Open Settings > Advanced in Streamlabs Desktop, scroll to Stream Delay, enable it, enter the delay in seconds, choose whether to preserve the buffer after a reconnect, and select Done. The setting delays the broadcast audio and video; it does not erase private information already captured, and the streaming platform can add its own latency.
In Streamlabs Desktop, select the Settings cog in the lower-left corner, choose Advanced, and scroll to the Stream Delay section. This is different from the Low Latency control under Network and from latency selected in a Twitch or YouTube dashboard.
Select Enable and enter the required duration in seconds. Use only as much delay as the moderation or anti-stream-sniping need requires because the broadcaster and viewers will be that much farther apart.
3
Choose the reconnect behavior
Enable Preserved cutoff point when reconnecting only if you want Streamlabs Desktop to keep part of the buffered broadcast after a disconnection. Leave it off if resuming closer to real time matters more than preserving that buffered segment. Select Done to save.
4
Measure a controlled test
Start a test stream whose visibility you control. Show a clock or make a clear gesture, then have a trusted viewer compare when it happened in Streamlabs Desktop with when it appeared on the destination. Do not expose a stream key, private message, or notification during the test.
5
Verify the effective delay
Repeat the timing marker twice. Success means the viewer sees roughly the configured buffer plus the destination's normal latency, audio remains synchronized with video, and Streamlabs Desktop remains stable. If the result is wrong, stop the test before changing another setting.
If it does not work
If the measured delay is longer than the entered value, check the destination's latency mode; Streamlabs and platform latency can be cumulative.
If the stream becomes unstable or memory use rises sharply, reduce or disable the software delay and repeat the same test.
If chat feels out of sync, remember that delaying the broadcast does not necessarily delay the platform's live chat by the same amount.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Streamlabs Desktop.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.
