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To use Streamlabs Game Overlay on one monitor, enable it in Streamlabs Desktop, choose chat and/or recent events, set hotkeys, arrange the overlay, and run your game in borderless-windowed or windowed-fullscreen mode. Streamlabs says the overlay does not work in fullscreen mode.
Set up Game Overlay in Streamlabs Desktop
- Open the overlay settings. In Streamlabs Desktop, go to Settings > Game Overlay.
- Enable the in-game overlay. Select whether you want to see chat, recent events, or both while playing. Chat helps you follow messages; recent events show stream activity. Display only what you need so the overlay takes up less of the game view.
- Assign hotkeys. Open Settings > Hotkeys and assign controls to toggle the overlay and enter or exit positioning mode. Set these before starting a game so you can use the overlay without switching away from play.
- Position and adjust the components. Use Toggle Positioning Mode to move the overlay components to a convenient area of the screen. Adjust opacity so the chat or events remain legible without obscuring too much gameplay.
- Change the game’s display mode. In the game’s video or display settings, choose Borderless Windowed or Windowed Fullscreen. Streamlabs says Game Overlay will not work when the game is in fullscreen mode. The exact setting name can vary by game.
- Check the result in-game. Start or preview your stream, launch the game in the supported display mode, and use your assigned hotkey to show the overlay. If its placement blocks important gameplay, return to positioning mode and move it or reduce opacity.
These steps follow Streamlabs’ Game Overlay support guide, originally published February 27, 2020 and last updated April 25, 2025.
Choose what to show on the same screen
- Chat: Choose this when reading viewer messages is the priority.
- Recent events: Choose this when you mainly want to keep track of stream activity.
- Both: Show both if you need each while playing, then position them so they do not cover important game information.
Streamlabs’ single-monitor article describes the overlay as a way to view chat and events over gameplay, avoiding the need to switch away from the game just to check stream activity. That article calls the feature experimental; its later-updated support guide documents the setup and display-mode requirement above. Streamlabs also reports that 64% of Twitch live streamers use a single monitor, but does not state the underlying study year or methodology, so that figure should not be read as a current independently verified statistic.
If the overlay does not appear
- The game is in fullscreen mode: Switch to borderless-windowed or windowed-fullscreen, then test again.
- The overlay is disabled or the wrong components are selected: Revisit Settings > Game Overlay and enable the overlay and the chat and/or recent-events components you want.
- The hotkey does nothing: Check Settings > Hotkeys and confirm that controls are assigned for toggling the overlay and positioning mode.
- The overlay is difficult to read or covers important content: Enter positioning mode, move the components, and adjust opacity.
Streamlabs’ published guide does not establish compatibility for every game, operating-system version, or graphics configuration. If the steps above do not resolve the issue, consult Streamlabs’ support guide for current guidance rather than assuming every game or setup is supported.
#1 Best Overall
- For optimal and consistent performance, power this USB ring light with a 5V/2A+ adapter or power bank - not a laptop USB port (typically 5V/1A). Required specs: exactly 5V voltage, minimum 2A current. Lower-current adapters may cause flickering or unstable operation.
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Or let it run in the cloud
Game Overlay is for seeing chat or recent events while you play; it does not keep a prerecorded YouTube stream running for you. If your separate goal is to loop uploaded videos on a YouTube channel, StreamNeo runs them from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, and it can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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Rank #3
- Application: Fits most flat panel monitor up to 34” and supports weight up to 22lbs. Mount plates detachable and height adjustable for mounting holes 75x75mm and 100x100mm
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Rank #2
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