Streamlabs Desktop already combines the Editor and Live tabs in one unified Editor tab. You do not need to find a command to merge two tabs; use Layout Editor if you want to change which panels appear and how they are arranged.
You can customise the active layout or create a separate one with its own tab. The documented workflow is to choose a layout, arrange its panels, and save your changes; the labels may differ slightly between releases, so check the current in-app wording if a control has moved.
What changed to Editor and Live
Streamlabs announced the product-level change in 2019: the separate Editor and Live tabs became a single unified Editor tab. The announcement described the aim as reducing redundant navigation and making room for Preview, Chat, Scenes, Sources, Mixer, and Recent Events in one workspace. The original Streamlabs announcement explains the change in the product’s terms.
That history matters because the phrase “combine the tabs” can sound like a task each user still has to perform. The documentation does not describe a current merge command. If your app shows a unified Editor workspace, that is the product’s combined view, rather than two separate views waiting to be joined.
Layout Editor addresses a different need. It lets you customise the workspace after the product-level merge: select a layout, decide which components you need, and arrange them. It does not turn two separate application tabs into one through a manual command.
This distinction helps avoid troubleshooting the wrong thing. If you cannot find a separate Live tab, look in the Editor workspace for the controls you need. If the panels are crowded or not arranged for your work, open Layout Editor instead of searching menus for a merge option.
Where to find the unified Editor
Open Streamlabs Desktop and select the Editor tab. Its unified workspace is where you work with the streaming preview and the available panels, such as Scenes, Sources, Mixer, Chat, and Recent Events. Depending on your version and configuration, the exact visible panels can vary.
Think of the Editor as the shared working area, not as a guarantee that every panel is already visible. A compact layout may omit components you do not use, while another layout may give more space to chat or events. The point of Layout Editor is to choose an arrangement that suits the task, rather than to restore an older split between Editor and Live.
For example, if you prepare scenes and check audio before going live, you may want Scenes, Sources, and Mixer close to Preview. If you mainly watch audience messages while a stream runs, a layout with more room for Chat may be easier to use. These are workspace choices, not changes to the content or stream destination.
If your broader goal is a continuous YouTube channel rather than a particular desktop arrangement, keep the two decisions separate: how the broadcast is operated, and how you organise panels while working. For example, a guide to keeping different playlists on a YouTube radio stream concerns the channel’s programming, not the arrangement of Streamlabs Desktop.
Open Layout Editor
From the Editor, open Editor > Layout Editor. Streamlabs’ Layout Editor support guide documents the steps for customising the setup. The guide was last updated on 19 December 2025; if your version presents different labels, follow the closest current in-app control rather than assuming a missing command.
The Layout Editor is for changing the workspace itself. You can work on the active layout or make a new one, then save the arrangement. It is not a setting that needs to be enabled to access the unified Editor tab, nor is it described as an Ultra-only requirement. Keep it distinct from controls that affect what happens to a broadcast after you go live.
Before making changes, take a moment to decide what you want the layout to improve. Are you trying to see more panels at once, make one panel larger, or reduce clutter by removing components? A clear purpose makes it easier to choose between adjusting the active layout and creating another one.
If you want a safe place to experiment without losing a useful working arrangement, create a new layout instead of changing the active one. If you only need a small adjustment, editing the active layout may be simpler. The documented options support both approaches, so choose based on whether you want to keep two distinct workspaces.
Customise the active layout
To adjust the layout you are already using, open Layout Editor and select the active layout. Choose a layout style, then move the components into positions that make sense for your routine. Streamlabs documents dragging components to arrange them; it also says you can remove components you do not use and resize sections by dragging their edges.
A useful arrangement depends on what you need to watch at the same time. A small business running a product demonstration might prioritise Preview and Sources, so the operator can check what viewers see and which scene elements are active. A devotional music channel might prefer a clear view of Mixer and Preview while keeping other panels accessible but smaller. These are examples of priorities, not named presets or requirements.
Removing an unused component can make the workspace easier to scan, but it also means that panel is no longer visible in that layout. If you rely on Chat or Recent Events to monitor activity, do not remove them simply to make the screen look tidy. You can keep another layout for a different task if you want separate arrangements.
When the panels are where you want them, choose Save Changes. If a panel feels cramped, drag its edge to change its size, then save again. The guide describes these basic layout controls; it does not establish that every component can be positioned arbitrarily or that every version exposes identical options.
This kind of organisation is separate from stream quality. Moving a panel does not change encoder settings, network requirements, or YouTube’s ingest configuration. If you are investigating a picture that looks soft, a YouTube 720p bitrate guide is a more relevant starting point than rearranging the Editor.
Add and name a tab
If you want a separate arrangement for another task, use Add Tab in Layout Editor. Enter a name that tells you when to use it, then choose Save New Tab. The name is for recognising the layout; it does not create a new stream, scene, or YouTube destination.
For instance, you might name one layout “Preparation” and another “Live monitoring”. Use names that describe the work, rather than names that could be mistaken for a channel or a broadcast state. Then select the new layout from the dropdown at the top of the editor and arrange it as needed.
This gives you a practical alternative to continually changing one workspace back and forth. Keep the panels you need for setup in one layout, and give monitoring tasks a different arrangement if that helps. You can still return to the other layout using the dropdown; the intent is workspace customisation, not tab merging.
Once selected, choose a layout style and drag the components into the positions you prefer. Remove anything you do not need in that particular view, resize sections by their edges, and select Save Changes when finished. The documented workflow does not call for a special merge control, and adding a named tab should not be described as bringing the former Editor and Live tabs together.
Arrange workspace panels for the job
The unified workspace is most useful when you arrange it around decisions you actually make. Before a broadcast, you may need to confirm the correct scene, check sources, and listen to audio levels. During a broadcast, you may care more about Preview, Chat, and recent activity. A layout can reduce the amount of panel switching involved, but it cannot replace checking the content and stream itself.
Start with the panels you use together, then decide which deserves the largest area. If Preview is the reference for what viewers will see, avoid shrinking it so far that text or scene composition becomes difficult to check. If you monitor audience messages, leave enough room for Chat to read them. Save after the arrangement is usable rather than trying to make every panel equally prominent.
Streamlabs says Recent Events can be popped out for users who need to see more events. That is a distinct option from rearranging all the panels, and it may be useful when the ordinary panel does not provide enough room for the activity you want to monitor. The guide to continuous background visuals for an Indian music stream covers a content concern; panel size and event visibility remain workspace concerns.
Do not confuse Live Output Editing with Layout Editor. Streamlabs describes Live Output Editing as a feature for changing streaming destinations after going live, and says it must be enabled before the stream starts. Its Live Output Editing article currently describes it as an Ultra feature. That is not a way to combine or arrange Editor panels. Check the current Streamlabs page for feature availability and terms, rather than assuming these unrelated controls share the same access requirements.
If your work is a fixed video loop, planning the content and playback method is another separate problem. A guide on switching video files automatically in OBS concerns an OBS workflow, not Streamlabs’ Layout Editor. Keeping these boundaries clear saves time when a workspace change does not address a stream’s actual operational issue.
Choose or switch layouts
Use the dropdown at the top of the editor to select the layout you want to work in. A layout is useful when you have a repeatable reason for wanting a different panel arrangement, such as preparation versus monitoring. If one arrangement serves every task, there is no need to create extra layouts merely because the option is available.
Before switching, consider whether the panels you need are in the selected layout. If your monitoring view is missing Chat or Recent Events, either select the other layout or customise this one. This is more reliable than expecting a tab switch to combine or reveal every possible component automatically.
Keep names and purposes simple enough to remember. “Preparation” and “Monitoring” are clearer than names that refer to a particular day or a temporary problem. If you later change the purpose of a layout, update it to match, or create a fresh one rather than accumulating arrangements whose differences are hard to recall.
A saved layout changes how the Streamlabs Desktop workspace is presented. It does not itself guarantee that a stream is live, that a YouTube channel is receiving the right signal, or that a video will continue playing unattended. For separate operational questions, use a relevant guide, such as advice on reducing data use for a 24/7 sleep-sounds stream, and verify current YouTube and Streamlabs guidance for your setup.
If you are choosing software for a continuous channel, the desktop layout question may only be one part of the work: a computer-based workflow still depends on the computer and its connection being available. StreamNeo can remove the need to leave your own computer running for a file-based 24/7 YouTube stream, which addresses that specific overnight operating concern rather than changing Streamlabs panel controls.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Can I merge the Editor and Live tabs with a command?
No current merge command is described in Streamlabs’ documentation. Streamlabs combined the tabs at the product level into a unified Editor tab; use Layout Editor to customise the workspace you have.
How do I create another workspace tab?
Open Editor > Layout Editor, choose Add Tab, name the layout, and choose Save New Tab. Select it from the dropdown, arrange its components, and save changes when you are satisfied.
Does Layout Editor require Streamlabs Ultra?
The documented Layout Editor workflow does not state that Ultra is required. Do not confuse it with Live Output Editing, which Streamlabs currently describes as an Ultra feature; check Streamlabs’ current documentation if availability or labels differ in your version.
Can I make Recent Events larger?
Streamlabs documents resizing sections by dragging their edges and separately notes that Recent Events can be popped out for a larger view. If the panel is not enough for your monitoring needs, try the pop-out and check the current in-app options.