Streamlabs Collab Cam lets you bring a remote guest or another camera into a Streamlabs Desktop broadcast. Add the source, start it, share its generated link, review the joined feed, and select Show on Stream only when you are ready for viewers to see it.
The same workflow can use a phone or tablet as a second camera. You do not need a tripod or a special mobile app, but the device needs a camera, internet access and a browser; check the preview and audio before putting it on air.
Add a Collab Cam source
Open Streamlabs Desktop and locate the Sources panel in the scene you plan to use. Add a new source, choose Collab Cam, and confirm. The precise position or wording of controls may change between versions, but the essential point is that Collab Cam is a source in your scene, not a guest link you send before setting it up.
Give the source a name that will still make sense when you have more than one angle, such as “Guest interview” or “Phone overhead”. This helps when you return to the scene later to change visibility or layout. If the source list already contains a similar item, check its name before adding another; duplicate-looking sources can make it unclear which feed you are editing.
Create or select the scene where the guest should appear. Consider the finished composition before inviting anyone: a guest box may sit beside your camera, over a presentation, or in a corner over a static background. Leave room for names, captions or other information that must remain visible. You can adjust source placement in the scene after a feed arrives, but planning the space first makes review less hurried.
If you are using a live presentation or switching between scenes, decide which scenes should include the guest source. A source added to one scene does not necessarily appear in every other scene. Test the actual scene transitions you intend to use, rather than assuming the guest will remain visible throughout. For a broader view of arranging a programme, see this guide to streaming a virtual conference on YouTube.
Start Collab Cam and create the invite
With the source selected, open its controls and choose Start Collab Cam. Streamlabs then generates an invitation link for a guest or another device to join. Copy that link only after the session is started, and send it privately using a direct message or email.
Treat the link as access to your session, not as public programme information. Send it to the person who needs it and avoid putting it in a public post, stream overlay, shared document or screen recording. Streamlabs’ Collab Cam support guide advises sharing the invite only with people you know and trust. If the link may have been exposed, generate a fresh one rather than relying on the old invitation remaining private.
Be especially careful if you are configuring the source while already live and showing your desktop. A link can appear in a panel or dialog while you copy it. Hide or change the screen capture before opening those controls, or set the guest up before going live. A short pause to protect the invite is easier than having to replace it while the show is under way.
A generated link does not mean the guest is already on your stream. It is an entry point for joining the Collab Cam session; the person still needs to open it and grant access to the relevant camera or microphone. Keep the audience-facing scene under your control until you have reviewed the incoming feed.
Send the link to a guest or device
Send the invitation to the guest with a short note explaining which device to use, whether they should use a camera and microphone, and when you want them to join. Ask them to use a reasonably quiet place and frame themselves before joining. This is practical coordination, not a technical guarantee: their connection, surroundings and device settings can all affect what you receive.
When the guest opens the link in a browser, the browser may ask for permission to use the camera and microphone. They should allow only the devices they intend to share. If the browser shows a camera selector, they can choose the right camera before joining. The guest should tell you if the page cannot access the camera, rather than repeatedly opening different links or sharing credentials.
The joining device needs a camera, internet connection and browser access. Streamlabs does not publish a complete compatibility matrix that assures every device and browser combination behaves the same way, so do not promise that an untested setup will work identically. Where the guest is important to the programme, do a brief rehearsal using the same device and location planned for the broadcast.
Agree on simple ground rules before the stream: who is speaking first, whether the guest should mute while listening, and what to do if the call drops. The guest remains subject to the rules of the destination platform as well as your own programme standards. For a child-focused or otherwise sensitive broadcast, review the relevant YouTube policies for continuous kids’ content and the current official guidance before inviting participants.
Review the joined feed
When the guest joins, first inspect the feed inside Streamlabs Desktop. Check that the intended person or device is connected, the picture is framed sensibly, and the background does not expose information they did not mean to show. Make any layout changes in the scene while the source is still withheld from the audience.
Check sound separately from picture. Confirm whether you can hear the guest in Desktop, then verify that the stream mix will carry that sound to viewers. Hearing a person in your own monitoring does not by itself establish that the audience hears them. Streamlabs’ support documentation notes that an additional microphone source may help in a particular audio-routing situation, but this is not a complete diagnosis for every missing-audio problem. Check the relevant source and routing controls, and test with a private or otherwise appropriate rehearsal before relying on it.
Ask the guest to speak at a normal level and pause while you listen. Look for echoes, doubled audio, muted sources or background noise. If you and the guest can hear each other through speakers, headphones may reduce feedback, but the actual result depends on the room and devices. Avoid making last-minute audio changes without checking the result in the same monitoring path your broadcast uses.
Keep the feed private while fixing issues. If the picture is black, confirm that the guest selected a camera and granted browser permission. If the sound is absent, establish whether the problem is at the guest device, the Collab Cam source or the Desktop mix before changing several settings at once. A simple change-and-check sequence makes it easier to undo an unhelpful adjustment.
Connection quality is also worth checking before the segment begins. There is no Collab Cam-specific upload threshold or latency guarantee in the reviewed official guidance. A guest whose feed stutters may need to move closer to a stable connection or stop other demanding activity on the same network, but treat that as a troubleshooting step, not a promise of a particular result. General advice about reducing interruptions on a home connection is covered in this Tata Play Fiber streaming checklist.
Choose Show on Stream deliberately
When the preview, framing and audio are acceptable, choose Show on Stream for the joined feed. This is the control that puts the Collab Cam participant into the broadcast scene. Joining and reviewing are separate from showing: do not tell a guest that they are live merely because they opened the link or appear in your Desktop controls.
Before selecting it, check the programme itself. Is the correct scene active? Is the guest ready to speak? Is the on-screen layout readable at the size viewers are likely to watch? If the stream includes a title card or presentation, ensure the guest does not cover the key material. Once shown, continue to monitor the source rather than assuming the initial preview settles every issue.
You can hide or remove the feed when the conversation ends or if something unexpected appears. Let the guest know what action you will take if you need to pause them, so a hidden source is not mistaken for a disconnected call. If you are switching scenes, verify whether the source remains visible in the destination scene and whether it should.
A useful routine is: join, review, communicate, then show. For a public stream, that small pause gives you a chance to catch the wrong camera, private background detail or audio problem before viewers see it. It also makes the host, rather than the guest’s arrival timing, responsible for the moment the feed reaches the audience.
Use a phone as a second camera
To use a phone or tablet for another angle, follow the same source and invitation steps. Start Collab Cam on the Desktop host, open the generated link on the mobile device, choose the camera to share if prompted, then review the incoming picture and sound in Desktop. Only select Show on Stream once the framing and scene are ready.
This can be useful for a close view of a product demonstration, a second view of an instrument, or a room angle that your main camera cannot capture. The person operating the phone can be you or someone helping with the broadcast. If the device is unattended, frame it before the programme and check that it remains stable and powered for the portion you need; do not assume the camera will stay positioned or connected without attention.
A tripod can make hands-free positioning easier, particularly when you need to point the phone down at a work surface. It is optional. A stable stack of books or another secure support may be enough when the angle does not need frequent adjustment. Choose based on the shot and the risk of the device being knocked over, not because Collab Cam requires a particular accessory.
Think through the angle before mounting or propping the phone. Keep the lens clear, avoid pointing it at a bright window if that obscures the subject, and check the preview from the audience’s perspective. If you need the phone for another task during the stream, remember that changing apps or handling the device may interrupt the shot or alter what it captures. A spare device is convenient, but not a prerequisite if your existing phone can do the job.
For more than one guest or angle, check Streamlabs’ current Collab Cam product page for the published plan details before making a decision. The page currently says one guest is free and that Streamlabs Ultra supports up to 11 additional guests or camera angles; an older Desktop support guide gives a different Ultra figure. Because those official pages conflict, verify the current plan screen if capacity matters to your setup rather than treating the older figure as current.
The feature is for bringing people or camera angles into a Streamlabs Desktop broadcast. If your main need is a pre-recorded programme that continues while your computer is off, that is a different workflow: StreamNeo turns an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream and removes the need to leave your own computer running for that broadcast.
Before the first proper broadcast
Run a short rehearsal with the exact scene, guest device and audio path you plan to use. Invite the participant, review the feed, show it briefly if appropriate, then hide it again. This confirms that everyone understands the hand-off and gives you a chance to spot a scene, permission or sound issue before the programme matters.
Write down the few actions you need under pressure: where the source is, how to regenerate a link, how to hide the guest, and which scene contains the layout. Keep the note off the screen capture. If the link is exposed, replace it; if the guest feed is not suitable, do not show it while troubleshooting. This is more useful than a long checklist of theoretical faults you have never encountered.
Make sure the guest knows the stream is public or otherwise visible to its intended audience, and that they can ask you to remove their feed. Do not frame this as a guarantee about platform approval or rights. Participants and content remain subject to the applicable platform rules, and you should check YouTube’s current official requirements when the format or material raises a question.
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
How do I add a guest to my Streamlabs stream?
Add a Collab Cam source in Streamlabs Desktop and start it to generate an invitation link. Send the link privately, review the guest’s joined feed, then choose Show on Stream when you are ready for viewers to see it.
Can I use my phone as a second camera?
Yes, if the phone has a camera, internet access and a browser that can open the invitation. Join from the phone, select the camera if prompted, and check the feed in Desktop before showing it; a tripod is optional.
Does a guest go live as soon as they join?
No. Joining makes the feed available for you to review in Streamlabs Desktop. You choose when it appears by selecting Show on Stream, so inspect picture and audio first.
What should I do if the invite link is exposed?
Treat it as compromised and generate a new link, then send the replacement privately to the intended participant. Avoid displaying the invite in a screen share while configuring Collab Cam during a live broadcast.