> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://streamloop.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Go from a video file to a 24/7 live stream on YouTube or any RTMP platform in a few minutes — create a loop, upload your video, pick a destination, and go live.

This guide takes you from a video file to a live 24/7 stream. The whole thing takes a few minutes,
and your free trial credits cover it — no card required.

<Info>
  You'll need a **video file** and a **destination** to stream to (a YouTube channel, or a stream
  key from Twitch, Facebook Live, Kick, TikTok, or any RTMP platform).
</Info>

## Go live in six steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a free account">
    Sign up at [streamloop.app](https://streamloop.app) with Google or an email address. New
    accounts get **free credits** — enough to run a real stream for a few hours — with no card
    required. See [Billing](/billing) for how credits work.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a loop">
    A *loop* is a stream you set up once and run 24/7. From your dashboard, click
    **Create new loop**, give it a **Stream name** (for example, `Nature sounds`), and click
    **Create**. You'll land in the loop editor.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your video">
    Open the **Playlist** tab, and on the **Video** tab click **Upload** to add a file (MP4, MOV,
    or MKV, up to 10 GB), or **From URL** to import from Google Drive, a YouTube link, or a direct
    link. Add more videos to build a playlist, or an **Audio** track to play over the video — see
    [Build and schedule your playlist](/build-and-schedule-your-playlist).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick your quality">
    In the **General** tab, choose a **resolution** (720p, 1080p, 1440p, or 4K) and **frame rate**
    (24, 25, 30, or 60fps). Higher quality costs more per hour — `1080p` at `30fps` suits most
    streams. See the price breakdown in [Billing](/billing).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect a destination">
    Still in **General**, click **Connect a destination**. Pick **YouTube · Connect channel** to
    link your channel with Google, or choose **RTMP stream key** to paste a key from YouTube,
    Twitch, or any other platform. See [Set up your destination](/set-up-your-destination).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go live">
    When the loop shows **Stream is idle**, click **Start stream**. Your video starts looping to
    your destination within a minute or two. To go live later instead, turn on **Schedule loop**
    and enter a time like `tomorrow 9am`, then click **Schedule the stream**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Check>
  Your loop is live. It keeps streaming 24/7 from the cloud — you can close your laptop and it
  stays on air.
</Check>

## What's next

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build and schedule your playlist" icon="list-video" href="/build-and-schedule-your-playlist">
    Reorder videos, shuffle, add a separate audio track, and edit the playlist while you're live.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build a music or lofi channel" icon="music" href="/lofi-music-channel">
    Loop a background video with a separate audio playlist for a 24/7 music channel.
  </Card>

  <Card title="How billing works" icon="credit-card" href="/billing">
    Pay-as-you-go credits, the price per resolution, and what happens if you run low.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reliability" icon="shield-check" href="/reliability-guarantees">
    How Streamloop keeps your stream live around the clock and recovers on its own.
  </Card>
</Columns>