Restream Multistreaming Plugin for OBS: Setup

Before you start

This setup covers sending one OBS scene to several live destinations using the Restream plugin for OBS. The process begins locally in OBS, but the actual splitting of the stream is handled through the Restream service after OBS sends a single output. You need OBS Studio installed, an account with Restream, and at least one destination already connected to that account. The plugin is added to OBS, but the multistream routing itself is not performed by your computer as separate simultaneous uploads to each platform.

Check the OBS version before installing because the plugin is distributed separately from OBS and version compatibility can vary. Keep one capture source, such as a camera or display capture, ready so you can confirm that the preview and final output behave as expected. You do not need to create multiple encoder settings or separate profiles for each platform because OBS encodes the stream once for Restream.

Step-by-step instructions

Download the Restream plugin from the official Restream download area rather than from a third-party mirror. Close OBS completely before running the installer. The installer may offer either a standard OBS plugin path or a modular installer option depending on the release; choose the option that matches your OBS installation type.

Open OBS and go to the streaming settings. Select Restream as the service from the service dropdown. The plugin should then show an option to connect your Restream account. Follow the account connection prompt, sign in, and allow OBS to receive the stream key details from Restream. The stream key is handled through that connection rather than copied from each destination.

Confirm the destinations you want to stream to are selected in your Restream dashboard. OBS continues to send one ingest stream to Restream, and the dashboard controls which channels receive it. This is useful when you want to prepare the setup without changing your local capture source or scene collection.

Keep the encoding settings appropriate for one upload. Set the video bitrate based on your available upload bandwidth, not on the combined number of destinations. A higher destination count does not require a proportionally higher OBS bitrate because the additional distribution happens on the Restream side. If your connection is limited, select a conservative bitrate and matching frame rate, then test before increasing either value.

Start the stream from OBS after the account connection shows as ready. The preview, recording controls, and local recording format do not need to change for multistreaming. Changes can be reversed by removing Restream from the service list or selecting a previous service, which leaves your scenes and sources unchanged.

Check the output

Open the Restream dashboard while OBS reports that it is streaming. The dashboard should show an active connection for OBS and indicate which destinations have accepted the stream. Confirm that at least two destinations are marked as live or connected, since a single active output does not prove that multistreaming is working.

Check the receiving platforms for basic playback, audio, and visible video. If a platform is configured with its own transcoding delay, it may appear live slightly later than the dashboard connection status. Quality and recording format limits can differ between destinations, so one platform may show a lower resolution or frame rate even when the OBS preview remains stable.

Common problems and next steps

If Restream is not visible in the OBS service list, close OBS, reinstall the plugin, and check that the installation path matches the OBS version you are running. A mismatch between the standard and modular plugin form can prevent the service from appearing.

Dropped frames during the stream usually point to your upload bandwidth or encoder load rather than the number of destinations. Lower the bitrate, reduce the output resolution, or use a faster encoding preset and test again. Keep the frame rate consistent with the bitrate so the encoder is not trying to preserve an unsupported quality level.

If some platforms are not receiving the stream, first check the destination status in Restream. A disconnected or expired platform connection often requires reauthorization from the Restream dashboard rather than a change in OBS. For broader checks, see supporting guides on bitrate errors, choosing the right capture source, and selecting a recording format if you also need a local copy.