Going Live

How to go live

Four ways to put your Livecade overlay on your TikTok stream, and how to choose between them. Screen capture, OBS, the Windows app, or the built-in Link source.

Updated

You have your overlay URL from the dashboard. Now you need it on your stream. There are four ways to do it, and they all end up in the same place, so pick the one that fits how you already stream.

All four run through TikTok LIVE Studio, so install that first if you have not already. It is free from TikTok and runs on Windows and macOS. You also need LIVE creator access on your TikTok account to stream with it.

If you are not sure which method to pick, screen capture is the quickest to set up because it adds nothing beyond LIVE Studio and the browser you already have.

Which one should you use?

EasiestScreen captureNeedsNothing beyond LIVE Studio and a browserBest forGetting on stream fastestCatchAdd the source before going fullscreen, and no camera behind the overlayRead the guideOBS browser sourceNeedsOBS Studio as well as LIVE StudioBest forShowing your camera behind the gameCatchYour camera has to live in OBS too, and it is the most to set upRead the guideLivecade Windows appNeedsOur free app, Windows onlyBest forSkipping OBS without babysitting a browser windowCatchYour camera cannot show behind the overlayRead the guide

Two things decide it for most people:

  • Do you want your camera showing behind the overlay? Only the OBS browser source can do that, and your camera has to be a source in the same OBS scene. The other methods capture a window, which carries no transparency, so the overlay is always a solid image.
  • Are you on a Mac? Use screen capture or OBS. LIVE Studio runs on macOS, but our desktop app is Windows-only.
You can change your mind later

Your overlay URL never changes, so switching methods later means re-adding a source, not setting Livecade up again.

LIVE Studio can load a URL directly: Add source, choose Link, paste your overlay URL. Nothing to add beyond LIVE Studio itself.

Good for a quick check, not for streaming

The Link source tends to lag, and the same overlay runs smoothly through every other method here. Use it to confirm your overlay loads, then switch to one of the options above before going live.

Next step

Once the overlay is on screen, start your session in the dashboard so chat, gifts, and likes reach the game. See Start a Live Session.