Key takeaways:
- Private livestreaming on YouTube allows you to broadcast to a select audience
- You can start a private livestream from YouTube Studio on desktop or mobile
- Promote your private livestream by sharing the link or inviting viewers via email
- Use proper lighting, audio, and engage with your audience for a successful stream
YouTube offers a powerful livestreaming platform that lets you broadcast to a massive global audience. But sometimes you may want to host a more intimate, private livestream for a select group of viewers, like teammates, students, or paying customers. Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to start a private YouTube livestream in just a few clicks. Here’s how:
Table of Contents
Enable Livestreaming on Your YouTube Account
Before you can host any type of livestream on YouTube, you first need to enable the feature on your account:
- Sign in to YouTube and click the camera icon in the top right
- Select “Go Live” from the dropdown menu
- Follow the prompts to verify your account if you haven’t already
- Wait up to 24 hours for livestreaming to be enabled
Note that you need at least 50 subscribers to livestream from the mobile YouTube app. There’s no subscriber minimum to stream from a computer.
Start Your Private Livestream
Once livestreaming is enabled, you can start your private broadcast:
- Open YouTube Studio on desktop or the YouTube app on mobile
- Click the “Create” button and select “Go Live”
- Give your livestream a title and description
- Click the “Visibility” dropdown and choose “Private”
- Invite viewers by entering their email addresses
- Select “More Options” to further customize your stream settings
- Click “Next” to take a thumbnail photo
- Click “Go Live” to start streaming
Your private livestream is now live to your invited audience! Remember they’ll need to be signed in to their YouTube/Google account to view.
Tips for a Successful Private Livestream
To make your private YouTube livestream as engaging and professional as possible, follow these best practices:
- Promote in advance: Let your intended audience know about the upcoming livestream. Share the URL and scheduled start time.
- Test your setup: Do a trial run with your streaming software, camera, mic, and lighting to work out any technical kinks before going live.
- Engage with viewers: Acknowledge and respond to comments and questions in the live chat. Make your audience feel involved.
- Record your stream: Enable archiving in your settings. That way the full video will be available for replay after the livestream ends.
- Repurpose the content: Download the video file and consider editing it into shorter clips to share later on social media or embed on your website.
| Visibility Option | Who Can Watch |
|---|---|
| Public | Anyone |
| Unlisted | Anyone with the link |
| Private | Only people you directly invite who are signed in to their Google account |
By choosing the “Private” visibility setting, you have full control over your livestream audience. This is perfect for internal company meetings, workshops, virtual events, online courses, or any other situation where you want to live broadcast to a limited group of viewers.
FAQ
How many people can I invite to a private livestream?
There’s no limit on the number of email invitations you can send for a private YouTube livestream. However, the stream quality may suffer if there are more than a few hundred concurrent viewers.
Can I charge for access to a private livestream?
YouTube doesn’t have a built-in paywall for livestreams. To monetize a private livestream, you’d need to set up your own registration and payment system, then only send the private link to paying attendees.
Are private livestreams searchable?
No, private livestreams do not show up in YouTube search results, recommendations, or on your channel page. Only people who have the direct link and permission can view the stream.
Can I restrict chat on a private livestream?
Yes, you can disable live chat entirely or set it so only the streamer can post comments. You can also block certain words or users. Find these settings in YouTube Studio.
Hosting a private livestream on YouTube is a great way to connect with a targeted audience in real-time. And it only takes a few quick steps to get started. Just make sure to promote the stream in advance, do a test run, and engage with your viewers during the broadcast. With a little preparation, your private livestream is sure to be a hit!
