Connect OBS to Twitch in three steps

Open OBS Studio, go to Settings, then Stream, and paste your Twitch stream key into the Stream Key field. Your stream key is a unique code that tells OBS where to send your broadcast. You get it from your Twitch Creator Dashboard under Settings > Stream > Primary Stream Key. After you paste it, click Apply and OK. OBS is now linked to your Twitch account and ready to broadcast.

The process takes about two minutes and requires only your Twitch stream key — you do not need to enter your Twitch password into OBS. Twitch uses the stream key as a one-way permission that lets OBS send video to your channel without giving OBS access to your account settings, password, or other channels.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Twitch stream key is found in the Creator Dashboard under Settings > Stream, not in your account settings.
  • Paste the stream key into OBS Settings > Stream > Stream Key, then click Apply and OK to complete the link.
  • Keep your stream key private — anyone with it can broadcast to your channel, so regenerate it if you share it by accident.
  • OBS never needs your Twitch password; the stream key is the only credential required.

Where to find your Twitch stream key

Log into Twitch on the web and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Creator Dashboard from the menu. On the left sidebar, click Settings, then Stream. Your Primary Stream Key appears under Twitch Stream Key. It looks like a long string of letters and numbers.

If you do not see a stream key, your account may not be set up for streaming yet. Twitch requires a verified email address and a phone number on file. Add these in your account settings, then return to the Stream page — the key should appear within a few minutes.

Entering the stream key into OBS

Open OBS Studio on your computer. Click Settings in the bottom right corner. Select Stream from the left menu. Under Stream, make sure Service is set to Twitch. In the Stream Key field, paste the key you copied from your Twitch Creator Dashboard. Do not add spaces or extra characters.

After you paste the key, click Apply at the bottom of the Settings window, then click OK. OBS will test the connection to Twitch. If the key is correct, OBS will show a green checkmark next to the Stream Key field. If you see an error, double-check that you copied the entire key and that there are no extra spaces at the beginning or end.

What happens after you link OBS

Once OBS is linked, you can start streaming by clicking the Start Streaming button in the bottom right of the OBS window. Your broadcast will appear on your Twitch channel, and viewers can find you through your channel page or through Twitch search. OBS will show you real-time stats like bitrate, CPU usage, and frame rate while you stream.

Your stream key stays active until you regenerate it. You can stream as many times as you want without re-entering the key. If you want to unlink OBS from Twitch, delete the stream key from the OBS Stream Key field and click Apply.

Keeping your stream key secure

Your stream key is like a password for your broadcast — anyone who has it can stream to your channel and appear as if they are you. Never share your stream key in chat, on social media, or in screenshots. If you accidentally share it, go to your Twitch Creator Dashboard, find your stream key, and click Regenerate. This creates a new key and makes the old one useless. OBS will stop working until you paste the new key into Settings > Stream.

If you use OBS on multiple computers, you will need to paste the same stream key into each one. The key works on as many devices as you want at the same time, but only one stream can be active per account at a time — if you start streaming from two computers simultaneously, Twitch will stop one of them.

Troubleshooting connection problems

If OBS shows an error when you try to stream, first check that your internet connection is working. Open a web browser and visit a website to confirm. Then return to OBS and verify that the stream key in Settings > Stream matches exactly what you see in your Twitch Creator Dashboard. Copy and paste it again if you are unsure.

If the key is correct but OBS still will not connect, restart OBS and try again. If the problem continues, go to your Twitch Creator Dashboard and regenerate your stream key, then paste the new one into OBS. Restart OBS after you paste the new key. If you still cannot connect after these steps, check that your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking OBS — you may need to add OBS to your firewall's allowed programs list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to enter my Twitch password into OBS?

No. OBS only needs your stream key, which is a separate credential that does not give OBS access to your password or account settings. This design protects your account if OBS is ever compromised or if you use OBS on a shared computer.

What if I lose my stream key?

You can always find it again in your Twitch Creator Dashboard under Settings > Stream. If you cannot remember how to get there, log into Twitch, click your profile icon, select Creator Dashboard, then click Settings and Stream. The key is always available — you do not need to create a new one unless you want to.

Can I use the same stream key on multiple computers?

Yes, the same stream key works on as many devices as you want. However, Twitch only allows one active stream per account at a time. If you start streaming from two computers at the same time, Twitch will disconnect one of them.

What should I do if someone else got my stream key?

Regenerate your stream key immediately in your Twitch Creator Dashboard. Click the Regenerate button next to your Primary Stream Key. The old key will stop working, and anyone who had it will no longer be able to broadcast to your channel. Then paste the new key into OBS.

Why does OBS show a connection error even though the key is correct?

Check your internet connection first. Then restart OBS and try again. If the error continues, regenerate your stream key in the Twitch Creator Dashboard and paste the new one into OBS. Your firewall or antivirus software might also be blocking OBS — check your security software settings and add OBS to the allowed programs list if needed.