Stream Keys by Platform: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Kick

Stream keys at a glance

A stream key is the private code that connects your encoder to your channel. Every platform issues them differently. This hub compares what each platform's own documentation says, with one page per platform for the steps. Details checked October 5, 2026.

Summarised from each platform's own pages; see each guide for sources.
Platform	Full guide	Where to find it	Protocol	Reset or reuse
YouTube	YouTube stream key	Live Control Room in YouTube Studio, Stream tab	RTMP or RTMPS (RTMPS recommended)	Reset in Live Control Room; custom reusable keys
Twitch	Twitch stream key	Broadcaster dashboard on twitch.tv	RTMP; rtmps:// templates also listed	Assigned by Twitch
Facebook	Facebook stream key	facebook.com/live/create, Streaming software	RTMPS	Standard key not reusable; optional persistent key
Kick	Kick stream key	Creator dashboard: Channel, Stream URL and Key	RTMPS	Reset button in Streamer Dashboard
LinkedIn Live	LinkedIn Live stream key	Live Studio, Manage streams, per event	RTMP or RTMPS	Generated for each event
Instagram	Instagram stream key	Live Producer on instagram.com	Custom RTMP	Refreshes each time (official 2022 post)
TikTok	Stream on TikTok without a stream key	Not described in TikTok's help pages we reviewed	Not described	TikTok describes LIVE Studio and the app instead

Which page do you need?

New to this? Start with what is a stream key, then what is RTMP.
Settings. What is bitrate and keyframe interval explain the two values every platform asks about.
Sending to several platforms. What is simulcasting, stream to YouTube, Twitch and Facebook at once and how to multistream with OBS Studio.
Quick lookup. The RTMP URL and stream key helper shows where each key lives.

Rules that apply to every key

Keep it private. Facebook states that anyone with the key can stream to your post; YouTube compares it to a password.
Reset if exposed, then update every encoder and relay that uses it.
Use the secure option (RTMPS) when your software and the platform support it.
Know the lifetime. Some keys are reusable (YouTube custom keys, Facebook persistent keys), and some change every time (Instagram) or per event (LinkedIn).

What is not covered

X (Twitter). We could not retrieve X's own help pages, and we do not publish steps taken only from third-party tools, so there is no X page yet. We will add one when we can cite X's official documentation. TikTok. TikTok's official help pages we reviewed describe LIVE Studio and the app and do not describe a stream key; see the dedicated guide. Twitch. The reset steps in Twitch's Help Center could not be loaded, so the Twitch page omits them.

Try it with Multistream Platform. Send one RTMP or SRT stream and relay it to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Kick, TikTok and custom endpoints. Start on the free Starter plan (2 channels, 20 streaming hours a month) and see the pricing page for paid plans.

Sources

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

Frequently asked questions

What is a stream key?

A private code that tells a platform which channel your encoder is streaming to. See the What is a stream key page.

Do all platforms use stream keys?

Most platforms we cover describe a server URL and stream key for RTMP or RTMPS. TikTok's official help pages we reviewed describe other routes, and LinkedIn and Instagram generate credentials per event or per session.

Can I use one stream key for several platforms?

No. Each platform issues its own. A multistreaming relay lets you add each platform's credentials once and send one stream from your encoder.

What should I do if my stream key is exposed?

Reset it on the platform (YouTube and Kick document a reset; Instagram refreshes the key each time) and update your encoder and relay.

Why is there no page for X?

Because we could not access X's official documentation and only publish steps from official sources.

Have questions that aren't listed here? Talk to the team

Keep learning

What is a stream key?

What a stream key is, how each platform treats it and how to keep it private.

Read the guide

What is RTMP?

How an encoder publishes a stream with a server URL and key, the handshake, and RTMP vs RTMPS.

Read the guide

What is simulcasting?

The term explained, Twitch's published simulcast rules, bandwidth maths and a checklist.

Read the guide

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