Yes. You can live stream a Zoom meeting directly to YouTube, and you do not need separate streaming software to do it. Zoom has live streaming built in. Turn on “Allow live streaming of meetings” in your Zoom settings and check YouTube as a destination. Then, inside a meeting, click More, choose Live Streaming, pick YouTube, sign in to your channel, and go live. One requirement catches a lot of churches: this only works on a paid Zoom plan. On a free Zoom account, the option is not there.
Why churches like this setup
Most people are already familiar with Zoom. Like so many of us did in 2020 during the global shutdown, they learned it through Bible studies and prayer meetings, work calls, and meetings with other groups they are part of, so it feels like familiar ground for your volunteers too. And for a church on a very small budget, starting your live stream with Zoom is very affordable. You can begin with the tool your people already know, without buying a bunch of gear or learning new software.
What you need before you start
- A paid Zoom plan. Live streaming comes with the Pro and Business plans and above. Free accounts cannot stream.
- A desktop browser for the one-time setup. The streaming switch lives in your Zoom account settings on the web: Settings, then Meeting, then “In Meeting (Advanced).”
- Your YouTube channel login. The first time you stream to YouTube, Zoom asks you to sign in and grant permission, and you choose which channel the stream goes to.
- Realistic expectations on a Pro plan. Pro streams top out at 720p, and the picture carries a small Zoom logo in the corner. Business and Enterprise plans can remove that logo or swap in your own.
How to live stream Zoom to YouTube, step by step
- Log in to your Zoom account in a desktop browser.
- Click Settings on the left, then Meeting, then “In Meeting (Advanced).”
- Scroll to “Allow live streaming of meetings,” turn it on, and check the destinations you want, including YouTube.
- Start your meeting and check your audio and video.
- Click More at the bottom right of the meeting window, then choose Live Streaming and select YouTube.
- Sign in, pick your channel, grant the permissions, and set the stream to public, private, or unlisted.
- Click Go Live. Zoom sends you over to YouTube, and your meeting is streaming.
The video above shows every one of these screens as it happens, including where that settings switch hides and what the permission prompts look like. Watch it once before your first live Sunday and you will know exactly what to expect.
What to check before you go live
Audio is the piece to watch. People will forgive a plain picture long before they forgive sound they cannot understand, so test your microphone levels in Zoom before the stream starts, and listen back on the YouTube side during a private test if you can. Give yourself one rehearsal run on a weekday rather than five minutes before the countdown on Sunday.
Streaming to more than one place at once
Zoom can also send your meeting to a custom streaming service. Check “Custom Live Streaming Service” in the same settings, and when you go live you paste in a streaming URL and a stream key from a service like Restream. That is how one Zoom meeting reaches YouTube and Facebook at the same time.
Questions churches ask about Zoom live streaming
Can I live stream from a free Zoom account?
No. Live streaming is a paid feature, so you need a Pro or Business plan or higher.
What quality does a Zoom live stream run at?
On a Pro account the stream tops out at 720p, which is fine for a class or a prayer meeting.
Can I take the Zoom logo off my stream?
Not on a Pro plan. Removing the Zoom watermark, or replacing it with your own, takes a Business or Enterprise plan.
Can Zoom stream to Facebook too?
Yes. Facebook is one of the built-in destinations you can check in the same settings, right beside YouTube and Twitch. For several platforms at once, use the custom streaming option described above.
Resources
- Zoom: the plans and account settings this walkthrough uses.
- Restream: send one meeting to YouTube, Facebook, and other destinations at the same time. This is an affiliate link, so using it supports Church Media Creators at no extra cost to you.
If you want to take your church live streaming further, download our free guide, “Live Streaming for Churches, The Easy Way,” at EasyLiveStreaming.com.
Now, take everything you’ve learned and use it to go change lives.