Do you also want to stream on Twitch? Everyone is doing it lately. Some do it as a hobby, some to chat with friends, others are trying to make money. Twitch.tv started as a gaming platform, but has evolved in recent years to include content creators of all genres.

Twitch.tv is now its own TV channel, where you can watch people playing role-playing games, showing comedy skits, casual chat or political debates. You should know how to stream on Twitch if you want to become a professional streamer.

Create an account if you don't already have one

To use Twitch for live streaming, you must first create an account. Creating an account is easy and completely free. It's also a good idea to install the Twitch app on your iOS or Android smartphone. With it, you can not only watch broadcasts from anywhere, but you can also visit your creator dashboard to change basic settings, display ads and even live stream mobile games. Your phone can sometimes replace a second monitor!

Before you register or agree to anything, you should read Twitch's community standards. Remember that the company can delete and block your account if you post content that does not comply with these rules. If you want to stream the game, refrain from most inappropriate content and try to keep it reasonable! Streaming on Twitch requires accepting these standards ad staying at least somewhat family-friendly!

Click the Register button on your desktop computer on twitch.tv, activate your account and fill out the form. You'll need to choose a username, create a password and enter your email address and date of birth. Twitch suggests using your phone number first and then authenticating with your email address when registering on a mobile device.

Customize your twitch.tv account

Make your channel unique so that new viewers know who you are when they discover you. You can change your profile picture and bio from your mobile device, and you can change many other options using your web browser on twitch.tv This way you will be easier to find. If you want to make money, it's also a good idea to register a Twitter account, Facebook profile or domain using your username.

Install and learn how to use software

You'll need live streaming software to broadcast on Twitch - some consoles already offer it, but it's pretty low quality. If you want to broadcast games on PC, you'll need a dedicated program to stream the game. We can recommend OBS Studio.

OBS Studio is free open source streaming software that works on several platforms. If you've never used live streaming software to stream the game before, however, it can be a bit tricky to master. It has a lot of functions, and chances are you won’t use most of them when you stream the game.

Twitch also recommends its own software: Twitch Studio, which is available for both Windows and Mac, allows you to quickly set up your broadcast and start live streaming. it helps you automatically detect the microphone, camera and other technical features of your broadcast.

Prepare your equipment

To start broadcasting on Twitch.tv, all you need is a computer (or console or smartphone), a microphone and a camera. You don't need the latest generation of computer processors or the latest model of webcam. Twitch is a good platform for newcomers, but you should have a decent computer.

However, there is one challenge that many Twitch content creators face when playing on consoles. Simultaneous encoding of live video and games while streaming a video game can be too difficult for a console's processor. If you want to stream video games, you need a device that can handle it.Desktop computers are the most common streaming option because you have more control over your feed. Without a computer, you have limited access to special features, greenscreen, effects, etc. Find a Mac or Windows computer and buy a capture card for it - if you don't have one, consider buying an external one.

You should also buy a headset, microphone and webcam for your console and computer. Consider lighting if necessary. It's important that they provide good video and audio quality - equipment dedicated to streamers can be very expensive, but you need to have quality gear! Once you have everything you need, you can start streaming and showing others your skills - not only at gaming!