Troubleshooting

Twitch Stream Key Reset but Someone Else Can Still Go Live

Resetting your stream key does not remove anyone you added as an authorized streamer.

Is this your situation?

You reset your stream key, expecting that to stop a former producer or someone else from going live on your channel. They can still go live, and the reset did not cut off their access.

The short answer

Refreshing a stream key changes the key for the account holder only and does not invalidate any authorized streamers. Removing an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate their guest key.

What you see, and why

SymptomCause
Someone else can still go live after you reset your stream key.Refreshing a stream key changes it for the account holder only and not for authorized streamers.
The other person's access did not disappear when you expected it to.Removing an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate a guest key.
The person streaming uses a key that looks different from yours.An authorization invite gives the recipient a guest stream key formatted like live_sub_[streamkey].

Check these first

  • Check your list of authorized streamers. Authorized broadcasters are added in Permissions under Stream settings.Verify: Check People who can stream to your channel for unrecognized names.
  • Check whether you shared your key. Broadcasters should never share their stream key.Verify: Check whether your encoder's key matches the one in Stream settings.
  • Check whether you added the person by email. An authorized streamer is added by entering their email under People who can stream to your channel.Verify: Check that email against the names listed in Permissions.

How Twitch handles this

  • Refreshing a stream key changes the key for the account holder only and does not invalidate any authorized streamers.
  • Removing an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate a guest key.
  • Broadcasters who need to allow multiple accounts to broadcast can use the guest stream key feature.
  • Twitch does not recommend sharing a stream key with anyone, though some channels may need to be jointly run.

Which path applies to you?

  1. Did you add this person as an authorized streamer in Permissions? Removing an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate a guest key.
  2. Did you ever give this person your own stream key directly? Broadcasters should never share their stream key with anyone.
  3. Are you unsure who you added, if anyone? A broadcaster adds an authorized streamer by entering their email under People who can stream to your channel.

Step by step: finding the cause

  1. Confirm the reset took effect for your key. A stream key may be reset at any time from the same place it is found in Stream settings.Confirm: Check that the key shown differs from the one previously in your encoder.
  2. Retrieve your current key. A stream key can be retrieved from the Creator Dashboard under Settings icon then Stream.Where: Creator Dashboard → Settings → StreamConfirm: Check that your encoder now holds the newly reset key.
  3. Open the permissions list. A broadcaster visits Permissions in Stream settings to add authorized broadcasters.Where: Creator Dashboard → Settings → Stream → PermissionsConfirm: Check People who can stream to your channel for the other person's entry.
  4. Identify the authorized streamer by email. An authorized streamer is added by entering their email under People who can stream to your channel.Confirm: Check whether the listed email matches the person still going live.
  5. Remove the authorized stream account. Removing an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate a guest key.Confirm: Check that the entry no longer appears in Permissions.
  6. Rule out a shared main key. Broadcasters should never share their stream key.Confirm: Check whether anyone besides you ever had your main key.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a reset removes every streamer. Refreshing a stream key changes it for the account holder only and not for authorized streamers.Why it happens: A reset only changes the key held by the account holder.
  • Leaving an old authorized streamer on the list. Removing an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate a guest key.Why it happens: The guest key stays valid until that account is removed.
  • Sharing your own key instead of adding an authorized streamer. Twitch does not recommend sharing a stream key with anyone, though some channels may need to be jointly run.Why it happens: Broadcasters should never share their stream key with anyone.

Quick reference

SituationWhat applies
Stream key resetRefreshing a stream key changes the key for the account holder only.
Authorized streamers after resetA reset does not invalidate any authorized streamers.
Removing a guest's accessRemoving an authorized stream account is the only way to invalidate a guest key.
Guest key formatA guest stream key is formatted like live_sub_[streamkey].
Adding an authorized streamerDone by selecting People who can stream to your channel and entering their email.
Where to find your keyThe Creator Dashboard under the Settings icon then Stream.
Sharing your keyBroadcasters should never share their stream key with anyone.
Account takeover scenarioTwitch may reset the password and stream key on the account holder's behalf.

Keeping track of who has access

Delvia keeps a record of who was ever authorized to stream or hold access, so this kind of permission confusion gets diagnosed before someone goes live unexpectedly.