To add a Viewer Count widget in Streamlabs, open the Streamlabs Dashboard, choose All Widgets → Viewer Count, and configure it there. Then add the native source in Streamlabs Desktop, use the Streamlabs Plugin in OBS, or paste the widget URL into an OBS browser source.
Streamlabs lists Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Kick as supported platforms. The steps below explain where to find the widget and how to place it in a scene; they do not assume that every platform updates its count in the same way.
Open Viewer Count in the Streamlabs Dashboard
Sign in to the Streamlabs Dashboard and find All Widgets in the left-hand menu. Select Viewer Count to open its settings. This is the starting point even if you plan to add the widget as a native source in Streamlabs Desktop or through the OBS plugin.
The dashboard is where you choose the platforms and the widget’s appearance. Streamlabs’ Viewer Count setup guide documents the Dashboard path and the software-specific ways to add the widget. If you do not see the same labels, check that you are signed in to the relevant Streamlabs account and look for the current widget list rather than relying on an older screenshot.
Before adding anything, decide where the number will be useful. A count over a talking-head scene may be easy to notice; over a devotional image, study schedule, or news ticker, it can compete with information viewers came to see. In a 24/7 channel, consider whether the count belongs on every scene or only on a starting or intermission scene. The widget can display a number, but it cannot decide whether the number helps your presentation.
If you are building a continuous YouTube channel, the count is only one part of the viewing experience. For example, a 24/7 UPSC study stream setup needs to keep study material readable; a small count tucked away from the lesson may be less distracting than a prominent overlay.
Configure the widget
Under General Settings, select the platform or platforms whose count you want the widget to show. Choose only the services relevant to the stream you are currently producing. If you broadcast to more than one supported service, inspect how the selected configuration appears before putting it on air; do not assume the displayed count will be synchronised or presented identically across platforms.
Use the font controls to adjust style, size, weight, and colour. Make the number legible against the part of the scene where it will sit. A pale number over a bright temple image or a thin font over a moving lofi background can disappear even when the source itself is working. Preview the design over a representative scene if you can.
Streamlabs also describes HTML/CSS customisation. That gives you more control over appearance, but it is optional: the basic widget can be used without writing code. The Dashboard’s background colour setting is for the dashboard preview. Do not treat it as a control that sets the widget’s background in your stream scene. Check the result in your streaming software, where any scene-level layers or browser-source settings are visible.
Streamlabs says unique themes are available only to Streamlabs Ultra subscribers. That qualification applies to those themes; it is not a requirement for adding the basic Viewer Count widget. Streamlabs’ product page for Viewer Count describes its customisation options and installation routes. Check the current official pages for details if you are considering a specific feature or subscription, as settings and product terms can change.
A useful test is to put the widget where you intend to use it, then examine the scene at the size your audience will see it. For a small count in a corner, the number should remain readable without becoming the main feature. Avoid moving it over a logo, captions, a prayer timetable, or other fixed information just because that corner is empty in the dashboard preview.
Add it as a native Streamlabs Desktop source
In Streamlabs Desktop, open the scene where the count should appear. In the Sources panel, select + Add Source, choose Viewer Count, and select Add Source. You can keep the default source name or give it a name that makes sense if you use it in several scenes.
Add the source, adjust its appearance in the settings window, and select Done. It should then appear among the scene’s sources. Drag it into position in the preview and resize it to suit the scene. If you need to make an appearance change later, return to the source’s settings rather than adding another copy each time.
The advantage of this route is that Viewer Count is an available native source in Streamlabs Desktop, so you do not have to locate and paste a widget URL. It is the direct route for someone already producing their scenes in Streamlabs Desktop. If you use OBS Studio instead, the native Desktop menu is not the same as the OBS plugin route described below.
Check source order if another scene element covers the count. In a layered scene, a source may exist and still be hidden behind an opaque image or panel. Temporarily move it above nearby sources to test visibility, then settle the order and placement you want. A quick glance at the preview is not enough if the number itself is covered or too small to read.
If the scene is part of a long-running YouTube channel, keep the visual design consistent with the rest of the broadcast. The guide to making a 24/7 YouTube lofi stream with a Jio connection covers the broader channel context; a viewer count overlay should complement the loop rather than introduce an unrelated visual element.
Add it through the Streamlabs OBS plugin
OBS Studio users with the Streamlabs Plugin installed and signed in can use its Viewer Count option. Open OBS and the Streamlabs area, select Viewer Count, then use +Add to add it to the current scene. The widget’s settings route can take you back to the Dashboard when you need to change its configuration.
This is the route to take if you want the plugin integration and the available widget option inside OBS. Make sure you are actually using the Streamlabs Plugin: OBS Studio by itself does not make the plugin’s Viewer Count entry appear. If you do not have the plugin installed or prefer not to use it, use the widget URL as a browser source instead.
After adding it, check the current scene, not just the source list. Place and size the count as you would any other overlay, then verify that other scene elements do not obscure it. If you adjust platform selection or typography in the Dashboard, return to OBS and confirm how those changes look in the scene.
A plugin-based source and a browser source are alternative ways of adding the widget to OBS. There is no need to add both for the same count. Keeping one route makes later troubleshooting clearer: you can tell whether to check the plugin/source or the URL and browser-source properties.
Use the widget URL as an OBS browser source
If you are using OBS without the Streamlabs Plugin, or another compatible streaming programme, open Viewer Count in the Streamlabs Dashboard and copy its widget URL. In OBS, add a Browser source to the scene and paste that URL into its URL field. Streamlabs explains how to locate widget URLs in its widget URL guide.
Set the browser source’s width, height, and FPS to fit your scene and needs. Streamlabs’ general widget URL guidance does not give universal values for this Viewer Count widget, so there is no single size to recommend for every layout. Start with dimensions that give the widget enough room, then resize or adjust the browser source and inspect the result in the scene preview. Avoid copying values from a different overlay without checking that the count remains legible.
The browser-source route works with OBS even without the plugin, and it is useful when your streaming software accepts browser sources. Its trade-off is that you manage a URL and browser-source properties rather than selecting the native/plugin widget entry. If the display is blank or cropped, first check that the URL was copied fully, that the source dimensions suit the scene, and that the source is visible and not covered by another layer.
Treat the widget URL as a configuration link, not as a public link to post casually. Keep it in the same sensible way you handle other scene setup details, and avoid sharing it where someone could alter or reuse your overlay configuration. If you need to revisit it, return to the Dashboard and copy the current widget URL instead of relying on an old note.
The broad choice is straightforward:
| Route | What you need | Where you add it | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streamlabs Desktop source | Streamlabs Desktop | + Add Source → Viewer Count | Direct native source in Streamlabs Desktop |
| Streamlabs Plugin for OBS | OBS Studio with the plugin installed and signed in | Streamlabs area, then Viewer Count → +Add | Uses the plugin integration; requires that plugin route |
| Browser source | A Streamlabs widget URL and software with browser-source support | Add a browser source and paste the URL | You set source dimensions and manage the URL |
Choose the route that matches the software you already use. You do not need to switch streaming applications solely to add a count if your current software supports the browser-source method.
Check supported platforms
Streamlabs lists Viewer Count support for Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Kick. Select the relevant service in the Dashboard’s General Settings. Do not infer support for another service from the fact that it accepts a live video, and do not expect one selected count to combine audiences across services unless the current Streamlabs settings explicitly show that behaviour.
The platform list is a capability boundary, not a promise that each service reports, labels, or refreshes viewer numbers in precisely the same way. If you stream on multiple supported platforms, test the widget with the service selected for the broadcast you are preparing. The presentation can depend on the platform’s own audience information as well as your widget configuration, so verify the result in the production setup you will use.
This is particularly relevant if your main channel is YouTube. A guide to analysing a YouTube live stream in YouTube Analytics can help distinguish an on-screen widget from the platform’s own analytics. A visible count is a scene element for viewers; it is not a substitute for reviewing the platform’s reporting tools, and the two need not serve the same purpose.
Before a broadcast, confirm the selected service, preview the scene, and check that the number appears as expected. If you change the destination platform, revisit General Settings rather than assuming the selection changed automatically. For current platform availability, consult Streamlabs’ official Viewer Count support guide and product page, since support can change over time.
Position and verify the count
Place the count where it is visible without competing with the stream’s subject. A small corner away from captions, a lower-third, a clock, or a devotional schedule is often easier to read than a large number in the centre. There is no universal position: a vertical layout, a shop promotion, and a full-screen study scene all have different safe areas.
Check the count at the intended scene size. In Streamlabs Desktop or OBS, preview the scene and resize or move the source if it is too small, clipped, or obscured. For a browser source, revisit its width and height if the content appears cropped. For a native or plugin source, reopen the source settings if the appearance needs adjustment, and use the Dashboard for platform or widget-level options.
Test transitions too. If you switch scenes during a stream, verify whether the count is present only where you expect it. A source added to one scene will not necessarily be present in every other scene; if you want it in several, use the scene arrangement that fits your software and confirm each scene separately. This is easier to do before going live than while viewers are waiting.
Use a real broadcast preview or a private check where your workflow allows it, but do not infer a platform-wide guarantee from one test. If the number does not appear, work through the chain: correct Dashboard selection, correct source route, a valid URL if applicable, source visibility and layer order, then dimensions and appearance. Avoid repeatedly deleting and re-adding the source until you know which part is failing.
For an always-on stream, the count widget only solves the on-screen overlay. It does not keep the live broadcast running if your computer or streaming software stops. If your wider project involves repeating pre-recorded video, see the guide to an always-on YouTube channel with prerecorded videos for that separate operating question. StreamNeo can remove the specific burden of leaving your own computer running for a file-based 24/7 YouTube broadcast, but it does not change how you configure or verify this Streamlabs widget.
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FAQ
Where is Viewer Count in Streamlabs?
Sign in to the Streamlabs Dashboard, open All Widgets in the left menu, and select Viewer Count. Use its General Settings to choose a supported platform and adjust the widget’s appearance.
Can I add the widget to OBS without installing the Streamlabs Plugin?
Yes. Copy the Viewer Count widget URL from the Dashboard and add it as an OBS browser source. Set the browser source’s dimensions to suit your scene; there are no universal width, height, or FPS values for every layout.
Which platforms does Streamlabs list for Viewer Count?
Streamlabs lists Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Kick. Check the current official Streamlabs guide for the latest support details, and do not assume that the count behaves identically across those services.
Do I need Streamlabs Ultra to use the basic widget?
Streamlabs says unique themes are an Ultra subscriber feature, but that does not make Ultra a requirement for adding the basic Viewer Count widget. Check the current product information if you want a particular theme or paid customisation feature.