Set up OBS Studio for streaming on Windows
- 1
Settings → Stream
Service: choose Twitch, YouTube or Custom RTMP. Click Connect Account for Twitch/YouTube or enter your Stream Key manually.
- 2
Settings → Output → Streaming
Encoder: NVENC H.264 (new) for NVIDIA, or AMD HW H.264 for AMD. Rate Control: CBR. Bitrate: 6000 kbps (1080p60) or 4500 kbps (1080p30).
- 3
Settings → Video
Output resolution: 1920×1080. FPS: 60. Downscale filter: Lanczos.
- 4
Test with Start Streaming
Click Start Streaming. Go to your Twitch/YouTube dashboard to verify the stream appears. Check the Stats bar at the bottom of OBS for dropped frames.
Recommended streaming bitrates by platform
| Platform | 720p30 | 1080p30 | 1080p60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twitch | 2500–4000 kbps | 4500–6000 kbps | 6000 kbps max |
| YouTube Live | 2500–4000 kbps | 4500–9000 kbps | 8000–12000 kbps |
| Kick | 3000 kbps | 6000 kbps | 8000 kbps |
Streaming questions
OBS stream is blurry — how to improve quality?
Increase your bitrate (up to the platform limit). Switch from H.264 to H.265/HEVC if your platform supports it (YouTube does). Use hardware encoder for better quality at same bitrate vs x264. Also check your output resolution is 1920×1080, not a lower downscale.
OBS dropping frames while streaming
Dropped frames mean your network cannot handle the bitrate. Lower bitrate to 4500 kbps or enable Dynamic Bitrate: Settings → Advanced → Network → Dynamically change bitrate. Also check your internet upload speed — you need at least 1.5× your streaming bitrate.