Ultra.
Over the years, YouTube has become an increasingly popular platform for live streaming. While public live streams are the most common type and allow anyone to view your content, there are times when you might want to restrict your audience. This is where private YouTube live streams come in.
In this article, we’ll explore what a private YouTube live stream is, how it compares to other types of YouTube live streams, and the benefits of creating one. We’ll also provide a step-by-step guide on how to set up a private live stream, including tips for using live streaming software like Streamlabs Desktop.
What Is a Private YouTube Live Stream?
A private YouTube live stream is a type of live broadcast that is only accessible to people you invite. Unlike public live streams, which can be viewed by anyone on YouTube, private live streams are hidden from the public and won’t appear in search results, recommendations, or your channel's video list.
Other Types of YouTube Live Streams
Public Live Stream: Visible to everyone. Anyone can search for, find, and watch public live streams on YouTube.
Unlisted Live Stream: Not searchable or publicly listed, but anyone with the link can watch the stream.
Benefits of a Private Live Stream on YouTube
There are several benefits to using a private YouTube live stream:
Controlled Viewership: You have complete control over who can view the stream, making it ideal for exclusive virtual events or exclusive content for a select group of people.
Security and Privacy: Private YouTube lives can help ensure that sensitive information shared during the stream remains confidential.
Focused Engagement: With a smaller audience, interactions can be more meaningful, manageable, and impactful.
How to Set up a Private YouTube Live Stream
Setting up a private YouTube live stream is straightforward. Follow the steps below:
1. Log in to your YouTube account and click on the camera icon with a plus sign in the top right corner. Select Go Live.
2. You’ll be taken to the YouTube Studio. Click on New Stream and fill in the details, such as the title, description, and privacy settings.
3. Under the privacy settings, select Private. This ensures that only invited users can view the stream.
4. After setting the stream to private, you’ll need to invite viewers by entering their email addresses. Only these users will receive a notification (remember to select the option) and link to view the live stream.
5. Finish setting up your stream by selecting the appropriate category, adding a thumbnail, and configuring other settings as needed.
6. If you’re using live streaming software like Streamlabs Desktop, you’ll need to link it to your YouTube account before going live (follow the instructions in this YouTube live streaming guide for more details).
Once your YouTube account is connected to Streamlabs, you need to change your settings to private before hitting Confirm & Go Live.
To share your live stream, click the Settings Cog in Streamlabs Desktop (above the chat box). This will bring you to your YouTube Dashboard. Here, you can select Edit > Visibility > Private > Share Privately to type in the email for the user(s) you’d like to share your video with.
You can also change the visibility of your live (to public or unlisted), the thumbnail, the description, and more.
Things to Note about Private YouTube Live Sessions
- When you set up a stream in YouTube Live and then go live with streaming software and an RTMP destination, the setup will carry over the settings from YouTube, including privacy settings. In Streamlabs Desktop, RTMP destinations don't have a public or private selection option directly within the software. The privacy setting must be configured on YouTube's side.
- When going live on YouTube using a native integration (such as that available through Streamlabs Desktop), you can select privacy settings from the application without changing the settings on YouTube’s side.
- When you set up a private live stream on YouTube, the privacy setting (private) might carry over to your next stream. However, it does not automatically send invites to the same group of viewers. You need to invite them manually again.
Whether you’re hosting a private event or giving exclusive content to select fans, you can find creative ways to use the private stream feature on YouTube. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily set up a private live stream and enjoy the benefits of secure and exclusive streaming.