How to Go Live on Facebook from a PC: Webcam or OBS

The short answer

From a computer you can go live on Facebook with a webcam or with streaming software. Both start in the live video tool on Facebook. With streaming software such as OBS Studio, Facebook shows a Server URL and a stream key that you paste into the software and then start streaming. Facebook's help page for Pages adds one practical rule: use the Google Chrome browser to go live from a computer.

This guide uses only Facebook's Help Centre pages, checked on October 5, 2026. Facebook changes its live tools often, so confirm the screens you see.

Account requirements

Facebook's help pages list three requirements before you can go live:

• Your account must be at least 60 days old.
• Your Page or professional mode profile must have at least 100 followers.
• To go live from a Page, you need Facebook access or task access to create content.

The same pages say all live videos from a Page are public, so anyone visiting the Page can see them. If you stream to your own timeline, Facebook says you can choose the audience privacy setting. All broadcasts must follow Facebook's live streaming policies.

Route 1: go live from a Page with your webcam

Facebook's Go live from your Facebook Page article lists these steps:

1. Log into Facebook, click your profile photo in the top right, click See all profiles and select the Page.
2. Click Live video next to What's on your mind? at the top of your Feed.
3. Click Select below Go live.
4. Under Select a video source, choose Webcam.
5. Click What's your live video about? to add a title and description.
6. Click Go live in the bottom left.

You can also schedule a live video. Check your camera and microphone first with the free webcam test and microphone test.

Route 2: go live with streaming software

For screen sharing, gameplay or more than one camera, use the streaming software route from Go live on Facebook using streaming software:

1. Go to facebook.com/live/create.
2. In the left menu, click Choose where to post and pick where the video will appear.
3. Click Go live, and under Select a video source choose Streaming software.
4. Optional: in Advanced Settings, turn on Persistent stream key to reuse the key later.
5. Copy the Server URL and the Stream key Facebook shows.
6. In your software set the type to Custom Streaming Server or RTMP Server, paste both values and enable RTMPS if the software supports it.
7. Start streaming from the software. A live preview appears on Facebook.
8. Add a title and description, then click Go Live Now, or schedule it with Later.

Facebook names Open Broadcaster Software and Streamlabs OBS as popular options. The OBS steps are in stream on Facebook with OBS Studio.

Standard and persistent stream keys

Facebook says a standard stream key cannot be reused unless you use the persistent stream key feature, and that you may only have one live video at a time with a persistent key. It warns never to share either key, because anyone who has it can stream to your post. Its guidelines page also advises managing stream keys and refreshing one that is older than 7 days. The Facebook stream key guide and the what is a stream key page cover this in more detail, and the RTMP URL and stream key helper shows where each platform keeps its key.

Time limit, settings and replay

Facebook's Time limit and guidelines article says the maximum duration of a live video is 8 hours for streams from computers, external software or API, and mobile. It says some premium partners, gaming creators and media organizations may be approved for up to 12 hours, that this is not automatic, and that Facebook ends streams automatically at the limit with no grace period. For longer events it suggests planned breaks, ending and restarting the broadcast.

For quality, Facebook recommends 1080p (1920 x 1080), 30 fps, a bitrate of 3,000 to 6,000 kbps, a 2 second keyframe interval and H.264 Level 4.1, with audio at 44.1 kHz stereo and 128 kbps.

Live videos are available for replay for up to 30 days. Facebook says you can download the video during that window, and that content not saved, downloaded or converted to Reels is deleted after 30 days. See the bitrate recommender to compare these numbers with other platforms and the bandwidth calculator for upload needs.

Streaming to Facebook and other platforms

The webcam route sends video to Facebook only. If you use streaming software you can send one RTMP or SRT stream to Multistream Platform and let it deliver to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Kick, TikTok and custom RTMP destinations. Compare the platforms in the go-live-from-PC overview and see features and pricing for what each plan includes.

Sources

• Facebook Help Centre: Go live from your Facebook Page
• Facebook Help Centre: Go live on Facebook using streaming software
• Facebook Help Centre: Time limit and guidelines for live streaming on Facebook
• Meta for Developers: Live Video API reference

Platform figures were checked on October 5, 2026. Platforms change their recommendations, so confirm against the current documentation before you go live.