How to Stream Vertically with OBS
May 2026
Set up 9:16 vertical streaming for Instagram Live, TikTok, and more using the HostVortex OBS Vertical Streaming Plugin.
Why Vertical Streaming?
Mobile-first platforms like Instagram Live and TikTok are built for 9:16 portrait content. Streaming a standard 16:9 feed to these platforms results in black bars on the sides and a poor viewer experience. The HostVortex OBS Vertical Streaming Plugin lets you output a dedicated 9:16 stream directly from OBS — no re-encoding on your end, no cropping after the fact.
Requirements
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- OBS Studio 28.0 or newer on Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- The HostVortex OBS Vertical Streaming Plugin installed
- A HostVortex account with at least one platform connected
Download OBS Vertical Canvas Plugin (Windows)
Download the installer for Windows 10/11 (64-bit).
Download setup.exeSetup
- Close OBS Studio completely, then run the HostVortex OBS Vertical Streaming Plugin installer and follow the steps.
- Start OBS Studio. The Vertical Canvas dock will appear automatically. If it does not, open it via Docks → Vertical Canvas.
- Open Tools → Vertical Canvas to access the plugin settings.
- In the HostVortex Dashboard, copy the RTMP URL and stream key for your target platform.
Paste the RTMP URL and stream key into the Vertical Canvas plugin settings in OBS.
The Vertical Canvas shows a 9:16 (1080x1920) live preview of exactly what will be sent to the platform.
- Go live in OBS as normal — the vertical stream runs alongside your main stream automatically.
Designing Your Vertical Canvas
The Vertical Canvas is a separate scene layout, independent of your main 16:9 canvas. You can add sources, position them, and design for portrait without affecting your main stream. Some tips:
- Reuse the same sources (webcam, game capture) — just reposition them for portrait.
- Keep important content in the center third — mobile viewers often have UI overlays at the top and bottom.
- Text and overlays should be larger than on a 16:9 canvas — phones are small screens.
Auto-Start Option
The plugin has an Auto-start when main stream starts toggle in its settings:
Enabled — the vertical stream starts and stops automatically with your main OBS stream. Ideal for streamers who always go live on both.
Disabled — you start and stop the vertical stream manually via the Start/Stop button in the Vertical Canvas dock. Useful when you only want to go vertical on specific streams.
Tips
- Check the Vertical Canvas preview before going live — it shows exactly what your vertical audience will see.
- If you use HostVortex multistreaming, the vertical stream is an additional output on top of your standard multistream. Both run independently.
- If the Vertical Canvas dock disappears after an OBS update, re-enable it via Docks → Vertical Canvas.
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