Setup guide · ~3 minutes · one-time
How to Get a Free YouTube API Key
StreamWarm games read your live chat through YouTube's official API, which needs a free key from your Google account. You create it once, it costs nothing, and it can only read public data — it can't touch your channel. Here is every click.
1 Open Google Cloud Console
Go to console.cloud.google.com and sign in with the Google account that owns your YouTube channel. If it's your first visit, accept the terms screen that appears.
2 Create a project
In the top bar, click the project picker (it says "Select a project" or shows a project name) → New Project. Name it anything — StreamWarm works — leave everything else as-is and click Create. Wait a few seconds, then make sure your new project is selected in that same top-bar picker.
3 Enable the YouTube Data API
In the search bar at the very top, type YouTube Data API v3 and open the result (it's under "Marketplace" / "APIs"). Click the big Enable button. You'll land on the API's overview page when it's done.
4 Create your API key
Left menu → APIs & Services →
Credentials → + Create credentials →
API key. A key appears instantly — it starts with
AIza. Click the copy icon. That's your key.
5 Restrict it (recommended, 30 seconds)
In the key list, click your new key → under API restrictions choose Restrict key → tick only YouTube Data API v3 → Save. Now the key can't be used for anything else, even if it leaks. Leave "Application restrictions" set to None — the games call YouTube from inside OBS, and referrer restrictions can block that.
6 Paste it into StreamWarm
Members: head to your Stream setup page, paste the key alongside your Channel ID, and generate your OBS link. Done — you never have to think about this again.
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Every Google account gets 10,000 free quota units per day for this API — no card, no billing. Reading live chat uses roughly 5 units every few seconds while you're live, which comfortably covers a daily streaming schedule. Quota resets every midnight Pacific Time.
Is it safe? What can the key actually do?
The key can only read public data — live chat messages, video details. It cannot post, delete, edit, or log in to anything, and it isn't connected to your password. Treat it like a house key anyway: keep it private, restrict it (step 5), and you can delete it in Credentials at any time — a new one takes 30 seconds.
"API key not valid" or "API not enabled" errors?
Almost always one of three things: (1) you created the key in a different project than the one where you enabled the API — check the top-bar project picker; (2) the key was created seconds ago — give it a minute to propagate; (3) you added an Application restriction — set it back to None and keep only the API restriction.
I stream many hours every day — will quota be enough?
10,000 units covers roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours of continuous chat reading per day, depending on chat speed. Heavier streamers can request a free quota increase from Google (APIs & Services → YouTube Data API v3 → Quotas) or rotate a second project's key.
Got your key?
Generate your personal OBS link and your chat becomes the controller.
Go to Stream setup →Not a member yet? See plans →