How To Stream On Youtube From Xbox Series S|X [Updated Guide]

Although Twitch is still the king of live streaming platforms, it can certainly be said that there’s now some room for competition in the form of YouTube. And with more and more huge Twitch streamers moving to the Google video/streaming platform, there’s no doubt that there’s at least a bit more appeal to streaming on YouTube.

We can also easily say that modern consoles have become more than just gaming machines. Many people now also use their consoles to watch movies and television, watch live streams, and — you guessed it — broadcast their own stream.

The Xbox Series S|X are excellent gaming consoles that offer stellar gaming experiences to their users. But if you’re considering starting your stream on YouTube (or streaming to both Twitch and YouTube), you’re probably wondering if there’s a way for you to stream straight from your console. After all, Twitch allows you to do it… so can you do it with YouTube?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is no.

But don’t be discouraged! There are still other ways for you to stream on YouTube using your console and a laptop or PC powerful enough to run OBS Studio. In this guide, we’ll show you how.

Option 1: Streaming on YouTube from Xbox Using Windows Xbox App

If you’re strapped for cash and just want to start streaming on YouTube without spending any money at all, this method is for you.

You probably already know about the game streaming or remote play functionality available with your Xbox console. If you’re not, game streaming essentially allows you to play any game through your console right on any computer or laptop that has the Windows Xbox App installed. Here’s how it works —

If your PC/laptop and console are connected to the same WLAN network, you can basically stream any game from your Xbox. The game launches on your Xbox and uses its power to run. Then, using the Windows Xbox App on your computer, you can connect to your Xbox. Your computer effectively becomes a remote portal through which you can play your video games.

Streaming to Youtube through the Windows Xbox App works similarly.

You just have to connect your Xbox to your PC, then capture the resulting remote gameplay window through OBS Studio or Streamlabs Desktop. We’ll show you how to do that in a minute.

First, let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using this method.

Advantages

No additional costs — you just need a PC and your Xbox!
Really simple to get started, and you can play your games right from your PC if you wish
Uses the power of your Xbox, so even if you have a lower-spec PC, it won’t have too much trouble streaming
Can work wirelessly, you can use this method over Wi-Fi if you want
Super convenient; it’s an excellent choice for newer content creators who are just testing the waters

Disadvantages

Wireless connections may have some latency, which can cause trouble if you’re playing games with competitive modes
If you prefer gaming on your larger TV, it can be a hassle to set everything up perfectly

Step-by-Step Guide: Streaming on YouTube from Xbox Using Windows Xbox App

If you want to use this method to stream on YouTube from your Xbox, there are a few things you should remember first:

Both your PC and your Xbox must be connected to the same network. Otherwise, they won’t be able to find each other.
It’s best to use a wired connection. That means you should connect your PC and your console to the same router via ethernet cables.
You will have to download OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, or other alternatives to your computer and set it up for streaming to YouTube.
If you use this setup in wireless (Wi-Fi) mode, ensure that your console and PC are in the same room together. If not, they must be as close together as possible to avoid latency and frame drops.
When using remote play, make sure that you are saving frequently.
You’ll have to set up your controller to work with your PC.

Now that we’ve given you those reminders, let’s look at how you can set it all up:

Boot up your Xbox and press the Xbox button found right on your controller.
From there, navigate to Profile & system, go to Settings, then look for Devices & Connections.
From the devices and connections page, navigate to Remote Features.
Check the box that says enable remote features. Look for “sleep mode” and make sure it is on Standby. Remember that you must enable standby, or else this feature will not work.
Boot up your computer. Make sure that you download and install the Xbox app. Once you have it set up, log in with your Xbox or Microsoft account.
Open the Xbox app and look for Consoles. Select your console and you should be able to start remotely playing your game.
From here, it’s time for you to launch OBS Studio or Streamlabs Desktop. Get it set up for streaming on YouTube with your stream key, and then;
Click on Add Source (usually the little + icon) > Game Capture or Window Capture, then set it up to capture your Xbox App screen.

And that’s it! You should be ready to stream on YouTube. If you wish, you can also add a webcam and various other stream overlay elements like alerts and goal bars.

Option 2: Streaming on YouTube from Xbox X|S with a Capture Card

If you’ve got a bit of money to spare, the best way to stream on YouTube from your Xbox is with a capture card. Sure, you’ll have to make a bit of an initial investment, but capture cards are just great tools in general for streamers to have. One such example of a capture card is the Elgato HD60 S+, pictured below:

Capture cards are versatile because you can use them for other purposes later on. Want to stream using any other console, like the Nintendo Switch or even the Steam Deck? Your capture card can help you out. It can even capture your camera (DSLR, mirrorless), or help you get a two-PC streaming set up going.

Of course, one of the biggest disadvantages is the cost, as many capture cards are on the pricier end of the spectrum, costing upwards of $100. Another disadvantage is not all capture cards work with macOS machines, so you’ll need to find one that’s compatible if your streaming computer is a Mac.

But if you can get past that, here’s a quick guide on streaming to YouTube with a capture card!

Step-by-Step Guide: Streaming on YouTube from Xbox Using Windows Xbox App

Make sure you download and install OBS Studio or your choice of alternative.
Set up OBS for streaming on YouTube. Here is our guide for doing just that. Want to perfect your settings? Check this guide.
In your broadcasting software, set up a scene on which you’d like to add your capture card.
Boot up your Xbox and connect it to your capture card. Connect your capture card to your computer and make sure that you have the necessary software installed (if any).
Click on Add Source (usually the little + icon) > Video Capture Device. In the resulting window, select your capture card from the drop-down menu.

Once you have added your capture card to OBS, you should now see your Xbox displaying within OBS. Add whatever other elements you would like to your overlay, and you’re ready to go!

A few quick tips:

If you would like to continue playing on your large TV while streaming to OBS, select a capture card with a pass-through feature. Pass-through allows you to connect an HDMI cable from your console to your capture card, then from your capture card to your PC and your TV. This allows you to play on TV while still broadcasting your game to your stream.
Depending on your capture card and your setup, you may need to add your capture card audio separately to OBS. Simply click Add Source > Audio Source > select your capture card and you should see it in your sound mixer.

Wrapping Up

At the moment, Microsoft has still not made it possible to stream directly to YouTube from your Xbox console. Luckily, that doesn’t mean that you can’t stream to YouTube and that Twitch is your only option.

We hope that his guide has helped you get everything set up. Happy streaming!

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