Ultra.
Streaming on Twitch with friends is an exciting and engaging way to build a community around your channel. Collaborating with others can bring new perspectives and personalities to your streams, making them more dynamic and entertaining for your audience. Whether you're playing multiplayer games together or discussing a common topic, streaming with friends can create a fun and supportive environment that encourages interaction and participation from viewers. Additionally, collaborating with other streamers can help you reach new audiences and build connections within the Twitch community.
If you're looking to grow your channel and create more engaging content, streaming with friends on Twitch may be just the thing you need. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to stream with friends using Collab Cam from Streamlabs and features from Twitch.
Jump Ahead:
Streaming with Friends on Twitch: Streamlabs Collab Cam
Collaborating with others on your Twitch streams is easier than ever with Streamlabs Desktop Collab Cam. This feature allows you to invite anyone to join your stream in just seconds. With Collab Cam, you can generate a link directly from Streamlabs Desktop and send it to your guest. Your guest can then simply click the link to join your stream from their computer or mobile device without the need for any downloads or logins. This makes it simple and convenient to bring in guests and create a more dynamic and engaging experience for your viewers. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open your Streamlabs Desktop software as you normally would.
Step 2: Click on the plus sign (+) next to Sources to add a new source.
Step 3: Choose Collab Cam, then click Add Source.
Step 4: Double-click on Collab Cam from your Sources list to bring up this popup window.
Step 5: Click Start Collab Cam. Copy the link and send it to your guest(s) via DM, email, etc.
Step 6: After your guest joins your stream, you can double-check their video to make sure everything looks good. When you’re ready, click Show on Stream.
P.S. With Streamlabs Ultra, you have the ability to invite up to 11 guests to join your live stream with Collab Cam (vs. one with the free version). In addition to streaming with more guests, as a Streamlabs Ultra subscriber, you get access to all the features of Streamlabs Desktop, plus other premium creator apps made to enhance your life as a streamer.
Streaming with Friends on Twitch: Squad Stream (Retired)
Note: As of the end of 2023, the Squad Stream on Twitch has been retired. Instead, Twitch introduced Stream Together (more on that below) to introduce more ways to collaborate with creators on the platform.
Another way to stream with friends on Twitch is by using Twitch’s Stream Squad. Squad Stream is a feature on Twitch that allows up to four streamers to broadcast together on a single channel. Below are the steps for setting up Squad Stream.
Step 1: Squad Stream is currently available to Twitch Partners. If you meet these requirements, you can enable Squad Stream by going to your Creator Dashboard.
Step 2: Once Squad Stream is enabled, you can invite up to three other Twitch streamers to join your squad. To do this, go to your dashboard and select Invite Squad Members. You can invite people by searching for their usernames or by sending them an invite link.
Keep in mind that by default, you may invite any channel that is on your friend list, is a teammate, or is a channel that follows you. Also, ensure the channels are live before you invite them.
Step 3: Once you've configured your stream layout, you can start streaming. Your viewers will see all the streams in your squad and can switch between them to see different perspectives. It's important to coordinate with your squad before and during the stream.
By following these steps, you can set up Squad Stream and collaborate with other streamers.
Streaming with Friends on Twitch: Stream Together (Formerly known as) Guest Star
Previously known as Guest Star, Twitch’s Stream Together lets creators collaborate by streaming across multiple Twitch channels. The Stream Together feature is currently in beta, meaning some features are a work in progress but available to all users. Also, you must use a streaming software such as Streamlabs Desktop and a web browser such as Google Chrome.
Below are the steps to get started with Stream Together.
Step 1: Head to your Stream Manager on your Twitch Creator Dashboard and select the Add + button in the Quick Actions panel to add Stream Together.
You can also launch the Stream Together feature from the left navigation panel.
Step 2: Once you click the Stream Together option, you’ll see a preview of the Stream Together session. Before getting started, click the Setting cog to configure all of your settings, including your webcam and mic, and set up your browser sources.
Step 3: Next, choose your browser source. You have the option to choose Individual Browser Source so each guest can be in their own browser source or Group Automatic Layout, which puts all guests in a single browser source. You can manage the layout from the main preview screen of Stream Together.
Step 4: Once your browser source(s) is created on Twitch, copy the link and head to your streaming software. When using Streamlabs Desktop, go to your Sources Panel, click the plus (+) button to add a new source, and then select browser source.
Here, you can paste the link provided by Twitch Stream Together (remember that it may still read “Guest Star” in the link provided).
Step 5: Now, it’s time to invite your guests. To invite your guests, click the Invite button and search their Twitch Channel name in the window.
Alternatively, you can also enable Viewer Call-ins to allow phone-verified users to call into your stream. With this feature, you’re allowed to swap guests in and out as you choose, control their audio, and more.
Step 6: Once your guest(s) accepts your invitation, they have the opportunity to set up their mic and video camera to appear on stream. FYI, in your Session Settings, you can choose whether guests show up automatically after configuring their camera and audio and if your guests can share their screen.
Also, be sure to check out the Nameplate Settings to customize how your guest's usernames show up on stream.
Step 7: Don’t forget to enable the Shared Chat feature to help streamline managing chats on Twitch when collaborating.
P.S. If you’re streaming from Streamlabs Desktop, the Shared Chat feature will also appear once enabled via Stream Together.
Whether through collaborative gameplay, insightful discussions, or shared experiences, hosting guests on your stream can help engage your audience and foster a sense of community. We hope this blog post helps you get started streaming on Twitch with your friends!