Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about the app, your data, and how it all works.
About Stream Manager
Is Stream Manager free?
Yes. Stream Manager is completely free and open source. There are no paid tiers, subscriptions, or locked features. If it saves you time and you want to support development, you can Buy Me a Coffee.
What platforms does it run on?
Windows only, for now (Windows 10 or later). It ships as a single portable executable: download the .exe from GitHub and run it. There is no installer and nothing to extract, so it can run from anywhere, including an external drive (although that is not recommended). Just make sure the app is fully closed first before moving the exe.
Is it available for Mac or Linux?
Not yet. Stream Manager is currently Windows-only. Support for other platforms may come later, but there is no set timeline.
Why does Windows SmartScreen warn me when I first run it?
Stream Manager is not signed with a commercial code-signing certificate, so Windows SmartScreen may show a "Windows protected your PC" warning on first launch. Those certificates are expensive and mostly serve large vendors, so this free open source project ships unsigned for now. Click "More info", then "Run anyway" to launch it. Because the project is open source, you can review exactly what the app does on GitHub before running it. Releases are also built automatically on GitHub from the tagged source, with a public build log and a published checksum, so you can verify that the file you downloaded matches the code. There are more details on the About page.
Why does Windows Firewall ask to allow ffmpeg.exe?
That prompt comes from the optional Stream Relay, which uses the bundled ffmpeg to run a small local server that listens for your streaming software. Windows Defender Firewall asks the first time each new version launches with the relay enabled, and allowing it on private networks is the expected choice. It asks again after each update because every version's files live at a new path.
I went back to an older version and YouTube, Twitch, or Claude show connection errors.
Version 2.6.0 started storing your credentials encrypted, and older versions cannot read them, so they report the saved tokens or keys as invalid. Nothing is lost. Reconnect the service on the older version, or re-enter the key, and it works again. Moving back to 2.6.0 or later re-encrypts everything automatically. If you keep two versions side by side on the same PC, expect this each time you switch, since both use the same settings folder.
Do I need an account to use it?
No. Stream Manager runs locally and needs no account. Connecting YouTube, Twitch, or Claude is optional and only required for the features that use them, like metadata sync or Stream Relay.
Where is my data stored?
Everything stays on your machine. App settings live in your Windows AppData folder, and each stream’s details are stored right next to its files, so your library stays portable even if you move it to another drive or machine. Any API keys and account tokens you add are stored locally and encrypted, tied to your Windows user account, and never sent anywhere except the service they belong to.
Does Stream Manager upload my recordings anywhere?
No. Stream Manager never uploads your recording files. Metadata sync sends only the details you choose (titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails) to YouTube or Twitch when you ask it to. Stream Relay forwards your live encoder stream to YouTube in real time, but it does not touch the files on your disk. There is no account and no analytics: the only request the app makes on its own schedule is a check against GitHub for a new version, which you can switch off. The design principles cover this in full.
Do I have to use every feature?
No. Stream Manager is designed so you can adopt only the parts that fit your workflow. You can use just the templating tools or only the thumbnail editor or just the converter. Most features are independent and don't require using others. Any features that require an account (YouTube, Twitch, or Claude) are optional and only needed for the features that use them.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
Open an issue on the GitHub repository, or hop into the Discord server. Both are checked regularly, and feature ideas are always welcome.
What it does and how it works
Does Stream Manager work with OBS?
Yes. Stream Manager works with recordings from OBS or any other software that saves normal video files to a local folder. The default OBS file name format (YYYY-MM-DD HH-MM-SS) works out of the box, and an auto-rule can watch your OBS recording folder and organize new files into your library automatically. The Get Started guide walks through the whole setup.
How do I organize my OBS recordings automatically?
Set up an auto-rule that watches your recording folder. When a new file lands, Stream Manager moves it, renames it to your naming scheme, and files it into the right stream item without you opening File Explorer. The watcher can start with the app, so finished streams sort themselves. See Auto-Rules for the details.
OBS split my stream into multiple files. Can I combine them?
Yes. The Combine page stitches multiple video files into one without re-encoding, so there is no quality loss and it is far faster than a full conversion. Files are sorted automatically by their recording timestamps, and you can combine any video files, not only ones already in your library.
How do I compress or convert my stream recordings?
The Converter handles it with ffmpeg presets, including ones for YouTube upload and long-term archiving. You can also remux between containers like MKV to MP4 without re-encoding, import presets from tools like HandBrake, or build your own. Whole batches of old streams can be sent to it at once.
Can I cut clips from my stream recordings?
Yes. Open any recording in the built-in player, mark your in and out points, and export a clip without leaving the app. You can set the aspect ratio per segment for vertical or square social posts, mute or bleep sections, and clips stay linked to their source recording so the original is never modified.
Can I make YouTube thumbnails without Photoshop?
Yes. Stream Manager has a built-in canvas editor with your installed fonts, shapes, image filters, drop shadows, and layers. Save a layout as a template and reuse it across a series, with merge fields that pull in the title, game, date, and episode number automatically. You can also preview a thumbnail on real YouTube layouts before you publish it.
Can I keep my recordings on a NAS or in cloud storage?
Yes. If your cloud or NAS service syncs through Windows File Explorer, Stream Manager detects it automatically with no setup. Every file shows whether it is stored locally or offloaded, you can offload or pin files local in bulk to manage disk space, and opening an offloaded stream downloads it with visible progress. Record to a normal local folder first, though, since recording straight into a synced folder can corrupt the file. Let Stream Manager move it to your synced storage afterward. See Cloud Sync for more.
What is Stream Relay?
Stream Relay lets Stream Manager sit between your encoder and YouTube as a local relay. Point OBS at the app instead of YouTube and it binds your scheduled broadcast, takes it live the moment you start streaming, and ends it when you stop. It passes your already-encoded stream straight through without re-encoding, so there is no meaningful extra load. It currently works with YouTube only; Twitch support is tentatively planned.
Why do I have to create a Google Cloud app to connect YouTube?
So that your connection is yours. Most apps ship one set of developer credentials that every user shares, which means a single API quota for everyone and the developer sitting between you and your channel. Stream Manager uses credentials you create in your own Google account instead, so the quota is yours and nobody operates a service in the middle. The cost is a one-time trip through the Google Cloud console, which the app's built-in guide walks you through step by step. See Connecting YouTube for what it involves.
Can it manage my past Twitch VODs?
Not directly. The Twitch API only allows editing details for the current stream, so past VODs cannot be synced after the fact. YouTube is different: the two-way sync can push and pull details for existing videos, and you can import your channel’s videos as stream items.
What are the AI features?
Optional Claude (Anthropic) integration can help generate titles, descriptions, and tags, with inline suggestions while you edit. You bring your own Anthropic API key, which is stored locally, and data is only sent to Anthropic when you explicitly request a suggestion.
Does it work with other AI services besides Claude?
Currently, Stream Manager only supports Claude (Anthropic) for AI features (because that's what I personally use). Other AI services are not integrated at this time, but future updates may include additional options based on user feedback and demand. Let me know through Discord or GitHub if you have a specific service you'd like to see supported.
Have more questions?
Ask in the Discord server or open a GitHub issue. You can also check the Features page for a full tour of what the app does.