# Live Sessions
URL: /overview/sessions-api/embed-sessions/live-sessions

---
title: Live Sessions
sidebarTitle: Live Sessions
description: How to embed and share live browser sessions in your applications
llm: true
---

Steel sessions can be viewed live directly from your app or dashboard.  
With the new **headful experience**, live views now stream real-time video using WebRTC — low-latency, high-fidelity, and OS-accurate.

Legacy **headless sessions** continue to use the same debug URL but display content using Chrome’s screencasting for backward compatibility.

## Embed Headful Live Sessions (Recommended)

### What Changed
Steel’s live view now uses **WebRTC-based video streaming at 25 fps (H.264)**, replacing Chrome’s screencasting and screenshot-based method.

- Real-time OS-level capture  
- Stable 25 fps playback  
- Low-latency streaming with full visual fidelity  

> **Tip:** Headful sessions are now **default** for all new sessions.  
> You’ll use the same `debugUrl`, and Steel automatically chooses the proper playback technology.

---

### Getting the Debug URL

When creating a session with the API, the response includes a `debugUrl`.  
You can open this URL directly in your browser or embed it inside an application.

<CodeTabs storage="languageSwitcher">

```typescript !! Typescript -wcn
import { Steel } from "steel-sdk";

const client = new Steel({ apiKey: process.env.STEEL_API_KEY });
const session = await client.sessions.create();

console.log("Debug URL:", session.debugUrl);
```

```python !! Python -wcn
from steel import Steel

client = Steel()
session = client.sessions.create()
print("Debug URL:", session.debug_url)
```

</CodeTabs>

---

### Embedding in Your Application

Embed the session directly in your UI using an iframe:

```html
<iframe
  src="{session.debugUrl}?interactive=true"
  style="width: 100%; height: 600px; border: none;"
></iframe>
```

- Streams real-time browser output using **WebRTC + H.264**  
- Works in all major browsers with baseline H.264 support  
- `interactive=true` allows remote mouse/keyboard input for collaborative debugging or human-in-the-loop workflows  

> **Note:** For security reasons, debug URLs are **unauthenticated**.  
> Anyone with the debug URL can view or interact with that session.  
> Use your own-access controls if embedding in a user-facing product.

---

### Supported Parameters (Headful)

| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------------|------|----------|-------------|
| `interactive` | boolean | `true` | Enables or disables remote control of the live session. |

Example:

```html
<iframe
  src={`${session.debugUrl}?interactive=false`}
  style="width: 100%; height: 600px; border: none;"
></iframe>
```

Disabling interactivity makes the view read-only, ideal for watch-only monitoring scenarios.

---

## Headless (Legacy)

> Headless live sessions remain supported for existing workflows.  
> They use Chrome’s screencasting instead of WebRTC and expose additional configuration options.

### Configuration Options (Headless Only)

| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|------------|------|----------|-------------|
| `theme` | string | `"dark"` | UI theme (`dark` or `light`) |
| `interactive` | boolean | `true` | Enable or disable interaction |
| `showControls` | boolean | `true` | Show or hide navigation UI |
| `pageId` | string | (empty) | Focus the view on a specific page/tab |
| `pageIndex` | string | (empty) | Display a specific tab by index |

Example:

```html
<iframe
  src={`${session.debugUrl}?theme=light&interactive=true&showControls=true&pageIndex=0`}
  style="width: 100%; height: 600px; border: none;"
></iframe>
```

---

### Common Use Cases

**Read-only viewer**

```html
<iframe
  src={`${session.debugUrl}?interactive=false`}
  style="width: 100%; height: 600px; border: none;"
></iframe>
```

**Human-in-the-loop control**

Allow humans to take over automation tasks or debug live workflows interactively using `interactive=true`.

---

### Troubleshooting

If the embedded view appears blank or unresponsive:
- Ensure the session is active (default timeout: 5 min).  
- Confirm your browser supports **H.264 baseline** playback.  
- Check your container has fixed dimensions (`width` and `height`).  
- Verify the correct session and valid API key were used.

---

### Summary

All new sessions now run **headful by default**, streaming real-time video with WebRTC.  
Use the same `debugUrl` to embed or view — Steel automatically determines the correct playback mode.  

Headless live streams remain available for legacy sessions but will be phased out over time.

### FAQ

### Can I embed a live Steel browser session in my app?

Yes. Every session created via the API returns a `debugUrl` that you can open directly in a browser or embed in your UI with an iframe, streaming the live browser in real time.

### Can users interact with an embedded live session, or is it view-only?

Both. The `interactive` parameter (default `true`) enables remote mouse and keyboard input for human-in-the-loop workflows; set `interactive=false` on the debug URL for a read-only, watch-only view.

### Is the debug URL authenticated?

No. Debug URLs are unauthenticated by design, so anyone with the URL can view or interact with that session. Add your own access controls if you embed live sessions in a user-facing product.

### How does Steel's live view streaming work?

New sessions run headful by default and stream real-time video over WebRTC at 25 fps using H.264, with OS-level capture and low latency. Legacy headless sessions use the same `debugUrl` but display via Chrome's screencasting, and Steel automatically picks the right playback mode.