Live Streaming: Home

Live streaming directly from a mobile device to Twitter is easy! The Twitter app for Android/iOS allows streaming directly to your Twitter feed, using your phone's built-in, rear-facing camera. However, the instructions include clicking/tapping some unlabeled icons, so I thought I would share pictorial instructions. If you have a Twitter account and a few minutes, you should be able to follow these instructions (as of 10 April, 2019, captured using an Android device).

Step 1: Tap to compose a new tweet.

Step 2: Tap the icon to add an image.

Step 3: Tap the camera icon (rather than choosing a saved image)

Step 4: Again, tap the camera icon (rather than selecting a photo). Note: You may need to enable Twitter app access to storage, microphone, and/or camera to proceed.

Step 5: Click "Live" (recording is fine if you want to shoot video to post later. This guide is for live streaming, so that's not what you want in this case.)

Step 6: Add a title and/or descriptive text to give viewers some context (if desired), and click, "Go LIVE." You will probably want to frame something more interesting than a wall (like this one) before you go live!

That's it! Your camera will immediately begin to broadcast what it sees to Twitter, so you will want to have your shot lined up before you hit, "Go LIVE." The broadcast will continue until you stop it, using on-screen controls, or until your battery dies, you close the app, etc..

Pro tips:

• Live streaming drains battery quickly! YMMV, but my last broadcast was 30 minutes and used about 50% of the charge on my year-old Pixel 2 device. A portable charger may help, but keep in mind that you'll need to hold it, and hold still to keep your shot steady.
• Stabilizer devices, such as the "DJI Osmo Mobile Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphones" (available for checkout from MSU Libraries' Hollander MakeCentral) can help achieve better quality filming. Holding your device still is harder than it sounds, and nobody likes watching a shaky video.
• Tripods (which are also available for checkout at Hollander MakeCentral) can also be helpful for hands-free recording—but keep in mind you'll need some way to attach the phone to the tripod (which uses standard 1/4-inch threads). 
• A decent Wi-fi connection will keep things rolling smoothly, as cellular networks (especially indoors) can be spotty.