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StreamElements Overlays Not Working with TikTok: Multi-Stream Setup Fix (2025)
- Authors
- Name
- Robin
- Platform Compatibility Matrix
- Multi-Platform Overlay Setup Flow
- The Core Problem: TikTok Event Integration
- Solution 1: Use TikFinity for TikTok-Specific Overlays
- Solution 2: Create Platform-Specific Scenes in OBS
- Solution 3: Use Restream with Conditional Overlays
- Why Restream Doesn't Break StreamElements Overlays
- Performance: SE Live Plugin vs Restream
- Complete Multi-Stream Overlay Setup
- Troubleshooting: Overlays Still Not Working
- Final Take: Multi-Stream Overlays Require Multiple Tools
When you're multi-streaming to Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok, you're dealing with three different platforms that handle overlays differently:
- Twitch: StreamElements has native integration — overlays work out of the box.
- YouTube: StreamElements supports YouTube Live — overlays work with proper setup.
- TikTok: StreamElements doesn't have native TikTok integration — this is where things break.
Platform Compatibility Matrix
Platform Compatibility Matrix: Shows the support levels of StreamElements across different streaming platforms.
Multi-Platform Overlay Setup Flow
Here is a visual guide on how overlays work (or don't work) when multi-streaming to TikTok:
Multi-Platform Overlay Setup Flowchart: Guiding you on how to correctly configure overlay routing when streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously.
How to route your overlays correctly when streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously.
The Core Problem: TikTok Event Integration
StreamElements overlays are event-driven. They respond to:
- New followers
- Subscriptions
- Donations
- Chat messages
- Channel point redemptions
TikTok has different events:
- Follows (similar to Twitch)
- Gifts (digital roses, coins)
- Likes (heart taps)
- Comments
- Shares
StreamElements doesn't connect to TikTok's API to receive these events, so your overlays can't trigger.
Solution 1: Use TikFinity for TikTok-Specific Overlays
TikFinity is built specifically for TikTok Live and supports all TikTok events.
Setting Up TikFinity for Multi-Stream
- Create a TikFinity account at tikfinity.com.
- Connect your TikTok account (authorize TikFinity to access your live stream data).
- Set up TikTok-specific overlays:
- Gift alerts (roses, coins)
- Like counters
- Follower alerts
- Chat overlay
- Get your TikFinity overlay URL.
- Add to OBS as a Browser Source:
- In OBS, add a Browser Source.
- Paste your TikFinity overlay URL.
- Set resolution (1920×1080 for horizontal, 1080×1920 for vertical).
- Route to TikTok only:
- If using Restream, TikFinity overlays will appear on all platforms (not ideal).
- If using SE Live plugin, you can create a TikTok-specific scene with TikFinity overlays.
TikFinity Limitations
- Free tier limits: Limited customization and slower update speeds.
- Server reliability: Can be slow or disconnect during peak times.
- TikTok-only: Doesn't work with Twitch or YouTube events.
Solution 2: Create Platform-Specific Scenes in OBS
If you're using the SE Live plugin (not Restream), you can create separate scenes for each platform:
Step 1: Create Scene Structure
- Scene: Twitch/YouTube (with StreamElements overlays)
- Scene: TikTok (with TikFinity overlays)
- Scene: Base (gameplay, webcam — no overlays)
Step 2: Configure SE Live Plugin
- In OBS, go to Tools → StreamElements Live.
- Add streaming destinations:
- Twitch (with StreamElements overlays)
- YouTube (with StreamElements overlays)
- TikTok (without StreamElements overlays, use TikFinity instead)
- Assign scenes to platforms:
- Twitch → Scene: Twitch/YouTube
- YouTube → Scene: Twitch/YouTube
- TikTok → Scene: TikTok
Step 3: Switch Scenes During Stream
- For Twitch/YouTube: Use the Twitch/YouTube scene.
- For TikTok: Switch to the TikTok scene (with TikFinity overlays).
Note: This requires manual scene switching, which isn't ideal for live streams.
Solution 3: Use Restream with Conditional Overlays
If you're using Restream, you can't easily separate overlays by platform. However, you can:
- Keep StreamElements overlays for Twitch/YouTube events (they'll show on all platforms).
- Add TikFinity overlays for TikTok-specific events (they'll also show on all platforms).
- Accept that some overlays will appear on all platforms (not ideal, but functional).
Better approach: Use SE Live plugin instead of Restream if you need platform-specific overlays.
Why Restream Doesn't Break StreamElements Overlays
The Reddit post asked: "Can restream interfere with that?"
Answer: No. Restream is just a stream distributor. It takes your OBS output and sends it to multiple platforms. It doesn't interfere with StreamElements overlays.
The real issue: StreamElements overlays work fine on Twitch and YouTube, but TikTok doesn't support StreamElements events, so TikTok-specific overlays (gifts, likes) won't trigger.
Performance: SE Live Plugin vs Restream
The Reddit post also asked: "Does the SE live obs plug in for multi streaming use more of your computer than restream?"
Answer: Yes.
SE Live Plugin Performance
- CPU/GPU usage: Higher (encoding multiple streams).
- Bandwidth usage: Higher (uploading multiple streams).
- FPS impact: More noticeable (especially with lower-end hardware).
Restream Performance
- CPU/GPU usage: Lower (encoding one stream).
- Bandwidth usage: Lower (uploading one stream to Restream).
- FPS impact: Less noticeable.
Trade-off: Restream is easier on your PC, but you lose platform-specific overlay control.
Complete Multi-Stream Overlay Setup
Here's the recommended setup for multi-streaming with working overlays:
For Twitch and YouTube
- Use StreamElements:
- Set up overlays in StreamElements dashboard.
- Connect Twitch and YouTube accounts.
- Add overlays to OBS as Browser Sources.
For TikTok
- Use TikFinity:
- Set up TikTok-specific overlays in TikFinity.
- Connect TikTok account.
- Add TikFinity overlays to OBS as Browser Sources.
For Multi-Streaming
Use SE Live Plugin (if you need platform-specific overlays):
- Create separate scenes for TikTok vs Twitch/YouTube.
- Assign scenes to platforms in SE Live plugin.
- Switch scenes manually during stream.
Or use Restream (if you want simpler setup):
- Accept that StreamElements overlays will show on all platforms.
- Add TikFinity overlays for TikTok events (they'll also show on all platforms).
Troubleshooting: Overlays Still Not Working
If your overlays still aren't working after following these steps:
Check 1: Browser Source Settings
- URL is correct: Double-check your StreamElements/TikFinity overlay URL.
- Resolution matches: Set width/height to match your stream resolution.
- Refresh browser source: Right-click Browser Source → Refresh.
Check 2: Account Connections
- StreamElements: Verify Twitch/YouTube accounts are connected.
- TikFinity: Verify TikTok account is connected and authorized.
Check 3: OBS Scene Setup
- Overlays are in the correct scene: Make sure Browser Sources are in the active scene.
- Sources are visible: Check that Browser Sources aren't hidden or disabled.
Check 4: Platform-Specific Issues
- TikTok: StreamElements overlays won't work — use TikFinity instead.
- Twitch/YouTube: StreamElements overlays should work — check account connections.
Final Take: Multi-Stream Overlays Require Multiple Tools
The Reddit post that inspired this guide came from a creator who was "trying to narrow down" why their overlays weren't working when multi-streaming.
The answer: StreamElements works great for Twitch and YouTube, but TikTok requires TikFinity.
You can't use one tool for all platforms — you need:
- StreamElements for Twitch/YouTube overlays.
- TikFinity for TikTok overlays.
And if you want platform-specific overlays, you need to use SE Live plugin (not Restream) and create separate scenes for each platform.
It's more complex than single-platform streaming, but it's the only way to get overlays working on all platforms.