Add overlays to the scene in OBS Studio or Streamlabs Desktop before sending it to YouTube. Use an Image source for a static graphic, a Text source for simple wording, or a Browser source for a live webpage widget such as chat or alerts. The overlay is part of your streaming software’s composition—not a graphic setting in YouTube Live Control Room.
Choose the right overlay source
| What you want to show | Source to use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| A logo, frame, or corner graphic | Image | Add an image file to the scene. OBS’s Sources Guide and Streamlabs’ overlay instructions describe adding image sources. |
| A short label or simple wording | Text | Keep it brief and legible at the stream’s output size. OBS lists text among the sources you can use in a scene. |
| Chat, alerts, or another live webpage widget | Browser | Use the widget provider’s URL and follow its current setup instructions. OBS describes Browser Source as a way to add a web page to a scene; chat and alert overlays are supplied by third parties, not directly by OBS. See the OBS FAQs for chat and alerts. |
A static graphic is a local image; an interactive or changing widget usually needs a browser source and a provider’s page or URL. No physical streaming product is required for this workflow.
Add an overlay in OBS Studio or Streamlabs Desktop
- Select the scene. Open OBS Studio or Streamlabs Desktop and choose the scene where the overlay should appear. You can use separate scenes for a starting screen, main live layout, or break screen.
- Add the matching source. In the scene’s Sources area, select the plus or add control. Choose Image for a static file, Text for wording, or Browser for a webpage or widget. OBS explains scene sources in its Sources Guide; Streamlabs’ guide explains adding image files to scenes.
- Choose the asset or widget. For an image, browse to the file. For a browser-based overlay, enter the URL supplied by the provider and use that provider’s current instructions. OBS’s guidance for chat and alerts recommends third-party overlays embedded with Browser Source.
- Position and size it. Arrange the source in the scene preview so it does not obscure important video content. Check text and graphics at the full composition size, then preview the scene before going live.
- Repeat or reuse for other scenes. Add the overlay to each scene where it should appear, or use the software’s documented source or scene-reuse controls. The available controls can vary by software version.
Use a Streamlabs overlay in OBS Studio
Streamlabs documents two routes: its OBS plugin, which it describes as the easiest option, or importing a Streamlabs scene collection without the plugin. Its guide, How to Add an Overlay to Your Stream, covers Streamlabs Desktop and the OBS routes.
Option 1: Streamlabs plugin
Before installing, check the current compatibility requirements. Streamlabs’ Quick Start Guide, published May 20, 2026, lists Windows and OBS Studio 28.0.0 or later. It also notes that some changes, such as adding an overlay, may require restarting OBS. Requirements and interface labels can change, so consult the current plugin quick-start guide before proceeding.
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If you do not want to use the plugin, import the Streamlabs scene collection in OBS Studio using the steps in Streamlabs’ overlay guide. Follow the current instructions there, since the exact import labels may depend on the OBS version.
Check the finished scene before going live
- Confirm the correct scene is selected and the overlay appears in its preview.
- Make sure a static image is available at the file location you selected.
- For a browser widget, check that you used the provider’s current URL and followed its setup steps.
- Review the entire composition to ensure graphics or text do not cover important video.
- If using the Streamlabs plugin, account for the possibility that OBS needs a restart for some overlay changes to appear.
There is no single universal fix for a blank browser source or a missing image: the cause can depend on the software version, source setup, or widget provider. Check the relevant provider’s current instructions and your streaming software’s documentation for the specific case.
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Or let it run in the cloud
OBS and Streamlabs put the overlay in a scene on the computer running the stream. If instead you want an uploaded video or playlist to keep a YouTube channel live without leaving a computer on, StreamNeo runs it from the cloud. The setup is: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo streams uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not go live from a camera.
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- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, then start your free day.
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