Portrait Mode allows you to stream or record in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio, which is ideal for mobile-first platforms and vertical content such as Instagram Live, TikTok-style videos, and Reels.
How to switch to a Portrait Studio
- Enter the StreamYard studio.
- Click on Settings on the bottom row of buttons.
- In General you will now see an Orientation option.
- Select Portrait to switch the orientation of the studio.
Your studio will now be in Portrait mode!
It is not possible to switch the orientation of the studio after going live. If you are in a recording-only studio, you will be required to cancel the recording to change the orientation after which, you can start to record again. Learn more about recording controls here.
Layouts in Portrait Studios
All StreamYard default layouts will be automatically modified to fit within Portrait mode!
Portrait Layouts take mobile livestream formats and viewer experience into consideration and will orient participants and banners toward the top of the frame to make room for the comments section.
Custom layouts are not currently supported in Portrait mode. Any landscape custom layouts will not be shown in the layout switcher when portrait mode is enabled.
Brand Assets in Portrait Studios
If you have created custom brand assets for your regular landscape StreamYard studio, we recommend creating a new brand, and reformatting them to fit a vertical, 9:16 aspect ratio.
Backgrounds
By default, existing backgrounds uploaded in a landscape (16:9) orientation will be center-cropped to fit Portrait mode. The red box below indicates how your background image will be cropped in the studio to fit a portrait orientation.
Video clips and overlays
Any landscape orientation video clip or overlay will be centered vertically with black bars on the top and bottom when the studio is in portrait mode. If the video clip or overlay is vertically oriented (9:16 ratio), then it will fill up the entire stage.
Instagram Requirements
Instagram only supports Portrait (9:16) streaming at this time. Streaming to Instagram in Landscape (16:9) is not available.
If Instagram is selected as a destination, it will be automatically set to Portrait (9:16).
You won't be able to change the orientation.
FAQ
Can I create custom layouts for the studio in portrait mode?
Custom layouts are currently not supported for portrait mode studios. The custom layouts option will be disabled when in portrait mode.
Can I change studio orientation while live?
No, this setting is disabled when your studio goes live. You will want to make sure to set your studio's orientation before going live!
Can I record in portrait mode?
Yes, you can record and stream in portrait mode.
Are local recordings supported in Portrait mode?
Yes. Local recordings are supported in Portrait mode.
What formatting should brand assets for my Portrait studio have?
Brand assets you upload for your Portrait studio should have a resolution of 720 x 1280px, with an aspect ration of 9:16
Is this feature available for On-Air studios/streams?
Yes, this feature is available for On-Air studios!
Can I stream in portrait mode and landscape mode at the same time?
Yes, you can with the Multi-Aspect Ratio Streaming (MARS). Without MARS, the orientation you set in Settings > General applies to all your destinations at once — it is not possible to assign a different format to individual platforms.
Can I stream vertically to YouTube Shorts?
No, YouTube Shorts does not support vertical streaming or streaming at all. You can only post short form videos to YouTube Shorts.
How can I stream a video in vertical format without black bars at the top and bottom?
Selecting the Portrait orientation will adjust your stream layout so that your video fills the vertical frame, eliminating black bars at the top and bottom. If you continue to see black bars after changing the orientation, ensure your camera or video source is also set to a vertical aspect ratio. Some content or sources may not automatically adjust to fill the frame if they are not natively vertical.