YouTube Setup
YouTube channels can be tracked using either handles or channel IDs.
Finding Channel Identifiers
Handle Format (Preferred)
The handle is the @username in the YouTube URL:
| URL | Handle |
|---|---|
https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast | @MrBeast |
https://www.youtube.com/@LinusTechTips | @LinusTechTips |
Use the @handle format whenever possible. It's easier to remember and more user-friendly than channel IDs.
Format:
- ✅ Paste the channel link:
https://www.youtube.com/@MrBeast - ✅ Or type the handle, with or without the
@:@MrBeastorMrBeast - ❌ A video, Shorts or playlist link won't work; open the channel page and copy that link
Channel ID Format (Legacy)
For older channels without handles:
| URL | Channel ID |
|---|---|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA | UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA |
Paste the /channel/UC... link or type the ID on its own; both work.
YouTube-Specific Limitations
YouTube has several limitations compared to Twitch and Kick.
Notification Delay (2-5 minutes)
YouTube notifications take 2-5 minutes after a stream starts. This is a YouTube platform limitation, not something Streamlinx can change.
No VOD Links
Offline notifications don't include VOD links. YouTube doesn't provide reliable links to completed live stream recordings.
No Game Artwork
YouTube doesn't have a game category system like Twitch, so notifications won't include game artwork.
Premieres
YouTube Premieres aren't special-cased. A premiere is a published video, so it can trigger an upload notification when it's posted (if upload notifications are enabled), and a live notification when the premiere actually goes live. This is expected behavior - premieres are valid content worth notifying about.
Edited and older videos
YouTube tells Streamlinx whenever a creator edits a video's title or description, not only when they publish one. Streamlinx sends an upload notification only for a video YouTube published in the last 24 hours, so editing an older video never announces it again. A private or scheduled video counts as published when it goes public.
Embed Color: Red (#FF0000)
Upload Notifications
Streamlinx can notify your Discord when a tracked YouTube channel uploads a new video.
Setup:
- Navigate to your YouTube streamer in the web dashboard
- Open the Content tab
- Enable Upload notifications
- Optionally enable Exclude YouTube Shorts (on by default) to filter out videos 60 seconds or shorter
Template variables for upload notifications:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
{streamer} | Channel display name |
{title} | Video title |
{url} | Video URL (youtube.com/watch?v=...) |
{duration} | Video duration (e.g., "12:34") |
{description} | First 200 characters of description |
{username} | Channel @handle |
Content notification channel: Route upload notifications to a separate channel (e.g., #new-videos) in the Content tab.
Cooldowns: Premium users can set a separate cooldown for upload notifications in the Advanced tab.
Tier Limits
Free Tier
- Maximum 5 Youtube channels
- Part of the 15 total streamer limit (5 per platform)
- Example: 5 Youtube + 10 Twitch + Kick = 15 total ✓
- Example: 5 Youtube + 0 other platforms = 5 total ✓
Premium Tier
- Maximum 10 Youtube channels
- Part of the 360 total streamer limit
- Example: 10 Youtube + 350 Twitch + Kick = 360 total ✓