Xbox consoles bring back Twitch live streaming

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S (Image credit: Matt Brown | Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • You can now easily stream live through Twitch on the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One.
  • To access the feature, you need to navigate to "Live streaming" within the "Capture and Share" tab of the Xbox guide.
  • You can use a headset and webcam during your stream and manually set your resolution and bitrate.

Microsoft just put live streaming at the fingertips of Xbox gamers. Starting today, it's possible to live stream through Twitch from the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. This functionality has been in testing since October 2021 and is now rolling out to general users. Before today, it was possible to stream to Twitch through the service's Xbox app, but it wasn't an elegant process compared to going live from the Xbox dashboard.

To set up a live stream, gamers need to navigate to the "Capture and Share" tab within the Xbox guide and select "Live streaming." There, they'll see a button to go live. When streaming to Twitch through Xbox consoles, you can use the best webcams for the Xbox or a headset. You can also customize the bitrate and resolution of your stream.

Before you can go live on Twitch from your Xbox console, you'll need to scan a QR code from an iOS or Android device or us a URL.

You can customize the title of your Twitch stream through the options panel. If you swap to a different game in the middle of your stream, Twitch will automatically update your stream data. When you're hopping between games, your stream will show a pause screen.

While streaming, you can manage game and microphone audio levels and set if you'd like to include a party chat.

Microsoft announced the new feature in a recent blog post, which includes steps on how to get started.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.