Can You Stream on Discord? What You Can Share, Where, and How

Discord supports live streaming through its desktop app. Here's how to do it and what you can share.

Discord is the go-to platform for gamers, but did you know that Discord also offers an option to stream content within your server?

Yes, but it’s a bit limited compared to Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Live. Let’s take a closer look at how to stream on Discord, and what kind of content you can share.

Is Discord capable of live streaming?

Yes. You can share video or your screen in a server voice channel and in supported direct or group calls. It is designed for people already in that conversation rather than for a public broadcast page.

Discord doesn’t allow monetization, but users can stream video from their PCs or mobile devices to friends.

Where can you stream on Discord?

Streaming on Discord occurs within voice channels and via direct messages. It requires a Discord desktop client, although it’s also available on iOS and Android.

How to stream on Discord

Join a voice channel or call, then choose the screen-share or Go Live control and select the application, window, or screen you want to share. On mobile, follow the operating system’s screen-broadcast prompt. The camera control starts video; it is not the same as sharing your screen.

What can you stream?

Discord allows you to share video footage, games, apps, or browser windows. Some of the most common uses include educational tutorials, walkthroughs, game-play, and other content.

Discord auto-detects most popular games and automatically streams them to those who are playing with you in a voice channel. There is no way to monetize this feature; any content shared is free to watch.

Who can stream on Discord?

Streaming is typically used when a small group wants to play together. Viewers can join the voice channel as they watch, making it a group hangout experience. However, these videos aren’t broadcast publicly — they’re simply a video call between participants. In addition, Discord does not offer built-in tools to record or download these sessions.

Discord stream quality and permissions

While some platforms allow users to tweak settings like resolution and frame rate, these options are largely up to the administrator of the server. Server admins can modify stream permissions by navigating to Server Settings, then Roles, and finally Voice Channel Permissions. Admins can grant or deny users the ability to stream, depending on the needs of their community.

Admins can control exactly which channels allow streaming by granting or denying users the Video permission under each individual voice channel.

Technical limitations

There are several key technical limitations and conditions to be aware of before starting to stream:

Audio capture depends on the operating system, Discord client, browser, and the source being shared; protected media may block audio or video. Viewers in the same voice channel can normally watch and talk at the same time, subject to their permissions and device controls. Stream quality and audience limits depend on Discord’s current account, boost, and server rules.

Group hangouts don’t get broadcast publicly. Only people who are already in the same server can see what you’re sharing.

There is no built-in recording tool for live streams.

Discord has come a long way since its early days as a niche platform for gamers. But if you’re looking to create and share your own original content, Twitch is still the better choice.