YouTube mobile live-streaming has just opened up to lots more users

By Trevor Mogg Published April 4, 2017

YouTube has long offered its users the opportunity to launch live-streams, but until recently the feature was only available via its desktop site.

It was only after Periscope made a name for itself for mobile live-streaming, and after Facebook rolled out a similar feature to regular users in early 2016, that YouTube finally saw fit to offer mobile live-streaming starting in February this year. But only to creators with channels that had at least 10,000 subscribers.

Recommended Videos

The limited roll-out allowed the Google-owned company to iron out any kinks as it prepped mobile live-streaming for more of its users, and in the last few weeks some creators with more than 1,000 subscribers noticed they, too, could use the new feature.

YouTube has now confirmed this wider roll-out with an update to its support page. To broadcast live from your smartphone, you need a verified YouTube channel and at least 1,000 subscribers. This opens up the feature to a huge number of new users, offering YouTubers the chance to broadcast in real time, on the go.

The feature is part of the YouTube app, so there’s no need to download separate software to get started. To launch a live-stream, tap on the “camera” icon at the top of the display, tap “go live,” and then add a thumbnail image for the stream. After that it’s simply a matter of tapping out a title and choosing whether you want the stream to be “public” for everyone, or “unlisted” where only people with the link can watch.

In a message posted earlier this year, YouTube said live-stream videos “have all the same features as regular YouTube videos. They can be searched for, found via recommendations or playlists, and protected from unauthorized use.”

It added that the feature “uses YouTube’s rock-solid infrastructure, meaning it’ll be fast and reliable — just like the YouTube you know and love.”

YouTubers who want to make use of mobile live-streaming require at least iOS 8 or Android 6.0, and the channel must be free of any live-streaming restrictions for at least 90 days.

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Topics

Phones

Musk’s SpaceX could finally launch its carrier service after buying Boost Mobile

Elon Musk found a workaround after major mobile carriers blocked SpaceX’s network request.

SpaceX-Boost-Mobile-deal

Elon Musk wants SpaceX to become more than a rocket and satellite internet company. After Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T all turned down SpaceX's request to use their networks, the trillionaire is reportedly exploring a deal with Boost Mobile that could help the company enter the $235 billion US wireless market.

SpaceX has discussed either acquiring Boost or gaining access to its existing cellular network through parent company EchoStar. Neither option has been finalized, but it could give Musk a shortcut into an industry dominated by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Phones

[EXCLUSIVE]: How Lexar made Muse, the world’s thinnest portable SSD that looks like a metal card

Lexar made a sleek metallic SSD that's just one millimeter across and magnetically attaches to your phone. The engineering is also pretty special on this one.

Lexar Muse SSD.

For decades, Lexar has been one of the most reliable names in memory and storage. From the era of megabyte-class storage cards and picture card drives to industry-first high-capacity cards, NVMe drives, and a stainless steel SD card as recently as 2024, the company has seen — and done — it all. Lexar's legacy has been a mainstay in the camera enthusiast community for years, and it's easy to see the brand's logo in a professional's kit.

So, it was only poetic that for its 30th anniversary, Lexar created something special. And this time around, that something special was targeted at smartphones, the device that has quickly become the camera of choice for the entire world. That reveal came at IFA 2026, where Lexar launched Muse, the world’s thinnest SSD. It's stunningly sleek and almost looks like a metallic card. It's so thin that there's not even a USB-C port, and it attaches magnetically to the back of your phone.

Phones

I visited Infinix’s first global flagship store, and it’s unlike any phone store I’ve been to

Phones, coffee, and robots: Infinix's Bali concept store was a delightful surprise

Infinix Flagship Store

I've been to plenty of smartphone stores over the years, and I can't tell any of these experiences apart. Picture neatly arranged tables, rows of smartphones, and the occasional accessory tucked away in a corner. Honestly, this works for most people who show up knowing exactly what they need and just leave.

So, when Infinix invited me to Bali for the grand opening of its first global flagship concept store, I was curious to see what the company had planned. I expected an elaborate showroom and a few extra things, like eye-catching installations to celebrate the occasion. And while there were a few of these, a lot of the things that actually caught my eye were permanent parts of the store.