How to Livestream on Discord Mobile

Discord's mobile app can stream your phone's screen or camera to other people in a voice channel, a direct message call or a group call. Discord is not a public broadcasting platform like Twitch or YouTube. Only people who can join that call or channel can watch, so check that the right people have access before you start.

The short answer

Join a voice channel or start a call in the Discord app, open the call controls and choose screen sharing. Then approve your phone's screen-capture prompt. To show your face instead of your screen, tap the camera button in the same controls. Both options can stop working if the server does not allow video or if your phone has blocked Discord's access to the camera, microphone or screen capture.

Discord changes its app layout from time to time, so the button names and positions below may differ slightly on your version. The overall sequence stays the same: join a call, pick screen or camera, grant permission and confirm that viewers can see you.

Before you start

• Update the Discord app so the call controls match current behavior.
• Make sure you can join a voice channel on the server, or start a DM or group call with the people who should watch.
• Check that the server lets you stream video. Server admins control this with role permissions. If the share or camera option is greyed out or missing in one server but works in another, a permission setting is the likely cause.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb or a focus mode on your phone. A screen share shows everything on the screen, including notifications and message previews.
• Close any apps or content you don't want viewers to see.

Allowing camera, microphone and screen capture

Your phone decides whether Discord can use the camera and microphone. Discord asks for access the first time it needs it. If you declined back then, you have to turn access on in your phone's settings, because Discord can't ask again on its own.

• iPhone or iPad: open Settings, scroll to Discord, and turn on Camera and Microphone.
• Android: open Settings, go to Apps, select Discord, open Permissions, and allow Camera and Microphone. Exact menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version.

Screen sharing works differently from camera access. Phones don't usually store a permanent on/off setting for it. Instead, they show a confirmation each time you start sharing. On iPhone this is a broadcast prompt where you select Discord and start the broadcast. On Android it is a dialog asking whether to start recording or casting. If you dismiss that prompt, no stream starts.

How to share your screen

• 1. Open Discord and join a voice channel, or start a voice call in a DM or group chat.
• 2. Open the call controls. Depending on your app version, you may need to tap the call area or swipe up on the control panel.
• 3. Tap the screen-share option. It is usually shown as a phone or screen icon with an arrow.
• 4. Approve your phone's screen-capture prompt.
• 5. Leave Discord and open the app or game you want to show. Discord keeps sharing in the background.
• 6. When you're done, go back to Discord and tap the option to stop sharing. On iPhone you can also stop the broadcast from the status bar or Control Center.

Whether viewers also hear the audio from your apps depends on your phone, its operating system version and the app you're sharing. Some apps block audio capture or show a black screen to viewers. This is common with streaming video services that protect their content. If sound matters, ask a viewer to confirm it before you rely on it.

How to turn on your camera

• 1. Join the voice channel or call.
• 2. Tap the camera button in the call controls.
• 3. If prompted, allow camera access.
• 4. Look for your own video tile. Use the switch-camera option if you need to flip between the front and rear cameras.

How to tell it worked

Each check below confirms one specific thing and leaves other things unconfirmed. Use them together.

Check | What it confirms | What it doesn't confirm

The call shows you are sharing your screen, or your phone shows a recording or broadcast indicator | Your phone is capturing the screen and handing it to Discord | That anyone is receiving it, or that the picture is clear

Your own camera tile shows a live image | Discord has camera access and the camera is producing video | How the video looks on viewers' devices, or whether it is smooth

A ring or highlight appears around your avatar when you talk | Discord is detecting input from your microphone | That your voice sounds clear, at a good volume, without echo or background noise

A viewer appears on your stream or confirms they can see and hear you | The stream is reaching at least one person | Quality for every viewer, since each person's connection differs

The most reliable test is a short trial with a friend. Ask them to describe what they see, to say whether your voice is clear, and, if it matters, whether they hear your app or game sound. No verified microphone level targets or video quality thresholds were available for this guide. Judge results by what viewers report rather than by a specific number.

If something doesn't work

• No share or camera button, or it is greyed out: the server may not allow you to stream. Try a DM call. If it works there, ask a server admin about your role permissions.
• Camera or microphone not available: check the phone permissions described above, then fully close and reopen Discord.
• The stream starts but viewers see a black screen: the app you're showing may block screen capture. Test with a different app, such as your home screen, to confirm.
• Viewers can see you but not hear you: check that you aren't muted in Discord, that microphone permission is on, and that another app isn't using the microphone.
• The stream stops when you leave Discord: on some Android phones, battery-saving settings close background apps. Allowing Discord to run without battery restrictions may help.