How to Do a Test Stream On Twitch

With over two million broadcasters, the live streaming platform owned by Amazon, Twitch now have streams of literally everything. Ranging from high-intensity PUBG to lighthearted Animal Crossing adventures, cooking shows, live music as well as painting sessions, this platform isn’t simply for the gamers anymore.

Sure, it’s a gaming-first platform, but learning the ropes of Twitch is what many people consider the introduction to the world of live broadcasts.

In 2019, it was reported that Twitch owns 73% of the shares of the live streaming platform market (based on the hours watched). If you’ve got what it takes to be a streamer and want to start, this is the place to be. We can help with that! Learn how to do a test stream on Twitch as well as how to become a better streamer.

Preparations to Stream on Twitch

You will never be able to get the best bits out of Twitch unless you make an account. An account is compulsory if anyone on the web wishes to interact with the content. The same applies for joining the list of ranked content creators.

This is the starting line. After this, we’ll talk software, stream key, and finally, how to do a test stream on Twitch. Stay tuned until the very end because you wouldn’t want to miss any of this.

Registering on Twitch

Setting up an account is fairly straightforward. Although there is an extra step for getting access to live stream on Twitch, it still brings up the steps count to a total of three.

1. Read the community guidelines properly

There’s no shame in admitting that we often skip through the guidelines and terms of use when signing up to a service or website. It would be in your best interest if you went through the entire legal section of the platform’s website. However, if you don’t have the time for it, at the very least, make sure to skim through the community guidelines prior to making an account. There are occasional updates on the community page, so make sure to bookmark it.

2. Create an account.

On a desktop computer, simply click on the “sign up” button, fill the form, and you’re ready to toll.

You must download the Twitch mobile app to sign up from mobile devices.

3. Enable two-factor authentication.

While 2FA might seem like a bit of a hassle to many, Twitch requires you to enable 2FA to stream. You can’t do that on mobile devices. For this one you will need a desktop computer. Log into your account, go to the security settings, and enable two-factor authentication.

Best Software for Live Streaming on Twitch

Beginners are advised to use software encoders when they’re broadcasting from a computer on Twitch, unless they already down hardware encoders. There are a multitude of reasons for it, but the key factors are affordability and ease of use.

Every software encoder features a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. The most popular options include:

OBS Studio — Novice content creators love OBS Studio! It’s an open-source streaming software capable of cross-platform performance. Plus, it’s free.

Streamlabs OBS — This is the Streamlabs edition of OBS and comes with some good features that can be helpful in monetizing a channel. Although, it’s only available on Windows.

XSplit — XSplit is a boon to those who can invest in a paid software. Keep in mind that it’s only applicable if you want to pay for it.

vMix — Out of your training shoes and ready for the big leagues? This is the option to consider.

Twitch’s new proprietary streaming software Twitch Studio is presently in open beta. You might want to keep a close eye on it. If you want to broadcast to multiple platforms at the same time as Twitch, you need to include an extra software solution to the list.

Where You Can Find the Twitch Stream Key

As you’ve already been able to guess from the name, you cannot stream with Twitch’s stream key. Here’s where to find it.

Open an internet browser on your PC or Mac and go to Twitch. If you’re not already logged in, do that.
Your circular profile icon is situated at the top-tight corner; click on that. From the drop-down menu, choose “Creator Dashboard.”
Select the gear icon. It should be on the left side of the page labeled under “Preferences.” If it’s not there, look for the 3 horizontal lines on the top-left corner and click on it.
Select “Channel” from the options.
A page named “Stream Key & Preferences” will pop up with your stream key at the top. You can either directly copy it without seeing it, or select “Show” to reveal the stream key before copying manually.
Input the stream key on your selected broadcasting software when ready to stream
Reset your stream key if you’re doubtful someone else has it.

After acquiring the stream key, head over to your streaming software to edit it. Add “?bandwidthtest=true” to it.

The last part tells the software to not push your channel to get viewer count up as you’ll just be running a test. In addition, any potential technical problems will be highlighted. Look for the “run a test stream” option and voila! You’ve just done your first stream on Twitch (well, it’s a test but still progress).

Twitch has some standards for audio and video settings for streams, like a 60 to 50 fps framerate and 4,500 to 6,000 kbps bitrate.

Bottom Line

YouTube, Mixer, and Facebook might slowly be catching up, but Twitch remains the reigning champion of the pack. There’s no better time to start on the platform, so knowing how to do a test stream on Twitch makes all the difference.

You may also like to read: Where Does Streamlabs Save All The Recordings?