Can you stream directly to YouTube from Xbox series X?

Article SummaryX

1. Turn on your Xbox.
2. Download and install Xbox Console Companion from the Microsoft Store.
3. Download and install Xbox Console Companion - Beta from the Microsoft Store (if you want to stream Party Chat).
4. Open Xbox Console Companion on your computer.
5. Sign into your Microsoft account.
6. Click the three-line menu icon.
7. Click Connection.
8. Click Add a device.
9. Click Connect next to your Xbox.
10. Click Stream.
11. Click the fullscreen icon in the application window.
12. Download and install OBS Studio from https://obsproject.com/.
13. Open OBS Studio (if it doesn't automatically open after installing).
14. Click the plus icon (+) in the "Scenes" panel.
15. Name the scene and click Save.
16. Click Game Capture then OK.
17. Select Capture Specific Window for "Mode" and Xbox Console Companion for "Window."
18. Navigate to Settings on your Xbox.
19. Navigate to General and Volume & audio output.
20. Navigate to Party chat output and select Headset or Headset and Speakers.
21. Open Xbox Console Companion - Beta and sign in with your Microsoft account (if you want to stream party chat).
22. Join the party you want to stream.
23. Go to Settings in OBS Studio.
24. Click Stream.
25. Click YouTube next to "Service" and click OK.

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One of the great aspects of gaming in the modern era is how easy it is to share what you’re playing with others. Whether that’s just talking about it, or creating gameplay or livestreaming what you’re doing so that others can enjoy it in a broadcast format.

While the Xbox platform currently supports native Twitch streams, it doesn’t actually provide a direct way for gamers to share what they’re doing to Google’s Youtube livestreaming service. This can be frustrating for those trying to showcase what they’re doing.

There is however the option to use external equipment in order to achieve this. Whether that’s with a capture card or a passthrough device. It will achieve better results than what the console can output, but the hope is that the console will also someday have this built into the software and hardware as well.


So you can’t directly livestream to Youtube on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. It’s just not built into the existing options that are present. Only Twitch is an option, previously Mixer prior to Microsoft shutting that down.

This may be an option that we will see down the road, but for now you’ll need to use external equipment to actually achieve this which may frustrate some players wanting to more easily share what they’re doing. I would suggest using OBS which is free software in combination with a passthrough device to gain the best results when it comes to livestreaming off Xbox consoles.

If this does change, I will of course update this to provide further details on how to do so once that’s available. You could alternatively try to streaming to Twitch and then using Restream or a similar service in combination relay that to Youtube but would likely be complicated if that method works at all of course.

I hope this helped you in your quest for showcasing your gameplay to others online as it’s a wonderful thing to do as highlighted in the attached video that shows livestreaming from Xbox to Youtube. You can find more cool stuff from the various links below including a review of the console alongside the general hub for all things on the platform.

Nowadays, modern gaming consoles can be used in a very versatile and targeted way. Originally designed for gaming, consoles are now complex systems that allow you to do all sorts of things with them. You can watch movies, watch TV, listen to music or even start a livestream. If you are here, it is because you want to know how to stream to YouTube on Xbox One/Series X-S. For example, if you want to set up a Twitch stream with your Xbox, you can easily do so via the Twitch app. No additional hardware needed! However, the situation is unfortunately a bit different with YouTube. Basically, you are not able to start a YouTube livestream directly from your Xbox without further intervention. Thus, there are two different methods to stream on YouTube with the Xbox One or Series X. We will discuss them in the next chapters. We would like to introduce these to you in the next chapters.

2 How to stream on YouTube from Xbox - Windows Xbox App

One way to send your gameplay from the Xbox directly to your PC and then stream it to YouTube is to connect to the Xbox app on your PC. The big advantage is that you don't need a capture card for this method! If your Xbox console is on the same network as your PC, the two devices can connect to each other and you can start a YouTube live stream with the free streaming tool OBS Studio. Another advantage of this variant is of course that the whole thing works wirelessly via WLAN and you do not need additional hardware such as cables or capture card. However, you should keep in mind that there should not be any network problems between the two components for a stable and high-quality connection.

3 YouTube Streaming with Xbox - Capture Card

Now you know that you can use a so-called capture card for the YouTube Xbox stream. But what is it and how does it work? A capture card is a small device that is either built into or connected to your PC - it picks up the signal from your Xbox directly and forwards it to a computer - which in turn sends the signal directly to YouTube using a streaming tool like OBS Studio. With a capture card, you can stream your content not only to YouTube, but also to Twitch and all other streaming portals. You can also record and save your gameplay in lossless quality, for example for LetsPlays. As you can see, the purchase of a capture card can be quite expensive (starting at approx. 59€), but for ambitious creators it is a sensible investment. This is one of the best options to stream from Xbox One to YouTube.

4 Xbox YouTube streaming with Capture Card - the step-by-step guide

So you've decided on a capture card and connected it to your Xbox according to the manufacturer's instructions? Then, now we will show you how to stream on YouTube from Xbox with a Capture Card. It won't be long now and you can stream on YouTube with your Xbox One, One S or Series X/S! In this chapter, we would like to give you a rough guide on how to start a stream and go live for the first time.

  1. First, you should download and install the free streaming tool OBS Studio.

  2. Open OBS Studio.

  3. Open the YouTube homepage with your internet browser and set up a stream. In the second step, simply select "Streaming Software".

  4. In the overview you will see your stream key. Click on "Copy" and turn back to the OBS Studio program.

  5. Open "Stream" in the settings, "YouTube" in the drop-down menu and paste your copied stream key.

  6. Now create a new scene in OBS Studio by clicking on the plus sign and then on "Video capture device".

  7. Now select your capture card as the device and you will immediately see the image of your Xbox console in the preview screen.

  8. Done - you can now stream to YouTube with your Xbox.

5 Xbox YouTube streaming without capture card - step-by-step instructions

As said before, before setting up this method, make sure that your PC and Xbox are on the same network. Otherwise, a connection will not be possible and the two devices will not be able to access each other. To achieve the ideal quality, we recommend that you connect both devices to the router via network cable. So let's see how to stream from Xbox One to YouTube using just your console.

  1. Go to the "Settings" menu on your Xbox console.

  2. Navigate to the "Preferences" tab and select the "Xbox App Connections" menu item.

  3. Under the "Other devices" option, now check "Allow connection through all devices".

  4. Under the "This Xbox" option, check ""Allow streaming playback" & "Allow game streaming to other devices."

  5. Now start your PC and open the Xbox app in Windows. If you don't have it installed yet, you can download it for free from the Microsoft Store.

  6. Now log in to this app with your Microsoft or Xbox account.

  7. Now open the menu item "Connection" on the left side.

  8. A pop-up window will open automatically, showing you your Xbox console directly.

  9. Now click on "Connect" and your PC will connect to your console.

  10. After a successful connection, your Xbox will be displayed in the overview.

  11. Now click on "Stream" in the upper right corner so that the image of your Xbox is displayed on your PC.

  12. Now you can create a new game recording scene in OBS Studio on your PC, enter your stream key from YouTube, and stream to YouTube with your Xbox One or Series X.

6 Conclusion

As you can see, streaming to YouTube with a Xbox console is possible, but only if you have at least one additional Windows PC. Streaming with a capture card does require the purchase of additional hardware, but in return it is also much more versatile, professional and also offers the best possible picture quality for your viewers. Streaming with the Xbox app can be useful under certain circumstances - for example, for streaming newbies who don't want to incur expenses right from the start. In general, both methods are easy to set up and implement. With a few simple steps and relatively little effort, you can start a YouTube stream with your Xbox in no time at all. We wish you a lot of fun!

How do I stream directly from Xbox series X?

Stream your gameplay Press the Xbox button  to open the guide and go to Capture & share. Select Live streaming and choose a provider if there are multiple options. Choose or change the Destination if you want to alter which service you use to adjust your streaming viewer experience. Select Go live now.

Can you stream straight to Twitch from Xbox series X?

Can Xbox players stream on Twitch? – Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S users can stream on Twitch by using the Twitch app for Xbox consoles, and can do so without the use of a capture card or any other external equipment.

How do I stream from console to YouTube?

To live stream Xbox One gameplay to YouTube, you'll need to install Xbox Console Companion and OBS Studio on a Windows computer. The Xbox Console Companion mirrors your gameplay to your PC, which you can then stream to your YouTube channel.

Why can't I cast YouTube to my Xbox series X?

There are a couple of requirements that must be met in order to cast through YouTube. The console and phone must be connected to the same network. Also, the Bluetooth feature on your phone must be enabled. Once you have met these requirements, we suggest launching a video on your phone and pressing the cast button.