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StreamElements Overlays Not Working with TikTok: Multi-Stream Setup Fix (2025)

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    Robin
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StreamElements Overlays Not Working with TikTok Banner StreamElements overlays work great on Twitch and YouTube, but when you add TikTok to your multi-stream setup, they suddenly stop working. Here's how to fix it.

Source discussion: "Multi platform streaming" — r/streaming. Core problem: creators using StreamElements overlays successfully on Twitch and YouTube find that the same overlays stop working when they add TikTok to their multi-stream setup using Restream or SE Live plugin.

Why StreamElements Overlays Break with TikTok

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.

The Reddit post that inspired this guide came from a creator who said: "my overlays from stream elements are not working. Can restream interfere with that?"

The answer: Restream itself doesn't break StreamElements overlays, but TikTok's lack of native StreamElements support does.

Understanding the Multi-Stream Setup

Before we fix the overlay issue, let's understand how multi-streaming works:

Option 1: Restream.io

How it works:

  • OBS streams once to Restream's servers.
  • Restream distributes your stream to multiple platforms (Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, etc.).
  • Bandwidth usage: Low (one stream from your PC).

Overlay compatibility:

  • StreamElements overlays work on Twitch and YouTube.
  • TikTok overlays don't work because TikTok requires different event triggers.

Option 2: SE Live Plugin (StreamElements)

How it works:

  • OBS streams separately to each platform.
  • Each platform gets its own stream output.
  • Bandwidth usage: High (multiple streams from your PC).

Overlay compatibility:

  • StreamElements overlays work on Twitch and YouTube.
  • TikTok overlays still don't work because StreamElements doesn't support TikTok events.

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.

Multi-Stream Overlay Setup Flow

Here's a visual guide to how overlays work (or don't work) when multi-streaming to TikTok:

Multi-Stream Overlay Setup Flow

The diagram shows the two main paths for multi-streaming:

  • Restream path: OBS streams once to Restream, which distributes to all platforms. StreamElements overlays work on Twitch/YouTube but not TikTok (no event integration). You can add TikFinity overlays, but they'll show on all platforms.

  • SE Live Plugin path: OBS streams separately to each platform. You can create platform-specific scenes with StreamElements overlays for Twitch/YouTube and TikFinity overlays for TikTok, but this requires manual scene switching.

The key insight: TikTok requires TikFinity because StreamElements doesn't support TikTok's event API. You can't use one overlay tool for all platforms when TikTok is involved.

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

  1. Create a TikFinity account at tikfinity.com.
  2. Connect your TikTok account (authorize TikFinity to access your live stream data).
  3. Set up TikTok-specific overlays:
    • Gift alerts (roses, coins)
    • Like counters
    • Follower alerts
    • Chat overlay
  4. Get your TikFinity overlay URL.
  5. 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).
  6. 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

  1. In OBS, go to Tools → StreamElements Live.
  2. Add streaming destinations:
    • Twitch (with StreamElements overlays)
    • YouTube (with StreamElements overlays)
    • TikTok (without StreamElements overlays, use TikFinity instead)
  3. 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:

  1. Keep StreamElements overlays for Twitch/YouTube events (they'll show on all platforms).
  2. Add TikFinity overlays for TikTok-specific events (they'll also show on all platforms).
  3. 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

  1. Use StreamElements:
    • Set up overlays in StreamElements dashboard.
    • Connect Twitch and YouTube accounts.
    • Add overlays to OBS as Browser Sources.

For TikTok

  1. Use TikFinity:
    • Set up TikTok-specific overlays in TikFinity.
    • Connect TikTok account.
    • Add TikFinity overlays to OBS as Browser Sources.

For Multi-Streaming

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

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