The simplest way to show chat in OBS

OBS does not have a built-in chat window, but you can display your streaming platform's chat by adding a browser source that points to a web page showing live messages. On Twitch, the easiest route is to use a third-party chat overlay tool like Streamlabs or Chatty, or to embed Twitch's own chat webpage directly into OBS as a browser source. YouTube and other platforms work the same way — you point OBS to a URL that displays chat, and OBS renders it as part of your stream.

The method you choose depends on which platform you stream to and whether you want chat visible only to you (in your OBS window) or visible to your viewers as part of the broadcast itself. Most streamers keep chat visible only in their own OBS interface so they can read messages while streaming, but some add a chat box overlay that viewers see too.

Key Takeaways

  • OBS shows chat through a browser source — a window that displays a webpage inside your streaming software.
  • Twitch streamers can use Streamlabs, Chatty, or Twitch's own chat webpage; YouTube streamers can embed YouTube's live chat URL.
  • Chat visible only to you (in OBS but not in the broadcast) requires no extra setup beyond adding the browser source.
  • Chat visible to viewers requires you to add a browser source as an overlay and position it on your canvas, which means viewers will see it as part of the stream.
  • Most streaming setups keep chat private to the streamer so they can read it without viewers seeing the overlay.

Adding a browser source for Twitch chat

Open OBS and go to your Scenes panel. Select the scene where you want chat to appear. In the Sources section below, click the plus icon and choose Browser. Give it a name like "Twitch Chat" and click Create New.

In the browser source settings, paste one of these URLs into the URL field. For Twitch's official chat page, use https://www.twitch.tv/popout/[your-channel-name]/chat?popout= — replace [your-channel-name] with your actual Twitch username. Set the width to 350 pixels and height to 600 pixels to start; you can adjust these later. Leave the other settings at their defaults and click OK.

The chat window will now appear in your OBS canvas. If you want viewers to see it, position and resize it where you want it on your stream. If you want chat visible only to you, move it outside the canvas boundaries or place it on a scene you use only for monitoring. Most streamers keep a second scene just for chat and alerts that they view on a second monitor, separate from what viewers see.

Using Streamlabs or Chatty for more control

Streamlabs and Chatty are third-party tools that give you more customization than Twitch's built-in chat page. Streamlabs is free and integrates with Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms; Chatty is lightweight and Twitch-only. Both let you change the text size, background color, and transparency so chat fits your stream design.

To use Streamlabs chat in OBS, read Streamlabs Desktop (a full streaming software) or use the Streamlabs website. Log in with your Twitch account, go to Overlays, and select a chat widget. Customize the appearance, then copy the URL it generates. In OBS, add a browser source and paste that URL. The chat will load with your chosen styling.

Chatty works similarly: read it, log in with your Twitch account, and configure the appearance in settings. Then copy the localhost URL (usually something like http://localhost:7419) and add it as a browser source in OBS. Chatty runs on your computer, so it does not require an internet connection to display chat once it is set up.

Adding chat for YouTube streams

YouTube's live chat works through a browser source just like Twitch. Start a live stream or go to your YouTube Studio. During or before the stream, find the live chat panel on the right side. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar — it should be something like https://www.youtube.com/live_chat?v=[video-id].

In OBS, add a new browser source and paste that URL. Set the width to 350 pixels and height to 600 pixels. YouTube chat will load and update in real time. If you are not logged in to YouTube in OBS's browser, the chat may not display; if that happens, check the browser source settings and make sure you have not blocked cookies or third-party logins.

Positioning chat so only you see it

If you want to read chat while streaming but do not want viewers to see a chat overlay, create a separate monitoring scene in OBS. Go to Scenes, click the plus icon, and create a new scene called "Monitoring" or "Chat Only". Add your browser source to this scene instead of your main broadcast scene.

On your second monitor (if you have one), display the Monitoring scene while your main scene broadcasts to viewers. This way you can read chat in real time without it appearing in the stream. Many streamers use this setup: one monitor shows the broadcast scene that viewers see, and a second monitor shows chat, alerts, and other information only the streamer needs.

If you have only one monitor, you can still use this method — just switch between scenes during your stream. However, switching scenes is visible to viewers, so most single-monitor streamers keep chat in a corner of their main scene or use a separate window outside OBS entirely.

Making chat visible as an overlay to viewers

To show chat as part of your broadcast, add the browser source to your main scene and position it where you want it on the canvas. Resize the window by dragging its corners in OBS. Adjust the width and height in the browser source settings if you need precise dimensions.

Most streamers place chat in the bottom right or bottom left corner so it does not cover their face or main content. Test the layout by starting a test stream or checking the preview in OBS. Remember that chat messages appear with a slight delay (usually one to three seconds), so viewers will see older messages than what you are reading in real time.

If the chat overlay looks too transparent or hard to read, add a background. In Streamlabs or Chatty, you can set a solid background color or semi-transparent box behind the text. In Twitch's official chat page, the background is usually transparent, so you may want to add a colored rectangle shape in OBS behind the browser source to make text readable over your video.

Troubleshooting chat that will not load

If your chat browser source shows a blank window or an error, first check that you are logged in to your streaming platform in a regular web browser. OBS's browser uses your system's default browser login, so if you are not logged in to Twitch or YouTube elsewhere, the chat may not load.

Second, check that the URL is correct. For Twitch, make sure you used your actual channel name and that the URL starts with https://. For YouTube, verify that the video ID in the URL matches your current live stream. If you copied the URL from a past stream, it will not work for a new stream.

Third, restart OBS. Browser sources sometimes fail to load until OBS is restarted. If chat still does not appear, try removing the browser source and adding it again with a fresh URL. If you are using Chatty or Streamlabs, make sure those applications are running on your computer before OBS tries to load them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I show chat without viewers seeing it?

Yes. Create a separate scene in OBS for chat only, and display that scene on a second monitor while your main scene broadcasts to viewers. If you have one monitor, you can keep the chat browser source but move it outside the visible canvas area so OBS captures only your main content.

Does chat appear with a delay in OBS?

Yes, usually one to three seconds. This is normal and happens because the chat message has to travel from the viewer's computer to the platform's servers, then to OBS. The delay is the same whether chat is visible only to you or to viewers.

What if I want to customize how chat looks?

Streamlabs and Chatty both offer appearance settings like text size, color, and background. Twitch's official chat page has limited customization. If you need more control, use Streamlabs or Chatty and customize their settings before adding the URL to OBS.

Can I use the same chat setup for multiple platforms?

No, each platform's chat is separate. If you stream to both Twitch and YouTube at the same time, you would need two browser sources — one for Twitch chat and one for YouTube chat. You can position them side by side or switch between scenes to monitor each one.

Will adding chat slow down my stream?

A browser source uses some CPU and memory, but a single chat window usually has minimal impact on streaming performance. If you notice lag, try lowering the browser source's resolution in OBS settings or closing other applications running on your computer.