.

• 1. Open Facebook in a browser and start a new live video from Live Producer.
• 2. Choose the streaming software option if Facebook asks how you want to go live.
• 3. Copy the stream key shown by Facebook. Keep it private; anyone with the key can start a stream on the target.
• 4. Copy the RTMP server URL shown next to the key. Keep the Facebook page open so you can control the broadcast later.
• 5. Open OBS Studio and go to Settings, then Stream.
• 6. Set Service to Custom if Facebook is not shown in the built-in service list.
• 7. Paste the RTMP server URL into the Server field.
• 8. Paste the stream key into the Stream Key field. Do not share screenshots or recordings that show the key.
• 9. Apply the settings and close the Settings window.
• 10. Confirm that the scene and sources are ready, then click Start Streaming in OBS.
• 11. Return to Facebook and use the preview or health status to confirm that the signal is arriving.
• 12. Click Go Live on Facebook when the preview looks correct.
• 13. When the event is finished, stop the stream from OBS first, then end the broadcast on Facebook.

Facebook may rotate the stream key for future broadcasts, so treat the key as single-use unless the interface clearly shows a persistent key. If you use a persistent key, keep it stored securely and replace it if it has been shared by mistake.

Check the output

Before going live, check that the signal is stable. In OBS, the green live indicator and a stable bitrate value mean the encoder is sending data. In Facebook Live Producer, the preview should move normally and the stream health should not show repeated disconnects. Listen to the audio in the preview and watch the video for frozen frames or visible lag.

The available quality depends on the platform settings and your upload speed. Facebook may convert or transcode the incoming stream for viewers, so the final playback quality can differ from the quality displayed in OBS. OBS does not determine the recording format used by Facebook; recording and on-demand availability are controlled from Facebook.

Common problems and next steps

If OBS cannot connect, first check that the server URL and stream key were copied without extra spaces or missing characters. A connection failure usually appears in OBS as a repeated disconnection message. Replace both values from a fresh Facebook live setup and try again.

If the picture is unstable, lower the output resolution, frame rate, or bitrate in the Output settings. A bitrate that is too high for the upload connection can cause dropped frames and buffering for viewers. Use a wired network connection when possible and close other upload-heavy programs during the broadcast.

If Facebook shows the stream but there is no sound, expand the audio mixer in OBS and check which audio sources are active. Make sure the source that carries your microphone is not muted and is included in the output track selected in the Output settings.