How to Show UPI Donation Alerts on Instagram Live (2026)

The Problem: Instagram Has No Donation Feature for India

Instagram Live is one of the most popular platforms for Indian creators, especially for gaming highlights, music performances, talk shows, and interactive sessions. However, there's a major gap — Instagram does not offer any built-in donation or tipping feature for creators in India.

While Instagram has "Badges" in some countries (like the US), this feature is not available in India. This means Indian Instagram creators have no native way to receive monetary support from their audience during live streams.

The workaround? Stream to Instagram using OBS Studio and add UPI donation alerts as an overlay. When viewers send you money via GPay, PhonePe, or Paytm, the donation alert appears live on your Instagram stream for everyone to see.

The Solution: OBS + Stream Alert

Here's how the setup works at a high level:

1. Stream Alert (Android app) monitors your UPI payment notifications
2. When a payment arrives, Stream Alert sends the data to a browser source URL
3. OBS Studio displays the alert on your stream overlay
4. OBS streams to Instagram Live using RTMP
5. Your Instagram audience sees the donation alert in real-time

This setup gives your Instagram Live stream the same professional donation alerts that YouTube and Twitch streamers use — something that's otherwise impossible on Instagram alone.

What You Need

• An Instagram account (Professional/Creator account recommended)
• OBS Studio installed on your PC or laptop
• An Android phone with Stream Alert installed
• A UPI app — GPay, PhonePe, or Paytm
• Instagram's RTMP stream key (available to eligible accounts)
• A stable internet connection (both phone and PC)

Important note about Instagram Live via OBS: Instagram now allows certain accounts to go live using streaming software. You need a Professional account (Creator or Business) and may need to meet certain follower thresholds. Check your Instagram Live settings to see if the "Streaming software" option is available.

Step 1: Set Up Instagram for OBS Streaming

Instagram has added support for streaming via RTMP, which lets you use OBS Studio to go live. Here's how to set it up:

Enable Streaming Software on Instagram

1. Open Instagram on your phone
2. Tap the + icon and select Live
3. Look for the "Streaming software" option (it may appear as a toggle or tab)
4. If available, enable it and you'll see your Stream URL and Stream Key
5. Copy both the Stream URL and Stream Key

If you don't see the "Streaming software" option, your account may not be eligible yet. Try switching to a Creator or Business account, or ensure your account meets Instagram's requirements.

Configure OBS for Instagram

1. Open OBS Studio
2. Go to Settings → Stream
3. Set Service to Custom
4. Paste the Server URL from Instagram
5. Paste the Stream Key from Instagram
6. Click Apply and OK

Recommended OBS Settings for Instagram Live

Vertical vs Horizontal: Most Instagram Live viewers watch on their phone in portrait mode. If your content suits vertical format (talking, music), use 1080x1920. For gaming, 1920x1080 (horizontal) may be better, but viewers will see it smaller on their phones.

Step 2: Install Stream Alert

1. Download Stream Alert from the Play Store
2. Open the app and complete the setup wizard
3. Grant notification access when prompted
4. Select your UPI apps (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm)
5. Copy your unique alert URL from the dashboard

Send the alert URL to your PC via WhatsApp, email, or any messaging app.

Step 3: Add UPI Alert Browser Source in OBS

1. In OBS, click + in the Sources panel
2. Select Browser
3. Name it "UPI Donation Alerts"
4. Paste your Stream Alert URL
5. Set Width to 800 and Height to 600
6. Check "Refresh browser when scene becomes active"
7. Click OK

Position the alert overlay where it won't be blocked by Instagram's UI elements (viewer comments, like animations, viewer count). For vertical streams, placing alerts in the upper-middle area works best, as the bottom half of Instagram Live is occupied by comments and UI.

Step 4: Configure Your OBS Scene for Instagram

Instagram Live has unique layout considerations compared to YouTube or Twitch:

For Vertical (Portrait) Streams

• Set canvas to 1080x1920 in OBS Settings → Video
• Place your webcam or game capture to fill the canvas
• Add the UPI alert source in the top third of the screen
• Leave the bottom 30% clear — this is where Instagram shows comments and viewer info
• Add your UPI ID/QR code as a small image source in a visible but non-intrusive spot

For Horizontal (Landscape) Streams

• Keep canvas at 1920x1080
• Instagram will letterbox horizontal content, so it appears smaller on phones
• Place alerts above the game capture for maximum visibility
• Consider adding a branded border or frame to fill the empty vertical space

Step 5: Go Live on Instagram via OBS

1. Make sure Stream Alert is running on your phone with notification access enabled
2. In OBS, verify your scene looks good in the preview
3. Click "Start Streaming" in OBS
4. On your phone, open Instagram → Live → "Streaming software" and tap "Go Live"
5. Your OBS output will now appear as your Instagram Live stream
6. When someone sends you a UPI payment, the alert appears on stream automatically

Important: You need to start the stream from both OBS (to send the video) and Instagram (to begin the live broadcast). The order matters — start OBS streaming first, then go live on Instagram.

Step 6: Share Your UPI ID with Followers

Since Instagram doesn't have a built-in donation button, you need to proactively share your UPI details:

• Instagram bio — Add your UPI ID or a link to a donation page in your bio
• On-screen overlay — Add a persistent text or image source in OBS showing your UPI ID
• QR code on stream — Display a small QR code viewers can scan from another device
• Pin a comment — During the live, have someone (or yourself from another device) comment your UPI ID and pin it
• Story before going live — Post an Instagram Story with your UPI QR code right before going live
• Verbal reminders — Regularly mention your UPI ID during the stream

Tips for Instagram Live UPI Donations

1. Use a Vertical Layout

Instagram is a mobile-first platform. Most viewers watch on their phones in portrait mode. A vertical stream looks better and more natural on Instagram. Configure OBS with a 1080x1920 canvas for the best experience.

2. Design for Mobile Viewing

Instagram Live has UI elements (comments, hearts, viewer count) overlaid on the bottom portion of the stream. Make sure your donation alerts and important content are in the top 60-70% of the screen so they don't get covered.

3. Make Alert Text Large

Since Instagram viewers are on small phone screens, ensure your donation alert text is large enough to read. In Stream Alert settings, choose a larger font size for alert text. Test by viewing your stream on a phone before going live.

4. Post a Story Before Going Live

Before starting your live, post an Instagram Story that says "Going live in 5 minutes! Support the stream via UPI — donations appear on screen!" along with your UPI QR code. This primes your audience to donate.

5. Create a Linktree or Donation Page

Since Instagram doesn't let you share clickable links during Live, add a link in your bio that leads to a page with your UPI details and QR code. You can use Linktree, Bio.link, or your own website.

Limitations and Workarounds

OBS Streaming Not Available for All Accounts

Instagram's streaming software feature is still rolling out. If you don't have access, consider these alternatives:

• Switch to a Professional Creator account
• Build your follower count (some reports suggest it requires 500+ followers)
• Try third-party tools like YellowDuck (use at your own discretion)
• Multistream to Instagram + YouTube, and use YouTube as the primary platform for donations

No Clickable Links in Live

Instagram doesn't allow clickable links in Live comments. This means viewers can't tap to open your UPI app directly. The workaround is to display a QR code that they can scan with their UPI app or share your UPI ID as plain text they can copy from your bio.

Stream Quality Limits

Instagram Live has lower quality limits compared to YouTube or Twitch. Don't exceed 4000 Kbps bitrate, and use 30fps. Higher values may cause the stream to drop or be rejected.

Troubleshooting

OBS Not Connecting to Instagram

• Double-check the Server URL and Stream Key are correctly pasted
• Ensure you selected "Custom" in OBS Stream settings, not a preset
• Make sure you've tapped "Go Live" on Instagram after starting OBS
• Stream keys expire — generate a new one if the old one doesn't work

Donation Alerts Not Appearing

• Verify Stream Alert notification access is enabled
• Check the browser source URL in OBS
• Tap "Test Alert" in Stream Alert to confirm it works in OBS preview
• Ensure your phone isn't killing Stream Alert in the background

Alerts Covered by Instagram Comments

• Move the alert browser source higher on the screen in OBS
• The bottom 30-40% of Instagram Live is covered by comments and UI
• For vertical streams, position alerts in the top third

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use UPI donations on Instagram without OBS?

Without OBS, you can still accept UPI donations during Instagram Live, but the donation alerts won't appear on screen. You would need to manually acknowledge donations. For the full on-screen alert experience, OBS (or similar streaming software) is required.

Does Instagram allow external donations?

Instagram does not have any policy against accepting external payments from your audience. Many creators share their UPI IDs, PayPal links, and other payment methods on Instagram. Since Instagram doesn't offer a native donation feature in India, external UPI donations are the standard practice.

Will Instagram Badges come to India?

As of 2026, Instagram Badges (the built-in tipping feature) are not available in India. Instagram has not announced a timeline for launching Badges in India. Until then, UPI donations through Stream Alert are the best alternative for Indian creators.

Can I go live on Instagram from a PC directly?

Yes, with the streaming software feature, Instagram lets you stream from OBS or other RTMP tools on your PC. You still need the Instagram app on your phone to generate the stream key and manage the live broadcast.

Can I multistream to Instagram and YouTube simultaneously?

Yes! Many Indian creators multistream to both platforms. You can use tools like Restream or OBS with multiple outputs to stream to Instagram and YouTube at the same time. The UPI donation alerts from Stream Alert will appear on both streams since they're part of your OBS scene.

What's the maximum stream duration on Instagram Live?

Instagram Live sessions can last up to 4 hours. After that, you'll need to end and restart the stream. Plan your donation goals and content accordingly.