Discord’s Go Live feature lets you stream a game directly to your friends or server members without needing extra broadcasting software. When you use Go Live, your stream appears as a live video call that anyone in the voice channel can watch. This article explains the requirements for using Go Live and walks you through the exact steps to start a game stream on both Windows and Mac.
Go Live works with almost any PC game, and it supports resolutions up to 1080p and 60 frames per second with Discord Nitro. Free users can stream at 720p and 30 fps. You do not need to download OBS or any third-party tool, because Discord captures the game window automatically.
This guide covers how to start a Go Live stream, how to control who can watch, and how to fix common stream quality issues.
Key Takeaways: How to Use Discord Go Live for Game Streaming
- Voice Channel > Screen Share button (monitor icon): Opens the streaming options where you select a game window.
- Stream Quality > Resolution and Frame Rate: Free users get 720p at 30 fps; Nitro subscribers can stream 1080p at 60 fps.
- Server Settings > Roles > Permissions > Stream: Controls which roles are allowed to start a Go Live stream in the server.
What Is Discord Go Live and What Do You Need
Discord Go Live is a built-in streaming feature that broadcasts your game screen to other users in a voice channel. Unlike screen sharing, Go Live is optimized for games. It uses hardware acceleration to keep latency low and frame rates smooth.
Before you start, check these requirements:
- Discord desktop app version 0.0.309 or newer. The browser version does not support Go Live.
- A voice channel you can access. You must be in a voice channel to start a stream.
- A game that Discord detects. Discord lists only running games in the stream selection menu. If your game does not appear, you can manually add it in User Settings > Game Activity.
- Windows 10, Windows 11, or macOS 10.13 or newer.
Go Live vs Screen Share
Go Live specifically streams a single game window. Screen Share lets you share your entire desktop, a browser tab, or a specific application window. Go Live uses less bandwidth because it captures only the game, and it applies Discord’s game overlay for better performance. Use Go Live when you want to show gameplay. Use Screen Share when you need to show a document, a browser, or multiple windows at once.
Steps to Start a Go Live Stream on Discord
Follow these steps to stream a game using Discord Go Live. The steps are identical for Windows and Mac.
- Open Discord and join a voice channel
Launch the Discord desktop app. Navigate to a server that has a voice channel you can join. Click the voice channel name to connect. You must be in a voice channel to start a stream. - Launch your game
Open the game you want to stream. Discord must detect the game as a running application. If the game is already running, close and reopen it after you join the voice channel to ensure Discord registers it. - Click the Screen Share button
At the bottom of the voice channel panel, click the monitor icon with an upward arrow. This is the Screen Share button. A new window opens showing available applications and screens. - Select your game from the list
In the Screen Share window, click the tab labeled Application. Find your game in the list. The game name appears with a small game controller icon next to it. Click the game name to select it. Do not select Entire Screen, because that shares your whole desktop and reduces stream performance. - Set stream quality (optional)
At the bottom of the Screen Share window, you see Stream Quality options. Click the dropdown menu. Choose a resolution and frame rate. Free users can select 720p at 30 fps. Nitro subscribers can select 1080p at 60 fps. Higher quality uses more bandwidth and may cause lag on slower internet connections. - Click Go Live
After you select the game and quality, click the blue Go Live button. Discord immediately starts streaming your game to the voice channel. A small green Live badge appears next to your name in the voice channel. Other members in the channel see a Watch Stream button that they can click to view your stream.
How to Control Who Can Watch Your Stream
By default, anyone in the voice channel can watch your stream. You can restrict streaming permissions at the server level or limit viewers per stream.
Limit viewers per stream
When you start a Go Live stream, Discord shows a slider labeled Streamer Mode. If you enable Streamer Mode, Discord hides invite links and personal information from the stream. To limit the number of viewers, click the dropdown next to Viewers during the stream setup. Choose a specific role or select Server Members to allow anyone in the server to watch.
Set server permissions for streaming
- Open Server Settings
Right-click the server name at the top of the channel list. Select Server Settings from the menu. - Go to Roles
In the left sidebar, click Roles. Click the role you want to edit, then scroll to the Permission section. - Enable the Stream permission
Find the Stream permission under Voice Channel Permissions. Toggle it to the green checkmark. Members with this role can now start a Go Live stream in any voice channel. Toggle it to the red X to block streaming for that role.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Game does not appear in the application list
Discord only shows games it detects. If your game is missing, add it manually. Go to User Settings > Game Activity. Click Add It. Select the game from the list or browse to its executable file. After you add it, Discord recognizes the game and shows it in the Screen Share window.
Stream is laggy or has low frame rate
A laggy stream is usually caused by high bandwidth usage or low hardware resources. Lower the stream quality to 720p at 30 fps. Close other applications that use the internet, such as video streaming sites or file downloads. If you use Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or switch to a wired Ethernet connection.
Viewers cannot hear game audio
Go Live includes game audio by default. If viewers cannot hear sound, check that the game is not muted in Discord. In the voice channel panel, right-click your name and select Adjust Volume. Make sure the slider is not set to zero. Also check that the game’s audio output is set to the same device as Discord.
Stream stops after a few seconds
Discord may stop the stream if the game crashes or if your internet connection drops. Restart the game and rejoin the voice channel. If the problem continues, restart the Discord app. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager. End the Discord process, then launch Discord again.
Discord Go Live Resolutions: Free vs Nitro
| Feature | Free Account | Discord Nitro |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum resolution | 720p | 1080p |
| Maximum frame rate | 30 fps | 60 fps |
| Stream duration | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Viewer limit per stream | 50 | 50 |
| Go Live to any voice channel | Yes | Yes |
Discord Go Live does not limit how long you can stream. Both free and Nitro users can stream for as long as they want. The main differences are resolution and frame rate. Nitro also includes other benefits such as larger file uploads and custom emoji, but those do not affect Go Live performance.
You can now stream any game on Discord using Go Live without extra software. To improve stream quality, close bandwidth-heavy apps and use a wired internet connection. For the best experience, consider upgrading to Discord Nitro to unlock 1080p at 60 fps. If you stream regularly, enable Streamer Mode to hide personal information from viewers.