7 Easy Steps for Streamlabs Setup: How to Manually Install Overlays on Streamlabs Desktop

Worried about setting up your first stream package because you’re unsure how to install it? Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through the Streamlabs setup and installation process on Streamlabs Desktop. Before you continue with the tutorial, make sure you have Streamlabs installed on your computer. You can follow the detailed instructions below or watch our instructional videos.

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Streamlabs Setup: Scenes and Sources

The Scenes and Sources tabs are crucial in Streamlabs Desktop. The Scenes tab contains all your scene collections, such as the live screen, starting screen, and intermission screen. The Sources tab manages all the widgets and sources used in the current scene. Let’s start with setting up your first scene.

Livescreen Scene

1. Rename the current scene to Livescreen.
2. In the Sources tab, add a new source and select Screen Capture.
3. Choose the game or window you want to capture and confirm your settings.
4. Once the initial setup is complete, you’re ready to add your graphics.

Streamlabs Setup: Overlay (Facecam, Bar Overlay & Info Labels)

Adding the Overlay to your current scene

1. With the Livescreen scene active, add a Media Source from the Sources tab and select the Overlay file.
2. Check the Loop option before pressing Done.
3. Resize and position the Overlay as desired.
4. Add a Video Capture Device source and select your device.
5. In the Sources tab, move this layer beneath the Overlay layer and adjust its size to fit within the Overlay.

Adding Your Username

1. Add a Text source and type your username.
2. Resize and reposition this text layer onto the Overlay.
3. Ensure the text layer is above the other Overlay layers.

Adding Stream Labels and Icons

1. Add a Custom Icon source and select the Icon folder from your download.
2. Choose the Icon you want to use, resize, and position it on the Overlay.
3. Add a Stream Label source and select the Label Type you want.
4. Resize and reposition it to fit perfectly with the Icon.
5. Group these elements together.

For overlays requiring multiple Stream Labels, either repeat the steps above or copy the Stream Labels folder and Paste Duplicate to create a duplicate folder. Avoid using Paste Reference as it creates a dependency on the original source, meaning changes to the original will affect the duplicate.

Tip: Keep your workspace organized by naming sources correctly and grouping them into folders.

Streamlabs Setup: Screens

Creating a New Scene

1. In the Scenes tab, click the + icon to create a new scene.
2. Name this scene according to the screen you want to import, for example, First Screen.

Importing Screen Files

1. Add a Media Source and select the Background file from your download.
2. Add another Media Source and choose the Screen Text you want to use.
3. Repeat this process for the remaining screens.
4. Ensure you select the Loop checkbox for these files so the animation will keep looping.

Streamlabs Setup: Intermission Screen

Creating a New Scene

1. In the Scenes tab, click the + icon to create a new scene.
2. Name this scene Intermission Screen.

Importing the Intermission Screen Files

1. Add a Media Source and select the Background file from your download.
2. Add another Media Source and choose the Intermission Screen Text.
3. Check the Loop option to keep the animation looping.

Importing the Facecam

1. Add an Image source and select the Facecam file from the Intermission Screen folder in your download.
2. Add a Video Capture Device source and select your device.
3. In the Sources tab, move this layer beneath the Facecam layer and adjust its size to fit within the Facecam.
4. Group these sources into a folder named Facecam.

Importing the Gameplay Frame

1. Add an Image source and select the Gameplay Frame file from the Intermission Screen folder in your download.
2. Add a Screen Capture source and select the game or window you want to capture.
3. In the Sources tab, move this layer beneath the Gameplay Frame layer and adjust its size to fit within the Frame.
4. Group these sources into a folder named Gameplay.

Importing the Chatbox

1. Add an Image source and select the Chatbox file from the Intermission Screen folder in your download.
2. Add a Chatbox widget and resize it to match the Chatbox design.
3. Reposition the Chatbox widget above the Chatbox design.
4. Group these sources into a folder named Chatbox.

Streamlabs Setup: Social Media

1. Add a Custom Icon source and select the Social Media with Text folder from your download.
2. Select the icon you want to use, resize, and position it as desired.
3. Add a Text source and type your username.
4. Position the text to align with the icon.
5. Group these into a folder named Social Media.

You can either repeat the steps above or copy the Social Media folder and Paste Duplicate to create a duplicate folder. Copy your icons into each scene as needed.

Streamlabs Setup: Transition

1. Press the Settings icon and add a new transition.
2. Change the type to Stinger and select the Transition file.
3. Enter the recommended settings for the transition point and press Done.

Recommended transition settings can be found on the Products Read Me page.

Although setting up overlays on Streamlabs Desktop can initially seem difficult, you can simply produce a professional-looking stream by following this thorough guide. Every step, from setting up scenes and sources to creating personalized overlays and stream labels, guarantees that your broadcast is aesthetically pleasing and well-structured.

As you name and organize your sources, don’t forget to maintain your workplace organized. This keeps things in order and also makes modifications in the future easier and more effective.

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