How to Use Streamlabs: Stream Like a Pro in 2025

You want your streams to look cool, right?

But, when you try, it looks kind of… basic. Maybe even a little messy.

Streamlabs can help.

You can make your streams look awesome, even if you’re new to this.

This guide will show you step-by-step instructions on how to use Streamlabs.

We’ll show you how to set up your scenes, add cool overlays, and get your audio sounding great.

Let’s get started.

What is Streamlabs?

Want to go live and show your game skills or just chat with people?

You need good streaming software. Lots of folks use Streamlabs Desktop.

It’s got everything you need to make your live stream look cool.

You can even use it to multistream to Twitch, YouTube, and even TikTok. It’s not as hard as it looks.

Think of Streamlabs like your control center.

You can add stuff like alerts when someone becomes a subscriber, or use a widget to show your latest followers.

You can even use collab cam to bring friends into your stream!

Plus, you can customize almost anything to make it your own.

Setting Up Streamlabs: First Steps

First, you need to get Streamlabs on your computer. It’s free, so just go to their website and download it.

Think of it as a special version of OBS Studio, but with extra helpful stuff.

After it’s downloaded, open it up. You’ll need to make an account.

This lets you save your settings and use things like Cloudbot.

Next, you need to connect your streaming platform.

If you want to stream on Twitch, click on Twitch. If it’s YouTube, click on YouTube.

You get the idea. Streamlabs will ask you to log in to your account.

This tells Streamlabs where to send your broadcasting.

Now, let’s look at the main screen. You’ll see different boxes.

These are where you add your game, your webcam, and other things.

Think of it as your control room. You can also change your sound settings. 

Make sure your mic works! A good streamer knows good sound is important.

Setting Up Streamlabs: First Steps

Downloading and Installing Streamlabs

• Okay, so you want to get Streamlabs. First, open your web browser, like Chrome or Firefox. Go to the Streamlabs website. It’s pretty easy to find if you just search “Streamlabs” on Google. Once you’re on the site, look for the download button. Make sure you download the version for your computer, either Windows or Mac. After it’s downloaded, open the file and follow the instructions. It’s like installing any other program. Just click “next” a few times, and you’ll be good.

Connecting Your Streaming Accounts

• Now, this is important. You need to tell Streamlabs where you want to stream. This means connecting your Twitch, YouTube, or whatever account you use. When you open Streamlabs for the first time, it’ll ask you to log in. Click on the platform you want to use, and it’ll take you to a page where you can enter your username and password. This lets Streamlabs send your stream to the right place. It’s like giving your stream a mailing address.

Understanding the Streamlabs Interface

• Don’t get scared by all the boxes and buttons! The main screen is where you’ll control everything. The big box in the middle is where your stream will show up. On the bottom, you’ll see boxes for your “scenes.” These are like different setups for your stream. You can have one scene for your game, one for talking to your viewers, and so on. On the sides, you’ll find boxes for your sources (like your webcam and game), and your audio mixer (where you control your mic and game sound). It might look complicated, but you’ll get used to it.

Mobile Streaming Basics

• If you’re out and about, and want to stream, the mobile app is very helpful. Just go to your phones app store, and download the Streamlabs mobile app. Log into your account, and you will have a simplified version of the desktop program. This is great for quick streams, or for streaming from locations where a computer is not available.

By breaking down the initial setup into these smaller, more digestible sections, we make it much easier for a beginner to follow along.

Creating Your First Scene

Think of a scene like a snapshot of what your viewers see.

You can have different scenes for different parts of your stream.

For example, you might have a scene for when you’re playing a game, and another scene for when you’re just chatting with your viewers.

Adding a New Scene

To make a new scene, look at the bottom left of Streamlabs.

You’ll see a plus sign (+). Click it, and you’ll get the option to add a new scene.

Give it a name, like “Game Scene” or “Chat Scene.

Now, you have a blank screen. This is where you’ll add all your stuff.

Adding Sources

Sources are the things you put into your scene.

This could be your game, your webcam, an image, or even a video.

To add a source, look at the “Sources” box.

Click the plus sign (+). You’ll see a list of things you can add.

• Game Capture: This lets your viewers see your game.
• Video Capture Device: This is your webcam.
• Image: This lets you add pictures.
• Text (GDI+): This lets you add words on the screen.

Pick the sources you want, and follow the instructions. It’s usually pretty easy.

Arranging Your Sources

Now, you need to make your scene look good. You can click and drag your sources to move them around. You can also resize them by clicking and dragging the corners.

• Layering: Think of your sources like layers of paper. You can put some sources on top of others. For example, you might put your webcam on top of your game.
• Resizing: Make sure your sources aren’t too big or too small. You want them to look just right.
• Layout: Keep things organized. Don’t put too much stuff on the screen. It can look messy.

Tips for a Clean Layout

• Keep it simple: Don’t add too many sources.
• Use space: Leave some empty space on the screen.
• Make it clear: Make sure your viewers can see everything.
• Test it: Before you go live, check your scene to make sure it looks good.

Making a good scene takes practice. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect right away. Just keep trying, and you’ll get better.

Audio Setup: Sound Like a Pro

Good audio is super important. Nobody wants to listen to a stream with bad sound.

You need to make sure your mic sounds good, and your game sound is just right.

Streamlabs makes it easy to control your audio.

Setting Up Your Microphone

First, you need to tell Streamlabs which mic to use.

Look at the “Mixer” box. You’ll see your mic listed.

If you don’t, click the gear icon (it looks like a little wheel) next to it. You can pick your mic from the list.

• Input Devices: Make sure you pick the right mic. If you have more than one, test them out.
• Mic Placement: Put your mic close to your mouth, but not too close. You don’t want to hear your breathing.
• Test Your Mic: Talk into your mic and look at the sound bars in Streamlabs. They should move when you talk.

Adjusting Audio Levels

You don’t want your mic to be too loud or too quiet. You also don’t want your game sound to be louder than your voice.

• Mixer Controls: Use the sliders in the “Mixer” box to change the volume of your mic and your game.
• Test Your Levels: Play your game and talk into your mic. Make sure you can hear both clearly.
• Don’t Clip: If the sound bars turn red, your sound is too loud. Turn it down.

Adding Sound Alerts

Sound alerts are little sounds that play when someone follows you, subscribes, or donates. They make your stream more fun.

• Alert Box Source: You can add an alert box as a Source in your Scene.
• Customize Sounds: You can pick different sounds for each alert.
• Keep it Short: Don’t use long sounds. They can get annoying.

Noise Reduction Tips

Sometimes, you might have background noise, like fans or keyboard clicks. Streamlabs has ways to fix this.

• Noise Suppression: In the mic settings, you can turn on noise suppression. This helps get rid of background noise.
• Use a Pop Filter: A pop filter is a little screen that goes on your mic. It helps block out popping sounds.
• Quiet Room: Try to stream in a quiet room.

Good sound makes a big difference. Take your time to set it up right.

Overlays and Alerts

Overlays and alerts are the cool visual stuff that makes your stream look awesome.

Overlays are like pictures and text that go on top of your game.

Alerts are the things that pop up when someone follows or subscribes.

What are Overlays? Make it Look Cool

Overlays are like stickers for your stream. They can show your name, your social media, or just make your stream look fancy.

• Visual Elements: Overlays can be images, text, or videos.
• On-Screen Graphics: They go on top of your game or webcam.
• Brand Your Stream: Use overlays to make your stream look unique.

How to Add and Customize Overlays

Streamlabs has lots of overlays you can use. You can also make your own.

• Add as Source: Add an “Image” or “Browser Source” to your scene.
• Streamlabs Themes: Streamlabs has pre-made themes you can use.
• Customize Text and Images: Change the colors, fonts, and pictures.

Using Streamlabs Themes

If you don’t want to make your own overlays, Streamlabs has themes you can use.

• Pre-Made Designs: They have lots of different styles.
• Easy to Use: Just pick a theme and apply it.
• Save Time: You don’t have to design anything yourself.

Customizing Alerts

Alerts are the things that pop up when someone does something on your stream.

• Alert Box Source: Add an “Alert Box” to your scene.
• Choose Images and Sounds: You can pick different images and sounds for each alert.
• Test Your Alerts: Make sure they work before you go live.

Conclusion

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start streaming like a pro with Streamlabs.

If you’re new to streaming, don’t worry.

Streamlabs makes it easy to set up and customize your stream.

You can personalize your stream with on-screen alerts, like alert box, and make it look cool.

You can stream using Streamlabs on your computer’s native resolution or even change your resolution to 1280×720 if you’d like.

Remember, choosing the right stream settings, like bitrate, is essential.

You can choose whichever option, such as nvenc or x264, and optimize for a good balance between performance.

Streamlabs can also automatically adjust your settings based on network conditions to prevent dropped frames and performance issues.

Frequently Asked Questions