Stream Zoom to YouTube with OBS Studio

Streaming a Zoom meeting to YouTube using OBS Studio allows you to broadcast high-quality video conferences with custom overlays, scenes, and advanced audio controls. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough on how to capture your Zoom window, configure your audio settings, link OBS to your YouTube Live dashboard, and start broadcasting your meeting to your audience.

Step 1: Set Up Your YouTube Live Stream

  1. Log in to your YouTube account and go to the YouTube Creator Studio.
  2. Click the Create button (camera icon) in the top right corner and select Go live.
  3. In the YouTube Live Control Room, create a new stream or edit an existing one by entering your title, description, and privacy settings.
  4. Locate the Stream Key in the stream settings tab. Copy this key, as you will need to paste it into OBS Studio. Keep this key private.

Step 2: Configure OBS Studio for YouTube

  1. Open OBS Studio on your computer.
  2. Click on Settings in the bottom right corner of the OBS interface.
  3. Select the Stream tab from the left-hand menu.
  4. Set the Service dropdown to YouTube - HLS or YouTube - RTMPS (recommended).
  5. Paste your copied Stream Key into the Stream Key field, or click “Connect Account” to log in directly through OBS.
  6. Click Apply and then OK.

Step 3: Capture the Zoom Window in OBS

  1. Open the Zoom application and start or join your meeting. (For best results, keep Zoom in a dedicated window and do not minimize it).
  2. Go back to OBS Studio. Under the Sources dock at the bottom, click the + (plus) icon.
  3. Select Window Capture from the list, name it “Zoom Meeting,” and click OK.
  4. In the properties window, set the Window dropdown to select your Zoom meeting window (usually labeled Zoom Meeting).
  5. Set the Capture Method to Windows 10 (1903 and up) or Graphics Capture if the window appears black.
  6. Click OK. You can drag the corners of the Zoom window in the OBS preview screen to resize and fit it to your canvas.

Step 4: Configure the Audio

To ensure your viewers can hear both you and the other Zoom participants, you must configure your audio sources correctly.

  1. In the Audio Mixer section of OBS, locate Desktop Audio. This captures the sound of the other Zoom participants speaking. Ensure the volume meter moves when others speak.
  2. Locate Mic/Aux. This captures your own microphone. Ensure this meter moves when you speak.
  3. If you do not see these bars, go to Settings > Audio and manually select your default desktop audio device and microphone.

Step 5: Start the Live Stream

  1. Double-check your Zoom meeting layout (such as Speaker View or Gallery View) to ensure it looks correct in the OBS preview window.
  2. In the bottom right corner of OBS Studio, click Start Streaming.
  3. Go back to your YouTube Live Control Room in your web browser. You should see the video feed from OBS appear in the preview player.
  4. If your stream is set to public or scheduled, you are now live. When you are finished, click Stop Streaming in OBS Studio to end the broadcast.