OBS no audio on Twitch
OBS shows audio levels moving, but viewers hear nothing on Twitch.
This is one of the most common and frustrating streaming issues. Everything looks correct on your end. Meters are bouncing, you can hear yourself. But your audience gets silence.
Check these first
1. Audio track mismatch
OBS can output to multiple audio tracks, but streaming typically uses Track 1 by default.
- Go to Settings → Output
- Under Streaming, check that Audio Track is set to Track 1
- Then open Advanced Audio Properties (right-click Audio Mixer)
- Make sure your sources have Track 1 checked
2. Advanced Audio Properties
Each source can be individually routed to different tracks.
- Right-click anywhere in the Audio Mixer
- Select Advanced Audio Properties
- Check that your mic and desktop audio have Track 1 enabled (checkmark)
3. Source is muted for stream
A source can show levels but still be muted for the stream output.
- Look for a red speaker icon in the Audio Mixer. This means the source is muted
- Click the speaker icon to unmute
4. Audio Monitoring setting
If a source is set to "Monitor Only", it won't go to the stream.
- Open Advanced Audio Properties
- Find the Audio Monitoring column
- Set to "Monitor Off" or "Monitor and Output"
- Never use "Monitor Only" for sources you want in your stream
Platform-specific checks
If OBS settings look correct, the next step is confirming the platform is actually receiving audio.
Twitch
- Check your VOD after a few minutes of streaming
- Use Twitch Inspector (inspector.twitch.tv) to verify audio is being received
- Sometimes it's a viewer-side playback issue, not your stream
YouTube
- Check the YouTube Studio dashboard during your stream
- The live preview should show audio levels
- Wait 30-60 seconds for the preview to sync
Prevention
Before going live every time:
- Do a 30-second test recording
- Play it back with headphones
- Verify both your mic and desktop audio are present
- Only then start your actual stream
This takes 1 minute and prevents hours of wasted content.
Related issues
📚 Official resource: OBS Studio Documentation
Disclaimer: This guide is based on common solutions as of December 2025. OBS interfaces may vary by version. For official support, visit obsproject.com/help.