How do I use OBS with TikTok?
You can broadcast to TikTok LIVE from OBS Studio, but only if your TikTok account has external streaming (RTMP) access. When it does, TikTok gives you a server URL and a stream key — paste those into OBS as a Custom service, set a vertical 9:16 canvas, and go live.
First, check your account has RTMP access
TikTok LIVE itself needs eligibility — TikTok generally requires creators to be 18+ and to meet a local minimum-follower threshold that varies by region. Streaming from OBS needs a further permission: external (RTMP) streaming access, which is granted separately and is not available to every account.
A quick test: if you can go LIVE from the TikTok phone app but see no stream key and no “stream with third-party software / LIVE Studio” option on desktop, your account likely has mobile LIVE only, not RTMP access yet. The TikTok app and TikTok LIVE Studio are the source of truth for what your account can do.
- 18+ and past your region’s follower threshold to go LIVE at all
- Separate external-streaming (RTMP) access is required for OBS
- Mobile LIVE access does not guarantee a stream key
- Availability and thresholds vary by region and change over time
Get the TikTok server URL and stream key
Where TikTok shows the details depends on your access. TikTok LIVE Studio (TikTok’s own desktop app, where available) fills them in for you. Otherwise, start a LIVE and choose the option to stream from third-party software — TikTok then reveals a Server URL (an rtmp:// address) and a Stream key.
Treat the stream key like a password and never share it on stream. TikTok keys can be short-lived or single-use, so if a broadcast fails to start, generate a fresh key from the same screen and paste the new one into OBS.
Configure OBS for a vertical TikTok stream
In OBS, open Settings → Stream, set Service to “Custom…”, and paste the TikTok Server URL and Stream key. Then set a portrait canvas so your feed fills the TikTok screen instead of being pillar-boxed.
- Service: Custom — paste TikTok’s server URL + stream key
- Base & output resolution: 1080 × 1920 (9:16 portrait)
- Bitrate: around 4,000–6,000 Kbps at 1080p
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds; 30 or 60 fps
Stream to TikTok and other platforms at once
If you also want to reach YouTube, Twitch, Kick or others, you don’t need a second encoder. Point OBS at Stream Repeater once and add TikTok as one of your destinations — we relay the same feed to every platform, copy-first, so your upload never multiplies.
Frequently asked questions
Does OBS work with TikTok LIVE?
Yes, when your TikTok account has external (RTMP) streaming access. You paste TikTok’s server URL and stream key into OBS as a Custom service.
What bitrate should I use for TikTok in OBS?
Around 4,000–6,000 Kbps for 1080p portrait with a 2-second keyframe interval, as long as your upload sustains it with headroom.
Why don’t I see a stream key for TikTok?
Your account probably has mobile LIVE access but not external RTMP access yet. The stream key only appears once TikTok grants third-party streaming, shown in LIVE Studio or the “stream from third-party software” flow.