There are two ways to use OBS with TikTok LIVE. If your account has a stream key, set the OBS stream service to Custom and paste the server URL and key from TikTok. If it does not, turn on the OBS Virtual Camera and add it as a camera in TikTok LIVE Studio, which sends your stream to TikTok. Either way, set the OBS canvas to 1080 x 1920 for a vertical LIVE.
What you need
- OBS Studio, free from obsproject.com, on Windows, macOS or Linux
- Either a TikTok stream key, or TikTok LIVE Studio with LIVE access
- A BetterTok account, if you want overlays, text to speech or scene control
Which route should you take?
- With a stream key, OBS sends the stream straight to TikTok, and you control everything from OBS. The catch is that not every account has a key.
- Without a key, OBS feeds its picture to LIVE Studio through the Virtual Camera, and LIVE Studio does the streaming. Anyone with LIVE access in LIVE Studio can do this, but you run two apps and your sound is set up in LIVE Studio.
Set up OBS for TikTok LIVE
Make the canvas vertical
In OBS, open Settings, then Video. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution to 1080x1920 for a vertical LIVE, and click OK. Use 1920x1080 instead if you stream horizontally.
Build your scene
Add your camera as a Video Capture Device and your game as a Game Capture or Window Capture source. Arrange them before adding anything on top.
Route one: connect with a stream key
Open Settings, then Stream, and set Service to Custom. Paste the Server URL into Server and the key into Stream Key, click OK, and press Start Streaming when you are ready. Skip the next step if you take this route.
Route two: connect through LIVE Studio
In OBS, press Start Virtual Camera. In LIVE Studio, click Add source, pick Camera and choose OBS Virtual Camera, then go LIVE from LIVE Studio. The Virtual Camera carries the picture only, so set up your sound in LIVE Studio's audio mixer.
Add your overlays
In BetterTok, open an overlay and press Copy live link. In OBS, click plus under Sources, pick Browser, paste the link into URL and set Width and Height to your canvas, then click OK. Keep it above your camera or game. An overlay with no position control draws in the centre of its source, so move the source in OBS to place it.
Check your computer's audio
Text to speech and sound alerts play from the BetterTok dashboard or desktop app, so your viewers only hear them if your stream includes your computer's audio. In OBS, check that Desktop Audio moves in the Audio Mixer when a sound plays.
Connect OBS to BetterTok for scene control
This step is optional. In OBS, open Tools, then WebSocket Server Settings, turn the server on and copy the password. In BetterTok, open Actions, then the Integrations tab on the web or the OBS tab in the desktop app, keep localhost and port 4455, paste the password and press Connect. It needs OBS 28 or newer.
What OBS control adds
Once OBS is connected, an action can switch your scene, show a source, save a replay clip or start recording when a viewer sends a gift or types a keyword. The OBS control page lists every command, and it works on the free plan.
OBS can also show your live activity to you and nobody else: BetterTok's OBS Dock is a panel inside OBS, next to your controls, and is not on stream. See how to show chat on stream for the version your viewers see.
Common problems
- OBS will not connect to TikTok: copy the server URL and key again. Keys can change between sessions. See how to get a stream key.
- An overlay is blank: see the overlay checklist, then open the Browser source's properties and click Refresh cache of current page.
- Viewers cannot hear your alerts: check Desktop Audio in OBS, or the audio mixer in LIVE Studio if you take the Virtual Camera route.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a stream key to use OBS with TikTok LIVE?
No. Without a key, turn on the OBS Virtual Camera and add it as a Camera source in TikTok LIVE Studio. LIVE Studio then streams to TikTok, which needs LIVE access on your account rather than a key.
What resolution should OBS use for TikTok LIVE?
For a vertical LIVE, set both the canvas and the output to 1080x1920 under Settings, Video. For a horizontal LIVE, use 1920x1080. Size Browser sources to match your canvas.
Does the OBS Virtual Camera send sound to TikTok LIVE Studio?
No. The Virtual Camera carries video only. Set up your microphone and your computer's audio in LIVE Studio's audio mixer, which you open from the control bar.
Should overlays go in OBS or in TikTok LIVE Studio?
Either works, but not both for the same overlay: a link is meant for one place at a time. If OBS is feeding LIVE Studio, putting overlays in OBS keeps your whole picture in one app.
Can gifts change my OBS scene on TikTok LIVE?
Yes. Connect OBS to BetterTok through its WebSocket server, then build an action with a gift as the trigger and an OBS reaction. It is on the free plan and counts toward your 5 Actions & Events.