Discord Streaming: Go Live Like a PRO

Discord is a handy app that allows you to easily communicate with other people. Discord has become a part of every gamer’s arsenal, and it has even made its way to some schools and classes.

You can even use Discord as a tool when streaming or going live on the Discord app itself. Using a Discord server is a great way to stream your gameplay exclusively to your friends or your community without having to go live on other streaming platforms.

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to stream on Discord and how to properly use Discord streamer mode even when streaming on other platforms.

What Is Discord Streamer Mode?

First of all, let’s talk about streamer mode. Discord’s streamer mode is a great built-in feature that protects your private information. As a streamer, almost everything in your life is being broadcasted to your audience. It’s important to still keep some privacy between your personal life and your streaming life. Discord’s streamer mode helps you achieve just that.

It prevents unintentional leaks and broadcasting of private content, among others. Think of it as something that lets you live your life, socialize, and receive messages without revealing sensitive information to your stream.

How It Protects Your Stream

When you decide to stream and go live, you are sharing your game and everything else that appears on your screen. For the most part, this is harmless and allows your stream to run flawlessly even when you don’t have the game focused on your screen. However, there are times when you can accidentally show sensitive information on stream.

There have been numerous occasions where streamers accidentally leak private messages, photos, bank details, links, and other personal information on your stream. This is where streamer mode comes in.

If you enable streamer mode under user settings, you can freely show your entire screen without worrying about sensitive information getting leaked. It hides email addresses, messages, and notes from Discord. It also blocks invite links from other Discord users, mutes Discord notification sounds, and suppresses desktop notifications from popping up on your screen.

It definitely helps to know that your entire screen is protected and censored from the public.

When To Use Discord Streamer Mode

In general, it’s safest to use Discord’s streamer mode whenever you go live on any streaming platform and share your screen. You’ll never know when you might get a sensitive private message, accidentally show an email address, or unintentionally view an invite link.

Aside from those scenarios, activating streamer mode whenever you go live also prevents sounds from message notifications and any other audio coming from the Discord client. The constant Discord notifications sound can annoy your audience and force them to watch a different streamer.

However, if you aren’t that keen on always using streamer mode when you go live, you can simply use it when you are expecting an important message. This is not recommended, though, because accidents do happen. When you leak something, it’s forever going to be on your live stream, and you’ll have to deal with the consequences.

Features of Discord Streamer Mode

We’ve already mentioned most of the features of Discord streamer mode above. However, let’s dive a little deeper and see the advantages of using Discord streamer mode.

Sensitive and Personal Information

First, it hides all your personal information that you can find within the settings in Discord. This includes your email, connected accounts, notes about your friends on Discord, and your username.

This way, you don’t have to worry about the possibility of leaking information to your viewers. As a content creator, one of the worst things is having your email account leaked and getting thousands of random messages on your personal or business account.

Invite Links

Discord also automatically censors invite links and codes when you are using streamer mode. Instead of showing the invite code, Discord simply displays dots. You can still invite people to a server by simply using the copy button and sending it to the people you want to invite.

You don’t want random people joining your Discord channel or Discord voice chat, especially when you are in the middle of streaming. It can be super annoying to have someone suddenly join one of your voice channels and can even end up disrupting the stream.

Sounds and Pings

Even though the Discord notification sound isn’t as annoying as some of the other notif tones, it can still disrupt your stream. I’m sure that most of your viewers won’t appreciate your stream if all they hear is the Discord notification sound.

Luckily, streamer mode disables this and other sound effects when using the feature. However, if you don’t want to get rid of all the sounds, you can turn off the toggle that disables sounds and only mute the notification pings.

Notifications

Finally, we have notifications. Streamer mode gets rid of pop-up notifications and allows you to fully enjoy your game. It can disable notifications that can possibly contain sensitive information and save you a lot of time and hassle. This is why it’s very important to always use streamer mode when you are live.

How to Set Up My Discord Stream

Next up, we’ll be teaching you how to set up your own Discord stream. Follow the steps below so that we can guide you throughout the process.

Step 1: Download App From the Discord Site

The first step is to simply download the Discord app from the official site. Although you can use Discord from your browser, it’s still better to download the Discord client to get the most out of Discord.

Step 2: App Installation Progress

Once you’ve downloaded the app, just open it, and the program will automatically start installing on your device. After the installation process, you’ll be prompted to log in to an existing Discord account or create a new one.

Step 3: Integrate Discord with Your Streaming Platform

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be greeted with the Discord home menu. The next thing you’ll want to do is to integrate Discord with your streaming platform. To do this, you’ll want to go to the settings menu and find the “Connections” tab under user settings.

To open the user settings menu, click on the cog icon next to your Discord username, mute, and deafen buttons. From here, you should be able to easily find “Connections” under the user settings menu. Just select your preferred streaming platform and log into your account.

This should be a pretty easy process, and it also unlocks special Discord integrations with your selected platform.

Step 4: Enable Streamer Mode

Once you’re ready to stream, you can enable streamer mode by finding it in the settings in Discord. It should be located under “App settings.” Just click on the “Enable Streamer Mode” toggle, and you should be good to go.

There are additional toggles to hide personal information, invite links, and disable sounds and notifications. I suggest turning all of these on, but it still depends on you. You can also turn on a toggle to automatically enable streamer mode when OBS or XSplit runs on your computer. This feature can save you some time and allow you to never worry about turning streamer mode on ever again.

Step 5: Go Live!

The final thing you have to do is simply go live and enjoy your worry-free stream. Streamer mode does all of the work for you, hiding your sensitive information and allowing you to simply focus on streaming and entertaining your audience.

Creating your Own Discord Server

Creating your own Discord server is a very easy thing to do. It’s a great way to connect with your community or let them discuss topics with each other. It’s also an amazing way to share announcements and messages, among other things, to your most dedicated fans.

Here are the steps you can follow to create your own Discord server.

• Step 1: Scroll to the bottom of your server lists and select the “Add a server” option represented by the plus sign.

• Step 2: Select the “Create my Own” option from the pop-up menu.

• Step 3: Select “For a club or community” from the following window.

• Step 4: Type in your desired server name and upload a server picture.

• Step 5: Click on “Create.”

Congrats! You are now a Discord server owner. You can start inviting people to join your server by clicking on the drop-down arrow and selecting “Invite People.” You then have to copy the link and send it to anyone you want to invite.

There’s only a “General” text and voice channel by default. However, since you created the server, you are free to add an additional server voice channel or text channel as you see fit.

Discord Stream Settings

This section will talk about the different Discord settings you can use when streaming. These are the recommended settings to use and what each setting does.

User Settings

Under your User Settings, you can find different controls and options regarding your Discord account, your profile, third-party connected accounts, authorized apps, and privacy settings.

Stream Settings

You can change a variety of stream settings while sharing your screen on Discord. By clicking on the drop-down arrow under the video icon, you can change your preferred camera or preview your camera.

You can then access other stream settings using the drop-down arrow under the stop streaming icon. These settings include changing windows, choosing your stream resolution and FPS, and the option to stop streaming.

Quality Settings

The different quality settings include the stream’s frame rate and resolution. Generally speaking, a higher frame rate and higher resolution result in a better stream experience because of better smoothness and quality.

Generally, 30 FPS is enough for most fast-paced games. People can enjoy your streams at 30 FPS without any issues. However, if your PC can handle 60 FPS, the video on your viewer’s screen will be smoother.

Resolution is the number of pixels that get displayed on the screen. A higher resolution results in crisper and finer details for your viewers to enjoy. If you’re only streaming to friends, 720p at 30 FPS is more than enough for most needs. However, if you’re streaming to a bigger audience, try to target at least 720p at 60 FPS or better.

Audio Settings

Finally, you can find the audio settings using the drop-down arrow on the mute microphone button. This allows you to choose your input and output device. It also allows you to choose your preferred input mode and access additional Discord audio/voice settings.

Server Settings

Your server settings can be seen by using the drop-down arrow located right beside your server’s name and choosing “Server Settings” from the options. From there, you can change server-wide options like roles, emojis, stickers, and widgets. You can also view or manage the community settings, welcome screen, members, invites, and bans.

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App Settings

There are also some valuable features that you can find under App Settings. These settings relate to your Discord’s overall look and feel, among other things. It includes appearance, text & images, voice & video, notifications, and accessibility.

Additionally, you can also find windows settings, keybinds, some advanced settings, and, more importantly, streamer mode.

Privacy Settings

Under Privacy Settings, you can access the different ways that Discord can keep your account safe. This includes scanning messages, allowing users to add you as a friend, and customizing how Discord can use your data.

You can also use streamer mode for an extra layer of protection, especially when streaming. This helps prevent your personal and sensitive information from getting leaked and allows you to focus on streaming.

Streamer Mode Keybindings

To make your life easier, you can add a keybind to streamer mode. That way, you only have to press that set of buttons to activate streamer mode. You can do this by going to “Keybinds” under “App Settings.” Next, click on the “Add a Keybind” button, record your keybind, and assign it to toggle streamer mode. It’s that easy!

Discord Streaming on Different Devices

For the most part, we already know how to stream on Discord from a Desktop or while using the Discord app. However, did you know that you can also stream on Discord using other devices? Here are the different ways you can stream on Discord.

How to Stream on Discord From a Mac

There’s an official Discord app available on the Mac. You can download it by simply going to the official site and downloading the installer from there. Once you’ve got the app installed, here are the steps that you have to follow.

• Open the app and log in or create a Discord account.
• Navigate to the server you want to stream on and join the voice channel.
• Click on the “Share Your Screen” button located right above your username and user settings.
• Choose the app, program, or screen you want to stream on Discord, and choose the resolution and frame rate you want to stream on.
• Once you’re happy with the settings, click on “Go Live” and get ready for the server to see your stream.

How to Stream on Discord From an iPhone

Did you know that you can also stream on Discord directly from your iPhone? This can be done by using the official Discord app available for download from the Apple App Store.

• Download and install the Discord app from the Apple App Store.
• Open the app and log into or create a Discord account.
• Go to the server that you want to stream on and join an available voice channel.
• Tap on your icon or the name of the voice channel to see more options.
• Click on the “Share your screen” icon, which should be the second icon from the left.
• Some “Screen Recording” options should show up. Just make sure to select “Discord,” and you should be good to go.

Unfortunately, you won’t have a preview of what you’re streaming, unlike when you go live on a desktop or laptop. But your audience will see everything you do on your phone.

How to Stream on Discord From an Android Device

Streaming from an Android device is very similar to streaming from an iPhone. The only difference is where you download the Discord app from.

• Open the Google Play Store and install the Discord app.
• Once it’s finished installing, open the Discord app and log in to an existing Discord account or create a new one.
• Find the server that you want to stream on and join a voice channel.
• From there, tap on your username or the channel name to bring up more options.
• Press the “Share your screen” button. It should be the second icon from the left, which features a phone with an arrow going outside of it.
• Discord may ask for extra permissions, just grant them and start streaming.

How to Stream on Discord From a Chromebook

Unfortunately, there isn’t an official Discord app for Chromebooks. But, don’t worry, there are still a few different ways that you can stream to Discord.

Using Google Play Store

If your Chromebook supports Android apps, one of the easiest ways to stream on Discord is by simply downloading the official Discord app for Android devices.

• Open the Google Play Store and install Discord.
• Open the Discord app and log into your account.
• Enter the server you want to stream on and join an existing voice channel.
• Find the “Share Your Screen” button, and everything should work just like you are streaming on a mobile phone.

Using the Browser version of Discord

If your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps, you can still stream on Discord by using the Google Chrome browser.

• Open Google Chrome and go to the browser version of Discord.
• Enter your credentials and log into your account.
• Find the server that you want to stream on and join one of its voice channels.
• Click on the “Share Your Screen” button, located just below the disconnect icon.
• Grant any permissions that Google Chrome asks. The permissions will likely include access to your microphone and camera, among other things.
• Choose the screen, window, or tab that you want to share with the server and click on the “Share” button to start streaming.

There’s another way to get a Discord app on the Chromebook. It requires you to download the Discord Desktop extension from the Chrome Web Store. The Discord Desktop extension emulates the feel and functionality of the official Discord app on Chrome OS. But, we don’t recommend this method because it’s an unofficial app created by a third-party user. Use it at your own risk.

Third-Party Streaming Apps

Here are a few third-party apps that you can connect to Discord. You can integrate different apps and platforms by simply logging into your account and authorizing them to connect to Discord.

Twitch

Connecting your Twitch account to your Discord can allow you to create special subscriber-only servers, use Twitch emotes in chat, sync roles, and sync subs, among many other things. Now, here are the steps to connect your Twitch account with your Discord account.

• Click on the gear icon to access user settings.
• Go to the Connections tab and click on the Twitch icon.
• You will then be asked to authorize the connection. Just authorize, and your Twitch account should be connected.
• Now, create a server and then go to server settings.
• Under Integrations, you should be able to find the different Twitch settings available only to Twitch creators.

Nightbot

Nightbot is a great bot program that should be in every streamer’s arsenal. It’s a helpful tool that can help with moderation, chat logs, and automation, among many others. It’s a beloved bot that’s compatible with Twitch, YouTube, and Trovo that can also be connected to Discord for some added community features.

Connecting Nightbot to Discord can help you use Nightbot commands in Discord, sync twitch mods and Nightbot regulars to a Discord role, and filter spam within your server.

• First, open up the Nightbot.tv website, log in, and go to the “Integrations” option.
• Click on the “Connect” button under the Discord icon.
• A new window should pop up, asking you if you want to give Nightbot access to your Discord account. Just click on “Authorize,” and you should be good to go.

Don’t forget to add Nightbot to your community server!

Patreon

Patreon is another great platform that streamers can use to reward their loyal fans while also diversifying their source of income. By integrating Patreon on Discord, you can sync your patrons to specific roles and give out roles/rewards directly on your Discord server.

• Log into your Patreon page and click on the “Page” button.
• Click on “Edit Page” to open the editor.
• Click on the “Tiers link” option from the menu.
• Click on the “Edit tier” option on the tier you’d like to assign a Discord role to.
• Click on the “Advanced” button and then click on the “Connect to Discord” option.
• Log into your Discord account and authorize Patreon access to your Discord.
• Finally, assign the roles to the different tier/s you’d like and click on the “Save tier” button once you are done.

YouTube Integration

If you primarily stream on YouTube, don’t worry. You can also connect your YouTube account to Discord. It adds new options like syncing YouTube channel memberships to specific roles, kicking or demoting people after their membership period, and lets other members find your Discord server when they sync their own YouTube accounts.

• First, go to “User Settings” by clicking on the cogwheel icon.
• Find “Connections” and click on the YouTube icon.
• Choose the Google account that you use on your YouTube channel.
• Give Discord access to your YouTube information by clicking on the “Allow” button.

You can then access the extra features and commands on the server by following these steps.

• Go to your server, click on the drop-down arrow and click on “Server Settings.”
• Go to the “Integrations” tab and select your YouTube account to manage that connection to the server.
• From here, you can access the different settings related to syncing your YouTube subscribers or members and other extra options.

Sharing your Game using Overlay

As part of the Discord StreamKit, you can also share your game with an overlay. As long as you use either OBS or XSplit as your streaming software.

OBS

Connecting your OBS to Discord will allow you to show who’s talking in a Discord voice channel, show Discord text chat from any channel, display your community link, and arrange the widgets according to your preferences.

• Open your Discord app.
• Visit the Discord StreamKit website, which you can find here.
• Click on the “Install for OBS” button and allow StreamKit Overlay to access your account.

After giving access to StreamKit Overlay, you can adjust the settings and options directly from the website. This includes the status widget, chat widget, and voice widget that you can make visible on your stream.

XSplit

The extra features and benefits of connecting XSplit to Discord are essentially the same as connecting it to OBS. It all just comes down to what you actually use and the streaming software that you are most comfortable with. The steps in connecting your Discord to XSplit are also very similar to connecting it with OBS.

• Open your Discord app and log into your account.
• Go to the Discord StreamKit website and click on the “Install for Xsplit button.”
• Give StreamKit Overlay access to your Discord account by clicking on the “Authorize” button that should pop up from the client.

From there, you should be able to access the different settings for the status, chat, and voice widget. You can then use these as an overlay on Xsplit and show them on your stream.

Do I Need Discord Nitro to Stream on Discord?

The short answer is no, you don’t need Nitro to stream on Discord. You’re pretty much free to stream to any server or channel you choose, given that your stream is locked to the lower quality options. If you aren’t subscribed to Discord Nitro, you don’t have any choice but to stream in 720p 30fps.

Benefits

Even though you can stream without subscribing to Nitro, you unlock better benefits and can provide a better stream if you have Nitro. One of the many benefits of subscribing to Discord Nitro is the ability to stream at higher qualities.

You unlock streaming at 720p @ 60 fps, 1080p @ 30 fps, and 1080p @ 60 fps. You also gain the ability to stream at source quality, which means you can stream at higher resolutions. This is perfect for people who have 1440p or even 2160p resolutions and want to share their screen on Discord. Note that you can only stream at source quality if you are subscribed to Discord Nitro and not Nitro Classic. However, you can still stream up to 1080p @ 60 fps, even if you’re only subscribed to Nitro Classic.

When to Use

You should use Discord Nitro if you really want to stream in high definition. If you’re only streaming to friends, then 720p is fine, and you don’t have to spend an extra $5 to $10 to get higher quality.

However, if you’re a growing content creator and own a server, you might want to get Discord Nitro. Aside from being able to stream at a higher quality, you also get 2 free server boosts and an additional 30% off on extra server boost purchases. This can help you get your community server to a higher level and provide better features to your members.

Price

You can subscribe to either Discord Nitro or Nitro Classic. Both versions of Nitro provide upgrades over the free version of Discord. Nitro Classic is essentially a “lite” version of Discord Nitro with fewer features at a more affordable price. Here are the features and pricing of both Discord Nitro and Nitro Classic.

Nitro Classic

Nitro Classic is available for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, which saves about $10 as opposed to subscribing monthly.

Nitro Classic features include:

• Use custom and animated emojis anywhere
• Increased file size upload from 8 MB to 50 MB
• Up to 1080p @ 60 fps stream resolution
• 30% off Server Boosts
• Use an animated GIF avatar
• Customize your Discord tag
• Comes with a Nitro Badge that appears on your profile

Discord Nitro

Discord Nitro offers more features than Nitro Classic but costs a bit more. It’s available for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, saving you about $20 compared to subscribing monthly.

Discord Nitro features include:

• All features that come with Nitro Classic
• Double the uploading limit from 50 MB (Nitro Classic) to 100 MB
• Able to stream hi-res videos or screen sharing at source quality (Up to 4K @ 60 fps)
• 2 free Server Boosts on top of the 30% discount per additional Server Boost purchase
• Character cap per message is increased from 2000 to 4000 characters
• Total number of servers that you can join increased from 100 to 200
• Global use of custom stickers (includes direct messages and other servers)
• Personalized server avatars (allows you to set a different nickname and avatar for each of your servers)

Availing Discord Nitro is a no-brainer if you’re a content creator or a server owner who’s trying to grow their community and wants to utilize server boosts for their audience.

Conclusion

And that was our guide on proper Discord streaming. It helps you find out how to properly utilize Discord as a streamer and content creator. As well as learning the best settings and how to stream on Discord from different devices.

Hopefully, we were able to help you learn the different features of Discord that can help you as a content creator. Make sure to utilize streamer mode by constantly activating it during streams and help protect yourself from leaking sensitive information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)