Show a PC Game on TikTok LIVE (OBS & LIVE Studio)

To play an interactive game on TikTok LIVE, the game runs on your Windows PC and a streaming app sends a vertical video of it to TikTok. There are two common ways to do this: TikTok LIVE Studio, TikTok's own desktop app, and OBS Studio, the free open-source streaming software. This guide covers both, plus the layout and capture problems most people hit on their first stream.

Before you start

• Your account must be able to go LIVE. TikTok's Community Guidelines require you to be 18 or older to go LIVE; other eligibility rules can vary by region. If you don't see LIVE options in the app, check TikTok's guidelines first.
• Install and launch the game once before you open your streaming software, so it shows up in the list of windows.
• Close what you don't want on stream — messengers, browser tabs, notifications. Windows' “Do not disturb” mode helps.

Option 1: TikTok LIVE Studio

TikTok LIVE Studio is TikTok's desktop streaming app for Windows. Its big advantage is that you sign in with your TikTok account, so there is no stream key to copy, and you see your LIVE comments and gifts inside the app. Availability can depend on your account and region.

Set up a vertical scene

1. Open LIVE Studio and sign in with your TikTok account.
2. Choose the portrait (vertical) layout. TikTok viewers watch on phones, and a 9:16 frame fills their screen.
3. Create a scene for your game stream — for example "Game + cam".

Add the game

1. Add a Game Capture source (it may be listed under capture sources).
2. Select the game's window or process, not "any fullscreen application", so other windows never appear by accident.
3. Resize and position the game so it fills the frame. Most PC games are 16:9, so you will either crop the sides, fit it in the middle with a background above and below, or use a game that offers a vertical mode.
4. If the capture is black, switch to Window Capture for the same window (see troubleshooting below).

Add your camera and audio

• Add your webcam as a separate source and place it where it doesn't cover important game UI.
• Check that both game audio and your microphone are active, and that the game is not louder than your voice. Our vertical stream settings guide has starting levels.

Go LIVE

Write a clear title that says what viewers can do ("Type !join to play"), choose a topic, and start the LIVE. Keep LIVE Studio's comment panel visible on a second monitor or a side panel so you can react to viewers.

Option 2: OBS Studio

OBS Studio is free and very flexible, but it needs a server URL and stream key from TikTok. TikTok does not give a stream key to every account; if your account has one, you'll find it in TikTok's LIVE settings on the web or in the app, depending on what TikTok currently offers you. Never use tools that claim to "generate" a stream key — they may break TikTok's terms and put your account at risk.

Configure OBS for vertical video

1. Open Settings → Video.
2. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to 1080x1920 and Output (Scaled) Resolution to 1080x1920 (or 720x1280 on a weaker PC or slower upload).
3. Set Common FPS Values to 30 (or 60 if your PC and connection handle it).

Add the stream key

1. Open Settings → Stream.
2. Set Service to Custom…
3. Paste the Server URL and the Stream Key from TikTok. Keep the key private — anyone who has it can stream to your account.

Add the game

1. In the Sources panel, click + and choose Game Capture.
2. Set Mode to “Capture specific window” and pick the game.
3. Right-click the source → Transform → Fit to screen, then adjust. Hold Alt while dragging an edge to crop.
4. If you see a black image, try Window Capture with the capture method set to “Windows 10 (1903 and up)”.

Start streaming

Click Start Streaming in OBS, then open TikTok and confirm the LIVE is running as TikTok instructs for third-party streaming. Watch your own LIVE on a phone for the first minute to check that the frame, audio and sharpness are right.

Layout tips for interactive games

Interactive games need viewers to “understand” the screen quickly on a small phone:

• Keep text big. If you can't read the game's scoreboard on your phone, viewers can't either. Many games, including the StreamRoar catalog, are designed for a vertical layout.
• Leave the edges clear. TikTok shows comments, gift animations and buttons over parts of the video, especially the bottom and right side. Keep the game's key information in the upper and central area.
• Show the commands on screen. A small text source like “!join red / !join blue” answers the question new viewers always ask.
• One clear focal point. Avoid stacking browser sources, alerts and overlays on top of the game.

Troubleshooting

Black or frozen game capture

1. Switch the source from Game Capture to Window Capture (or the other way round).
2. Run the game in borderless windowed mode instead of exclusive fullscreen.
3. On laptops with two GPUs, open Windows Settings → System → Display → Graphics, and set both the game and your streaming app to the same GPU (usually “High performance”).
4. Run the streaming app as administrator if the game itself runs as administrator.

Stream is choppy but the game is smooth

Your PC may be overloaded or your upload too slow. Lower the output resolution to 720x1280, keep 30 fps, and switch to a hardware encoder (NVENC, AMF or Quick Sync) if available. See vertical stream settings for bitrate starting points.

Game audio is missing

Add the game's audio as an Application Audio Capture source in OBS, or check LIVE Studio's audio settings, and confirm Windows isn't sending game audio to a different output device.

Next steps

Once the game is on your stream, the next step is making viewers want to interact — read TikTok LIVE gift and comment games. To install StreamRoar games, start with the StreamRoar launcher guide.