StreamLive ProHow to go live on Instagram from a computer
Go live on Instagram from a computer: open a live on instagram.com, copy the stream URL and key into StreamLive Pro, start, then press Go live on Instagram.
Instagram lets you go live from a computer through a stream key: on instagram.com you open a live video, Instagram shows a stream URL and a key, and you paste them into StreamLive Pro. You start the broadcast in StreamLive Pro, then press Go live in the Instagram tab. Instagram does not let any outside service start the live for you, and the key works for one session only, so you repeat the copy and paste before every Instagram live.
Before you start
- An Instagram account that has live from a computer. Instagram calls this Live Producer and says it is only available on instagram.com and is limited access (Instagram: Live Producer). If you do not see Live video under Create on instagram.com, your account does not have it yet, and there is no way around that on our side.
- A key per live. Instagram says the stream key is not static and refreshes each time you use Live Producer (same page). A key from yesterday will not work today.
- A StreamLive Pro account. The browser studio works on the 7-day trial. OBS or vMix as the source needs a paid plan (see the /pricing?lang=en page).
- Two browser tabs: instagram.com and StreamLive Pro, on the same computer or not. If the key is on your phone, the key window has a "Key on your phone? Paste it there" link that opens a QR code.
Steps
- Open a live on Instagram. On a computer, go to instagram.com, click Create and choose Live video. Give it a title, pick the audience and click Next.
- Copy the two values. Instagram shows a Stream URL (it starts with rtmps://) and a Stream key. Keep that tab open.
- Paste them into StreamLive Pro. Paste into the Instagram Live window: one box takes both at once, or use the two fields. The first time, add Instagram Live (stream key) on Connections. After that, when you go live, StreamLive Pro asks for the new key in one step and the channel shows "Key ready".
- Tick Instagram and start. On Live stream, tick Instagram in the Channels list next to any other networks, and press Start stream.
- Press Go live on Instagram. Go back to the Instagram tab. When the preview shows your picture, press Go live there. Until you do, Instagram receives your broadcast but nobody sees it. StreamLive Pro shows a reminder bar: "Now press Go live in the Instagram tab".
- End on Instagram first. Instagram recommends ending the broadcast in Live Producer first and only then stopping the software (same Instagram page). End it on Instagram, then press Stop stream.
What StreamLive Pro checks for you
- Instagram keys are accepted only with an Instagram or Meta address that starts with rtmps://. A YouTube, TikTok or other address pasted into the Instagram box is refused, and when the address belongs to a known network the message names it.
- A key from the last broadcast is marked "New key needed". Click the badge to paste a new one. Going live with an old key would leave Instagram dark.
- The key is saved encrypted and is not shown again in full.
What can go wrong
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No Live video option on instagram.com | Instagram has not given your account live from a computer | Check on Instagram; it is their decision, not a setting here |
| "New key needed" on the Instagram channel | The key was used in the last broadcast | Open a new live on instagram.com and paste the new key |
| StreamLive Pro is live but Instagram shows nothing | Go live was not pressed in the Instagram tab | Press Go live on instagram.com once the preview appears |
| The Instagram output fails right after you start | The key was already used or the Instagram tab was closed | Stop, open a new live on Instagram, paste the new key, start again |
| A message that the address is not an Instagram address | A URL from another card or network was pasted | Copy the Stream URL again from the Instagram tab |
More on keys that do not work: Live on Instagram and TikTok with a stream key.
Limits to know
- StreamLive Pro does not read Instagram live comments or viewer numbers. Live chat covers YouTube and Facebook (with replies) and Twitch and Kick (read only). Read Instagram comments in the Instagram tab.
- Posting finished videos and Reels to Instagram is a different feature with a different connection: Publish a finished video to social networks.
Going further
Instagram usually goes together with Facebook: Go live on Facebook and Instagram at the same time. TikTok also works with a per-session key: How to go live on TikTok from a computer. All networks: Going live on each network: what it needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go live on Instagram from a computer?
Yes, if Instagram gives your account live from a computer on instagram.com. You copy the stream URL and key from there into StreamLive Pro and press Go live on Instagram after you start.
Why do I have to paste a new Instagram key every time?
Instagram refreshes the stream key each time you open a live, so the key from the last broadcast no longer works.
Can StreamLive Pro press Go live on Instagram for me?
No. Instagram does not let outside services start a live, so the last click is always in the Instagram tab.
Can I stream to Instagram and YouTube at the same time?
Yes. Tick Instagram and YouTube in the same broadcast. YouTube is connected once; Instagram needs its fresh key each time.
Do I need a professional Instagram account?
The StreamLive Pro key window asks for a Creator or Business account. Instagram decides which accounts get live from a computer, so check instagram.com if the option is missing.
Does StreamLive Pro show Instagram comments during the live?
No. Live chat in StreamLive Pro reads YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and Kick. Instagram comments stay in the Instagram tab.
Keep reading
Go live on a Facebook Page and Instagram at the same time from one computer: what each network requires, the Instagram key per live, and the fixes.
How to go live on TikTok and Instagram at the same timeGo live on TikTok and Instagram at the same time from a computer: two fresh stream keys per session, a Go live press on each network, and a picture that suits phones.
How to do live shopping: sell products in a live streamHow to do live shopping on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube at once: product shots, prices on screen, taking orders from the chat, and Shorts of each product afterwards.
Is multistreaming allowed? What each network saysIs multistreaming allowed on Twitch, YouTube, Kick and the rest? What Twitch's own guidelines say, what we could not confirm elsewhere, and how to stay safe.
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