Available in: Premium, in FACEITSync Connect for Windows. Without Premium your stream keeps running through Connect; only turning on the delay needs it.
When Instant Delay runs into a problem, FACEITSync Connect tells you in three places: in the bar at the top of the app, on the card that appears when your stream starts, and as a Windows notification. The headings below use the same words, so you can look up what you see. How to set up Instant Delay is shown in the app: Sniper protection in the left sidebar, then Instant Delay and there Setup.
Check these three things first
- Is Connect running? Its icon has to be in the system tray. As long as OBS points at Connect, OBS cannot stream without it.
- Is Instant Delay on for this PC? While it is off, the bar only shows the switch Turn on. The switch belongs to each PC: if you stream from a second PC, turn it on there.
- Does the bar say "Ready: Connect sees your stream"? Then your stream arrives at Connect. If it says "No stream from OBS has arrived yet", OBS is not streaming or points somewhere else.
OBS says "Failed to connect to server"
Why: Connect was not running, OBS started before Connect, or Connect had just installed an update and was not started again.
What to do: Start Connect, wait until its icon appears in the system tray, and click Start Streaming in OBS again. If the very first attempt fails, OBS does not try again by itself. To stream without Connect instead, follow Streaming Without Connect.
"Your stream is not going through Connect"
Why: Twitch shows you live, but your stream does not arrive at Connect. Usually Streamlabs switched back to its recommended settings after an update or a new sign-in, or OBS streams from a profile that still points straight at Twitch.
What to do: Compare the server in your streaming program with the address under Setup on the Instant Delay page, in every OBS profile you stream CS2 from. Until then your stream runs without a delay.
"Twitch rejects your stream key"
Why: The stream key in OBS no longer matches, usually because you created a new one in the Twitch Creator Dashboard.
What to do: Copy the primary stream key in the Twitch Creator Dashboard under Settings, then Stream, and paste it into OBS. Connect never stores the key: it only passes on what OBS sends.
"Twitch connection lost": OBS is red, Twitch is offline
Why: Connect cannot reach Twitch. Usually the internet connection or Twitch itself has a problem.
What to do: Check your internet connection and the status page of Twitch, then wait. OBS reconnects as soon as Twitch can be reached again. With Twitch disconnect protection turned on, viewers see a pause instead of "offline" during a short drop.
OBS turns red at the start although the internet works
Why: Before a delayed start, Connect tests the connection to Twitch. The test fails when an antivirus program inspects encrypted connections or the Twitch server in use has trouble.
What to do: Click This PC in the bar and pick another Twitch server under Advanced. Test connection to Twitch shows you right away whether it can be reached. If your antivirus program inspects connections, add an exception for FACEITSync Connect there.
"Auto is off right now" or "DELAY BLOCKED"
Why: Connect names the reason on the card: your trial or Premium has ended, Connect needs an update, or Instant Delay is switched off for the moment.
What to do: Follow the reason on the card. Your stream always keeps running, only without the delay. A delay that is already running stays until the end of the match.
The delay only starts with the knife round
That is the default, not an error. In the mode Auto, Connect turns the delay on when the match goes live with the knife round, so your viewers see veto and warmup live on purpose. With CS2 Game State Integration, Auto switches on right at the knife round. Without GSI, Connect spots the start of the knife round within 30 seconds.
If you want the delay earlier, open the Delay section on the Instant Delay page. In the card When Connect turns on the delay, set Delay starts to When the match is ready or As soon as the match is found.
Auto does not turn the delay on at all
Why: Auto recognizes the matches of the FACEIT account that is linked with FACEITSync. A match on a second account that is not linked stays invisible to Auto.
What to do: Check the link to FACEIT (see Account Connections). For a second account, use the mode Always or Manual, or click Turn on delay in the bar yourself.
The delay stays on after the match
Why: Connect could not confirm the end of the match. You were signed out, FACEITSync could not be reached for a moment, or the delay was turned on without a known match.
What to do: Hold Back to live in the bar for one second, or press your hotkey for it twice. Otherwise the delay ends when your stream ends.
"Port in use"
Why: Another program uses the port Connect listens on, so OBS cannot reach Connect.
What to do: Close the other program, or set another Port under This PC, then Advanced. The new port applies from the next stream: copy the new address from the bar into OBS afterwards.
"DISRUPTED" or "Instant Delay is disrupted right now"
Why: To be safe, Connect passes your stream on without a delay until everything runs smoothly again or an update is ready. Your stream goes to Twitch as usual.
What to do: Nothing. Your stream keeps running. The note at the top of the bar tells you more, and if an update is ready, Connect installs it after your stream.
Warnings under "What Connect receives"
Under This PC, Connect shows what arrives from OBS and warns about settings that get in the way:
- Keyframe interval above 2 s: set a keyframe interval of 2 s in the output settings of OBS.
- A stream delay is probably still on in OBS: turn off the stream delay of OBS itself under Settings, then Advanced, otherwise the two delays add up.
- Enhanced Broadcasting is on: turn it off in OBS so Instant Delay can delay your stream.
- A second program is trying to stream: only one program can send to Connect at a time. Stop the second one.
- The video track is not H.264: pick an H.264 encoder in the output settings of OBS.
Streaming together: the party
If you stream together with others, a party gives you all the same delay: as soon as one of you plays, everyone gets it, and viewers do not see your round live on anyone. You invite people from the streamer list or on the Instant Delay page, and you see your party in the Party panel on the right of Connect. Whoever leads the party sets the delay, and it applies to everyone, in your own match too. More delay applies right away; lowering while someone plays asks first: Lower now or From the next match. If you leave the party, your own delay applies again, and protection that is running finishes first. The party itself is free. The shared delay runs for everyone with Premium, and the trial counts. Anyone without Premium is in the party without the delay.
Viewers see a few seconds twice
That is normal. When the delay starts or you go back to live, viewers briefly see the last seconds again, so they miss nothing. The player may take 1-3 s to catch up, and the VOD shows those seconds twice. Twitch also adds its own latency, so in total viewers are a bit more than your delay behind you.
Connect stops responding mid-match
With the OBS dock you hear a warning sound after about 90 seconds. Start Connect again: if your delay was on, your stream comes back with the delay, nothing slips out live. Until then OBS keeps reconnecting by itself.
Sending a diagnosis to support
Under This PC, Export diagnostics saves a ZIP file on your PC. It contains no stream key and no picture of your stream, and it stays on your PC until you send it yourself. Attach it when you contact us, see Getting Help.
FAQ
What happens if Premium ends during a match? A delay that is already running stays until the end of the match. After that your stream runs through Connect without a delay.
Where do I set how long the delay is? In Connect on the Instant Delay page under Delay, in the browser under Settings, then Stream delay, with the same values your predictions use. Instant Delay uses at most 600 s.
Are YouTube or Kick delayed as well? No. Only the stream through Connect is delayed. Other outputs stay live.
Does Connect see my stream key? Connect passes the stream on to Twitch and only keeps the key in memory while doing so. It never saves it and never sends it to FACEITSync.