You need at least 50 subscribers to livestream from the YouTube mobile app. YouTube’s computer-streaming guidance does not list a subscriber minimum for webcam or encoder streaming. Both routes still require channel verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days, and creators must be at least 16.
How many subscribers do I need to livestream on YouTube from my phone?
YouTube requires at least 50 subscribers to livestream using its mobile app. Meeting that threshold makes mobile livestreaming available if the channel also satisfies YouTube’s shared account requirements; it does not guarantee an unlimited mobile audience.
YouTube’s mobile setup guidance says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. The documented device minimum is Android 8.0 or later, or iOS 8 or later. Requirements are from YouTube Help pages accessed October 3, 2026; YouTube does not display publication dates on the pages reviewed, and its rules can change.
Do I need subscribers to livestream from a computer?
YouTube’s computer-streaming guidance describes webcam and encoder methods but does not list a subscriber minimum. That is a difference in the requirements documented for each method—not an explicit promise that a channel with zero subscribers can stream.
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For computer streaming, YouTube describes using a webcam or streaming encoder. Webcam streaming requires a computer with a webcam. An encoder is intended for setups such as gameplay, overlays, or more involved productions. Neither method is presented in the computer guidance as requiring a particular subscriber count.
Requirements that apply beyond subscriber count
- Verify the channel. YouTube lists channel verification as a requirement for live streaming.
- Check account restrictions. The channel must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days.
- Meet the age requirement. YouTube says, “You must be at least 16 years old to live stream.”
- Allow activation time. If enabling live streaming for the first time, allow up to 24 hours before trying to start a stream.
Mobile and computer requirements compared
| Question | Mobile app | Computer |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriber threshold in YouTube’s guidance | At least 50 subscribers | No subscriber minimum listed in YouTube’s computer-streaming guidance |
| Streaming methods described | YouTube mobile app | Webcam or encoder |
| Channel verification | Required | Required under YouTube’s general live-streaming guidance |
| Recent live-stream restrictions | No restrictions in the previous 90 days | No restrictions in the previous 90 days under YouTube’s general guidance |
| Device details in the guidance | Android 8.0+ or iOS 8+ | A webcam is needed for the webcam method; encoder requirements depend on the setup |
What happens to mobile livestreams below 1,000 subscribers?
A channel with 50 to 999 subscribers can meet the mobile access threshold and still face limits. YouTube says mobile live audiences may be limited for channels below 1,000 subscribers, and the archived stream may be set to private by default. These audience and archive settings may take a few weeks to reflect.
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After a channel reaches 1,000 subscribers, removal of the mobile audience limitation may itself take several weeks. Reaching the threshold therefore does not necessarily change the limitation immediately.
What to check if you cannot start a stream
- Mobile app says you are not eligible: Confirm the channel has at least 50 subscribers, is verified, and has no live-stream restriction from the previous 90 days.
- Live streaming was just enabled: Wait up to 24 hours for first-time activation.
- Your device cannot use mobile streaming: Check that it meets YouTube’s documented floor of Android 8.0+ or iOS 8+.
- Your mobile stream has a small audience or is private afterward: If the channel has fewer than 1,000 subscribers, these behaviors may reflect YouTube’s mobile limits rather than a failed setup.
- Computer setup is not working: Confirm channel verification and the 90-day restriction condition; for webcam streaming, make sure the computer has a webcam. For encoder streaming, check the encoder’s setup for the particular production.
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