Switch Between OBS, Phone, or Multiple Cameras Mid-Stream
Connect multiple devices to Streamrun and switch which one is live at any point during your broadcast. Viewers stay connected. Your VOD stays intact. Works with OBS, Moblin, IRL Pro, Streamlabs, and any RTMP or SRT device.
How live stream device switching works
Streamrun sits between your devices and your streaming destinations. Multiple devices connect and stream to Streamrun simultaneously. You control which one your audience sees and you can change that at any time, mid-broadcast, with a single tap. The outgoing stream to Twitch, YouTube, or any other platform is never interrupted.
Desktop (OBS)
RTMP / SRT — streaming
Mobile (Moblin)
SRTLA — streaming
Action Camera
RTMP — streaming
Streamrun
Twitch
Uninterrupted output
YouTube
Uninterrupted output
Changing devices means ending the stream and starting a new one. Viewers are disconnected, the VOD is split, and the momentum of your broadcast is broken.
All devices stream to Streamrun simultaneously. Switch the active source at any time. Viewers stay connected and the VOD stays intact.
When to switch streaming devices mid-broadcast
Device switching is useful any time the physical reality of your stream changes. Whether you're a solo creator on the move or running a multi-camera live event.
How to switch from OBS to your phone mid-stream
Start your broadcast from a desktop setup at home using OBS, then hand off to your phone when you need to move. Without ending the stream. Your audience follows you seamlessly. This is the most common device switching scenario for solo creators. For more on keeping IRL streams stable, see the IRL streaming guide.
How to switch cameras during a live stream
For live events, each camera or encoder sends its feed directly to Streamrun over the internet. A director switches between them in real time from the Streamrun Editor or Remote Control. No long cable runs, no central OBS machine at the venue, no hardware video mixer required. The director does not need to be physically present.
- •Camera operators stream independently from anywhere on the venue floor
- •Director cuts between cameras from a laptop or phone
- •No HDMI cable runs, no hardware switcher, no central PC required at the venue
Multi-creator live streams without encoder restarts
Each contributor streams their own feed to Streamrun from their own location and device. The host switches between them live. Handing off segments, cutting to field reporters, or passing the mic, without coordinating encoder restarts or ending the stream.
What devices and apps work with live stream device switching
Any device that can output RTMP, SRT, or SRTLA connects to Streamrun. You can mix and match freely. A laptop running OBS, two iPhones running Moblin, and a Sony camera can all feed into the same pipeline simultaneously.
Desktop encoders
- OBS Studio
- Streamlabs Desktop
- vMix, Wirecast, and others
Mobile apps
- Moblin
- IRL Pro
- Streamlabs Mobile
- Any RTMP / SRTLA mobile app
Cameras and hardware
- Action cameras with RTMP output
- Hardware encoders
- Dedicated streaming cameras
- Any SRT-capable device
Streamrun vs Streamlabs Stream Shift
Streamlabs introduced Stream Shift to let creators switch devices mid-stream. The core idea is the same, but the two products differ significantly in which devices and software they support.
Streamlabs Stream Shift feature set based on publicly available information as of March 18th, 2026.
If you already use Streamlabs, you can continue using it seamlessly with Streamrun. If you use OBS, a third-party mobile app, or any hardware that is not the Streamlabs ecosystem, Streamrun is the only option that supports device switching across those setups.
How to set up device switching in Streamrun
Device switching can be set up as a part of every Streamrun configuration.
Add your input sources
In the Streamrun editor, add each device as a separate input source. Each input gets its own stream key endpoint. Configure your encoding apps to push to those endpoints.
Start streaming from all devices
Go live from each device before or during the broadcast. All connected devices stream to Streamrun simultaneously. Select the active source to reach your audience.
Tap to switch, any time
Open the Streamrun Editor or the Remote Control. Tap the source you want to go live. The switch happens instantly and your outgoing broadcast continues without interruption.
Device switching pairs well with automatic failover — you can designate a backup source that Streamrun switches to automatically if your primary device drops, without any manual intervention. For a deeper look at how Streamrun's cloud layer enables this, see live streaming infrastructure. If you're struggling with streams dropping in the first place, see how to stream without disconnects.
FAQ: switching devices during a live stream
Can I switch from OBS to my phone without ending my stream?
Yes. With Streamrun, both OBS and your phone connect to Streamrun simultaneously. You tap to switch which one is live in the Streamrun Editor or Remote Control. The outgoing stream to Twitch, YouTube, or any other platform keeps running without interruption. Viewers stay connected and the VOD stays intact.
Does device switching work with Twitch and YouTube?
Yes. Streamrun sits between your devices and your streaming destinations. The switch happens inside Streamrun, so Twitch and YouTube only ever see a single continuous stream. You can stream to both simultaneously and switch devices on all of them at the same time.
What apps and devices support Streamrun device switching?
Any device that can output RTMP, SRT, or SRTLA works with Streamrun device switching. This includes OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, Streamlabs Mobile, Moblin, IRL Pro, vMix, Wirecast, hardware encoders, action cameras, and dedicated streaming cameras. You can mix and match freely. For example, OBS on a desktop and Moblin on an iPhone in the same pipeline.
How is Streamrun device switching different from Streamlabs Stream Shift?
Streamlabs Stream Shift only works with the Streamlabs desktop app and Streamlabs mobile app. Streamrun device switching works with any streaming software or device that supports RTMP, SRT, or SRTLA, including OBS, Moblin, IRL Pro, hardware encoders, and cameras. You are not locked into a single ecosystem.
Can I use device switching for multi-camera live streaming?
Yes. Each camera or encoder connects to Streamrun independently, streaming over the internet. A director then switches between them in real time from the Streamrun Editor or Remote Control. This replaces a hardware video mixer and long cable runs. The director does not need to be at the venue.
Do all devices need to be streaming before I switch?
The device you switch to needs to be connected and streaming to Streamrun before you switch to it. You can connect additional devices at any point during the broadcast. The inactive sources stream to Streamrun but their feed is not sent to your audience until you activate them.
Switch devices without missing a beat
Free 14-day trial. No credit card required.