How to Livestream to Instagram Live With Switcher Studio

Instagram now supports the ability to go live to Instagram Live with Switcher Studio. Instagram Live utilizes Custom RTMP to connect platforms like Switcher to your Instagram Live feed. To use the livestream feature with Switcher, you must be on a professional Instagram account. To learn how to switch your account, read this article from Instagram's support center: How to set up a business account on Instagram.

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Video Tutorial

How to Enable a 9:16 Camera Guide

Instagram Live automatically crops 16:9 video feeds so that the left and right portions of the video are not visible in for viewing. As of Switcher 10.1, there is a vertical camera guide that allows you to see what portion of the video will be transmitted to Instagram Live. This is useful when multistreaming to destinations with 16:9 and 9:16 format.

  • Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
  • Tap Switcher.
  • Tap Camera Guides.
  • Enable 9:16 Vertical Overlay.

How to Generate the Instagram RTMP Information

Required: Your Instagram account must be a professional account. If you have a personal Instagram account, you can switch your profile to a professional account in a few quick steps.

  • Log into your Instagram account at Instagram.com using a web browser.
  • Click Create.
  • Click Live video.
  • Enter the live video title.
  • Click Audience.
  • Select Public or Practice.
  • Click Next.
    • You will now have up to 5 hours to go live once you start to preview the broadcast.

How to Create the Instagram RTMP Channel in Switcher

  • In a new tab, log into your Switcher account in the Switcher Dashboard.
  • Click Platforms in the left sidebar.
  • Click Set Up RTMP in the Custom RTMP section.
  • Enter an Instagram Live Channel name. (i.e. Tim's Instagram Live)
  • Paste the Stream Key and Stream URL from your Instagram Live settings.
    • For every new livestream you create for Instagram, you will need to update the stream key in the Switcher Dashboard.
  • Select your video format size. (i.e. 720p)
  • Click Save.

How to Livestream to Instagram Live With the Switcher App

  • Open the Switcher app on your iOS device.
  • Tap Vertical.
    • Due to Instagram Live having a vertical format, we recommend using Vertical mode in Switcher. If using Switcher in Horizontal mode, Instagram's vertical format will automatically crop the video feed, which may result in a suboptimal viewer experience.
  • Select the Outputs tab. (box and arrow icon)
  • Choose Custom RTMP next to Broadcast Mode.
  • Tap Change to manage your RTMP channels.
  • Tap Refresh in the top-left corner of the RTMP channel list and select your Instagram RTMP channel.
  • Tap Done.
  • Tap the Red Circle.
    • Note: This enables the backend connection between Switcher and Instagram but does not automatically make you go live on Instagram.
  • Once you see the feed from the Switcher app on the Instagram tab and are ready to go live, click Go Live in the Instagram web browser tab.

    • You will now have the ability to monitor and interact with events and comments.

How to End the Instagram Live Video

  • Click the stop button in the Switcher app.
  • Click End live video in the Instagram web browser tab.