Frequently Asked Questions

When you create a new Switcher Studio account, you'll automatically receive a free 14-day trial, unless you decide to skip the free trial and purchase a subscription or pass. You must use a valid email address that can be verified.

To start your free trial:

1. Go to the Start Now page.
2. Fill out the form and click Get Started. You’ll then be redirected to the Let’s Get You Started onboarding steps on the Dashboard.
3. Complete steps 1-3. When you get to step 4, click Try It For Free, and your 14-day free trial will be underway.

If you haven't already, download the Switcher Studio mobile app on your iPhone or iPad from the App Store. Log in using the email and password you used to create your account. Back to top

The trial experience has all the same features as our paid options, with the following exceptions:

• 20 hours of Remote Guest hosting: The trial lets you host Remote Guests via video chat for up to 20 hours, whereas subscriptions and passes include unlimited time to host Remote Guests. 
• 20 Switcher Cloud assets: The trial includes Switcher Cloud storage for up to 20 media assets (logos, graphics, prerecorded video, etc.), whereas subscriptions and passes include storage for 250 media assets.
• Watermark: The Switcher Studio logo, which you’ll see on your streams during your trial, will not be on your future broadcasts once you purchase any subscription or pass.

For a complete list of what's included, check out our free trial breakdown. 

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If you wish to skip the free 14-day trial, you can purchase a Switcher subscription or pass as soon as you’ve created your Switcher account. For more on how to purchase a Switcher subscription or pass, check out How do I sign up for a subscription or pass? 

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When your free 14-day trial ends, you’ll need to purchase a paid Switcher subscription or pass to keep using Switcher. If you do not sign up for a monthly or annual subscription or pay-as-you-go pass, your account will become inactive, and you will not be able to stream or record with Switcher.

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How to purchase a subscription or pass while creating your account

1. Go to the Start Now page.
2. Fill out the form and click Get Started. You’ll be redirected to the Let’s Get You Started onboarding steps on the Dashboard.
3. Complete steps 1-3. When you get to step 4, click Choose Pricing.
4. Choose your desired subscription or pass and click Select.
5. Enter your payment information, and click Subscribe (for subscriptions) or Buy Now (for passes) to complete your purchase.

How to purchase a subscription or pass after you’ve created your account

1. Log into your Switcher Studio Dashboard and visit the Subscription page.
2. Choose your desired subscription or pass and click Select.
3. Enter your payment information, and click Subscribe (for subscriptions) or Buy Now (for passes) to complete your purchase.

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We accept almost all major credit and debit cards, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. If you are purchasing bulk licenses or want to prepay for 2+ years, we can issue a purchase order (PO). Email support@switcherstudio.com to request a PO.

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Currently, we do not offer a way to pause subscriptions.

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Switcher Studio runs on iOS devices and uses the cameras from iOS devices — iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. You cannot bring in third-party cameras like Androids, DSLRs, or Mevos. (You can, however, bring in Mac webcams using Switcher Cast.)

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Switcher does not have a built-in green screen feature. You can, however, use a third-party green screen app that works with iOS devices. For more info, view our Help Center article on using green screens and chroma keying with Switcher Studio.

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You can use Switcher Studio on iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches on iOS 13 or newer. View the complete list of compatible devices in our Help Center.

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To stream with Switcher, you’ll need a consistent upload speed of at least 3 Mbps. We recommend checking your speed at a site like speedof.me/. Make sure to test your speed in an environment similar to the one in which you’ll be running your production. (For instance, if you plan to stream in a busy public location, make sure to test the speed when the location is busy.) Speeds can vary, so ensure you’re consistently getting at least 3 Mbps before you stream.

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All you need to start using Switcher is an iOS device with the Switcher Studio app installed, a Switcher Studio account, and a data or Wi-Fi connection. However, if you want to have a more robust production, we recommend connecting additional iOS devices to capture more angles.

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Switcher Studio is an iOS application, so it cannot be used on a computer. You can, however, bring your computer’s webcam (Mac) or screen (Mac or PC) into the videos that you stream or record with Switcher. This is done with a complementary app called Switcher Cast.

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By default, Switcher uses the built-in mic of your main device. If you want to use a different audio source, check out our Help Center articles on connecting and managing internal and external audio sources with Switcher Studio.

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No, Switcher Studio will only run on iOS devices, so it is not compatible with Android devices. For more info, check out our Help Center article on our experiments with Android. (Though you can’t use an Android as one of your local cameras, you can invite remote guests to join from any device — including Androids and computer webcams — using Switcher’s Video Chat feature.)

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The Switcher Studio Dashboard is your online (browser-based) account hub where you can manage your Switcher account and access some of Switcher’s more advanced features, like Remote Guests and Switcher Cloud storage. Once you have a Switcher account, you can access the Dashboard at dashboard.switcherstudio.com.

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Yes, you can bring in slides from PowerPoint, ProPresenter, or any presentation software that runs on Macs, PCs, or iOS devices. To do this, you must use Switcher Cast to screenshare your computer or iOS device screen into your Switcher production.

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The Comments tab in the Switcher Studio app shows real-time comments from your streams on Facebook. This allows you to engage with commenters during your stream. You can tap on these Facebook comments to display them inside your videos for others to see.

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Yes, you can invite Remote Guests to join your stream via video chat. They can join from anywhere in the world and nearly any device (computer or smartphone) with a browser and a camera.

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You can host five Remote Guests in your videos at a time.

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Just a smartphone or a computer! Guests can join from nearly any device with a browser and a camera — you simply send them a URL, which they open to join your video chat. Guests don’t need a Switcher Studio account, and they don’t need to download the Switcher app.

 

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Yes, totally, lots of people use Switcher this way! Even if you don’t want to livestream, Switcher lets you record multiple angles without having to edit footage together in post-production. Switcher even has a feature called Director Mode that lets you simultaneously record each angle in HD.

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Switcher Studio does not have a built-in simulcasting feature for streaming to multiple platforms (for example, Facebook and YouTube) simultaneously. You can, however, connect Switcher with numerous third-party simulcasting tools, including Castr and Switchboard. Connecting one of these tools to Switcher lets you combine Switcher’s editing features with their simulcasting features.

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Switcher has direct integrations with Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitch, and Microsoft Stream. Switcher also lets you stream to nearly every other destination, including Twitter/Periscope, using Custom RTMP. A notable exception is Instagram — unfortunately it’s against Instagram’s policies for third-party apps to stream to their platform.

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Unfortunately, it is not possible for third-party apps to stream to Instagram in a way that’s compliant with their policies, so the only way to stream to Instagram is to use the native Instagram app. As soon as Instagram opens an API that will enable us to build an integration, we’ll get on it!

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Switcher can stream at 270p, 360p, 540p, 720p, and 1080p (beta). If you’re streaming to Facebook or using Custom RTMP, you can even use Switcher’s speed test feature to help you choose the streaming quality that’s right for your network.

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Yes, you’ll simply need to embed the video player for your livestream into your website. For instance, you can schedule a private livestream on YouTube and then embed the video player on your website ahead of time so that the stream is accessible only on your website. Check out our Help Center articles on embedding YouTube videos and embedding Facebook videos. 

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Yes, Switcher lets you create private streams on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. (This option is not available for Twitch.) Many platforms that use Custom RTMP also enable private streaming. You must simply set your stream to private on the platform itself before going live to that platform via RTMP from Switcher.

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Yes, scheduling is available for Facebook and YouTube. You can schedule a broadcast up to 7 days in advance on these platforms. Check out our Help Center article on scheduling Facebook Live streams.

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Yes, after a stream, your video is stored in the Switcher app on your main device. If you’d like to store it somewhere else, check out our Help Center article on moving or copying your Switcher Studio recordings.

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Yes, on Switcher Studio’s Plus plan, which includes licenses for multiple team members, you can upload and store shared assets so that everyone on your team always has access to on-brand creative assets.

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The best way to contact the Support team is through the messaging tool inside the Switcher Studio app or on the Dashboard. To access the messaging tool from the app, tap the question mark icon in the bottom right of the launch screen. To access it from the Dashboard, click the word bubble icon in the bottom right of any page. If you’re unable to use the messaging tool, you can email support@switcherstudio.com with your questions.

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We have a Switcher Affiliate Program that you can learn more about here.

We currently do not have a referral program.

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When you create a new Switcher Studio account, you'll automatically receive a free 14-day trial, unless you decide to skip the free trial and purchase a subscription or pass. You must use a valid email address that can be verified.

To create a Switcher Studio account and a free trial, see the FAQ How do I start a free trial? 

To create a Switcher Studio account and purchase a subscription or pass, see the FAQ How do I sign up for a subscription or pass?

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All subscriptions are automatically renewed unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of your current billing cycle. Payments for a previous period are nonrefundable.

TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:

1. Log into your Switcher Studio Dashboard using the same email and password you use for the app.
2. Click Subscription in the main menu.
3. Under the Overview section, click Cancel.
4. To confirm the cancellation, click Confirm. You will be able to continue using Switcher Studio until the end of your billing cycle.

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1. Log into your Switcher Studio Dashboard using the same email and password you use for the app.
2. Click Subscription in the main menu
3. Under the Payment Method section, you’ll see your payment information.
4. To update your payment method, click + Payment Method.
5. Enter your payment details.
6. Click Add Payment Method. If you would like to delete the previous payment method, click Remove located underneath your old payment information.
   
   Note: You must have at least one payment method on file. If you only have one payment method on your account, you cannot remove it until you have added a new one.

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There are two times when you can apply a coupon code to a subscription: when you’re first creating your account, and after you’ve created your account when you are purchasing a subscription.

How to apply a coupon code while creating your account

1. Go to the Start Now page and fill out the form.
2. Enter your coupon code into the Coupon code field, and click Redeem. You should see a green confirmation message appear with the coupon offer specifics.
3. Click Get Started to finish creating your account. You should then see your coupon code applied to the corresponding subscription(s).

How to apply a coupon code after you’ve created your account

1. Log into the Switcher Dashboard using the same email and password you use for the app.
2. Click Subscription in the main menu.
3. Navigate to the Enter Coupon Code field, and type in your coupon code.
4. Click Apply Coupon. You should see a green confirmation message appear acknowledging your successful coupon entry before you’re redirected to the Payment page.
5. On the Payment page, your coupon discount should be applied to the corresponding subscription. To complete your purchase at the discounted price, enter your payment information and click Subscribe.

(These steps apply if you’ve created an account but have not yet purchased a subscription or pass. If you already signed up for a paid subscription, the Switcher Studio team will need to apply the discount code for you. Please email support@switcherstudio.com for assistance.) Back to top

If you need multiple Switcher licenses for your business or team, check out our Plus plan.

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You can upgrade to a subscription or pass at any time during your free trial. Once you purchase a subscription or pass, your free trial will end and your pass or subscription will start immediately.

If you upgrade to a subscription or pass before your trial has expired, you will need to refresh the Switcher app to remove the watermark, as follows:

1. Open the Switcher Studio app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Log out.
3. Close out the app completely by swiping up from the bottom of your screen and swiping the app away.
4. Log back into the app.

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Subscriptions are auto-renewing and can be paid monthly or annually. Our pass is non-recurring and can be purchased for a 7-day duration. Our subscriptions and 7-day pass all offer the exact same set of features.

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Both Switcher Cast for Mac and Switcher Cast for PC allow users to share their computer screens for streams and recordings and to record in HD using Director Mode. 

Switcher Cast for Mac also allows users to record and share their webcam footage, while Switcher Cast for PC does not. 

Additionally, because of the wide range of devices and hardware using Windows operating systems, Switcher Cast for Windows is still in beta. We recommend sharing slides, websites, or still images from your PC, but not video.

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Switcher Cast is a complementary desktop application that allows Switcher Studio users to share their computer screens and Mac webcams in their Switcher Studio productions.  

Remote Guests is a feature of Switcher Studio that allows users to invite up to five other guests/devices to join their productions, so guests from around the world can share their phone cameras, webcams, or screens. With this feature, you can also use guest slots as additional camera sources to produce a stream or recording remotely. 

Setup:

Since Switcher Cast is a desktop application, it requires some installation and setup to use. There are hardware and software requirements for both Mac and PC versions. Our Help Center articles outline the prerequisites and processes for setting up Switcher Cast on a Mac and Switcher Cast on a PC.

To use the Remote Guests feature, Switcher users generate a unique URL from the Video Chat tab on their main Switcher. Just like most browser-based video conferencing platforms, guests can join the Switcher Stream with their webcam or phone camera by clicking the URL. This feature works with nearly every browser and device. Guests joining from a computer can also share computer screens. Our Help Center article details how to use the Remote Guests/Video Chat feature.

Network:

To use Switcher Cast, your computer must be on the same local Wi-Fi network as the iOS devices you're using for Switcher Studio. Devices do not need to share a local network to use the Remote Guests feature.

Because of this, Switcher Cast sends data via your local area network, while the Remote Guests feature uses more internet bandwidth. If you’re trying to share your computer screen for your Switcher production, it may be easier to set up with Remote Guests, but if you have a slow internet connection, you may get higher quality video using Switcher Cast. 

Director Mode:

Switcher Studio's Director Mode can be used to capture HD video from all angles and automatically composite each angle and asset used during the production into one video file. 

Since Switcher Cast sends data over your local area network, recordings tend to be of higher quality, and Switcher Cast is compatible with Switcher Studio’s Director Mode, meaning you can capture screen recordings in HD. It’s not possible to gather local recordings when using Remote Guests, so the Remote Guests feature is not compatible with Director Mode. 

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It’s easy to share an iOS device screen in your Switcher production. Just like screensharing your Mac or PC with Switcher Cast, iOS devices must be on the same local network as the main Switcher device to connect and share their screen. 

First, set up your main Switcher device. Then, open Switcher Studio on the iOS device you want to share. Before even logging in, you’ll see options to Use as Switcher and Share this Device. Simply click the Share this Device button and then Start Broadcast.

After this, you should be able to find your shared device in the Inputs tab on your main Switcher. 

You can follow step-by-step instructions (with images) in the Help Center article Screensharing an iOS Screen!

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