October 5, 2023
Some wish to join Twitch as streamers, but they feel they have to wait to have the best PC and the latest gadgets to get the job done. That couldn’t be further from the truth. If you have a smartphone or a console, chances are, you already have the capability to go live. Once you have your Twitch account created, here’s what you need to know about streaming from your console or phone.
Playstation
Playstation makes it easy to stream directly from your console. To do so, you’ll need to download the Twitch app. Once the app is downloaded and open, link your Playstation account to Twitch by following the on-screen instructions, scanning the QR code, or entering the six-digit code provided.
Once that is taken care of, you’re ready to go:
- Open the game you wish to stream
- Press the Share button on your Playstation controller
- Select the option Broadcast Gameplay
- Select the Twitch option
- Login to your account if you haven’t done so already
- Set the title and options for your broadcast
- Start Streaming
Congratulations! You are successfully streaming from your Playstation! Once you are done streaming, press the Share button and choose the option to end your broadcast.
Xbox
Streaming from your Xbox is similar to streaming from your Playstation. You’ll first need to download the Twitch app onto the console, link your Xbox account to Twitch, and finally follow the instructions and enter the six-digit code provided.
- Find and download the Twitch app from the Xbox Store
- Open the app and log in to your Twitch account
- Enter the six-digit code that you can find on your Twitch dashboard
- Select the Broadcast option to start streaming.
- An optional additional step: Enable your Kinect device to allow your video and headset to work for your stream.
- Enter a title for your broadcast and click the Start Broadcast button
Congratulations! The power is now in your hands to stream directly from your Xbox.
Nintendo Switch
Unfortunately, there is no way to stream directly from the Nintendo Switch as it doesn’t have a native streaming app like the Xbox or Playstation. While the Twitch App is now available in the Nintendo Eshop, you can only use it to watch your favorite streamers.
At this time, the only way to stream games from the Nintendo Switch is by using a capture card.
This means to show off your Nintendo Switch skills, you’ll need to link your console with your PC and a TV in order to stream your game onto a piece of software like OBS, XSplit, or Elgato Game Capture. This software then broadcasts or records your gameplay and audio to Twitch.
Mobile
If you are out on the town and feel like going live, your smartphone is the perfect hardware!
Make sure two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled on the desktop site, download the mobile app on your phone, link your Twitch account, click on your profile and select “go live.”
- Download and install the Twitch app
- Make sure Two-Factor Authentication has been set up
- You will need 2FA to stream from your mobile device
- Open the app and log in to connect your Twitch account
- Press your profile image button in the upper left-hand corner of the page
- Press the “go live” button
- Enter a title for your broadcast and choose the category and camera you want to use
- Share a link to your stream via apps you have on your phone
- Start the stream
Congratulations again! You are now a mobile streamer!
Make your streams pop with overlays
Whether you are streaming from PC, console, or mobile, you always want to add a little flair. So here are some helpful tips to spice up your console and mobile streams!
To add Twitch overlays to your console and mobile streams, open the Twitch website on your PC and navigate to the Creator Dashboard. On the left-hand side of the page, click on Extensions and search for Overlay Expert. Click on Install, then Configure, and you’ll be able to create a new overlay or choose from one of the available templates.
- Open the Twitch website on your PC
- Navigate to the Creator Dashboard
- Click on Extensions
- Use the search bar to search for Overlay Expert
- Install Overlay Expert Extension and press Configure
- Create your own Overlay or Customize an existing template
- Once the Overlay is to your liking, click the cloud on the upper-right-hand side of the screen to save it
- Once the Overlay is saved, go back to the Overlay Expert extension configuration window on Twitch
- Choose the Overlay you want to use and close out the configuration window
- Back on the “My Extensions” page on Twitch, activate the Overlay Expert extension and set it as Overlay 1
- Click Done
Congratulations! The next time you stream, your new overlay should pop up.
Another method for mobile overlays would be to use the Streamlabs Mobile App. Streamlabs offers many different mobile themes to choose from that can help make mobile streaming fun and creative. You can find more information on their mobile application here through their Creator Resource Hub.
You’re all set! With the exception of the Nintendo Switch, with this information, you should be able to stream from anywhere, no matter if you are lacking a PC or if you are on the move. So grab your console and show off your expert gameplay, or pick up your phone and take your viewers on an adventure. If you want a little extra flair for your streams, you can use helpful programs like Overlay Expert and Stream Overlays for the Streamlabs Mobile App to help set your console and mobile streams apart from the rest of the crowd.
Enjoy the games you play, and have fun sharing your content with the world!