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For an OBS loop stream to YouTube Live, use CBR, a 2-second keyframe interval, and a bitrate matched to your codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube’s current H.264 recommendations include 17 Mbps for 1080p60, 14 Mbps for 1080p30, and 8 Mbps for either 720p60 or 720p30. Choose a mode your connection and computer can sustain continuously; YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload-bandwidth headroom.
Recommended OBS settings for YouTube Live
These settings apply to an OBS feed sent to YouTube Live over RTMP or RTMPS. YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed 4 seconds. Its bitrate recommendations depend on the incoming codec, resolution, and frame rate, so use the matching row for your actual output rather than treating one bitrate as universal.
| Output | H.264 recommended bitrate | Keyframe interval | Rate control |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds | CBR |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps | 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds | CBR |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps | 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds | CBR |
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps | 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds | CBR |
These figures are YouTube Help recommendations; the source page does not state a publication year and was accessed in 2026. YouTube’s table also distinguishes minimums from recommendations. The values above are recommendations, not minimums or guarantees of stable delivery.
Choose a bitrate and output your connection can sustain
A non-stop broadcast needs a stable connection for the entire run, not merely a speed-test peak. YouTube advises keeping the total stream bitrate within available upload capacity, leaving 20% headroom, and testing with audio and motion similar to the actual program. The 20% headroom figure is YouTube Help guidance (year not stated; accessed 2026).
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- Use YouTube’s bitrate row for your chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate.
- Check upload capacity and leave the recommended headroom after accounting for the stream’s total bitrate.
- Test the real loop—including its audio and visual movement—and monitor YouTube’s stream health while live.
- If OBS or YouTube reports instability, reduce output demands, such as resolution or frame rate, and select the corresponding bitrate recommendation. A lower stable mode is preferable to a higher mode your connection cannot sustain.
Set the encoder, video, and audio options
Rate control and keyframes
In OBS, open Settings > Output and select the encoder you plan to use. Set rate control to CBR and keyframe interval to 2 seconds. Exact control names and availability vary by encoder. YouTube’s guidance says not to exceed a 4-second interval.
Codec, resolution, and frame rate
YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion. Use only a codec supported by both the OBS encoder you select and the YouTube stream configuration. YouTube supports up to 60 fps. Set output resolution and frame rate to suit the source and a sustainable connection, then consult the bitrate recommendation for that combination and codec.
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Picture and audio guidance
YouTube’s advanced guidance lists square pixels, progressive scan, 2 B-frames, 1 reference frame, CABAC, and Rec. 709 for SDR. For stereo audio, it lists 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps; AAC and MP3 are supported for RTMP/RTMPS audio. Encoder controls differ, so use the corresponding options where your chosen encoder exposes them rather than assuming every setting has the same label.
Choose an encoder for sustained stability
Hardware encoding can reduce CPU work, but it is not automatically the best-quality choice. OBS says modern hardware encoders can encode efficiently with minimal performance impact, while earlier-generation hardware may deliver lower quality at the same bitrate. Compare the options on your actual system for sustained stability at the target resolution and frame rate, CPU versus GPU workload, image quality at the selected bitrate, codec support, and dropped frames. There is no machine-specific benchmark here; OBS recommends leaving defaults alone unless you have a reason to change them.
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Connect OBS to the YouTube event
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the live event and obtain its stream URL and stream key. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the stream to and through Google’s servers.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube or the appropriate custom server option, and enter the event’s stream URL and key as required by the selected service configuration.
- Keep the stream key private. It functions as a credential; if it is compromised, reset it through YouTube Studio.
- Check the YouTube preview before starting the public event. Test the complete loop, including its return to the beginning, audio behavior, and any source or scene transitions.
For a long broadcast, keep OBS and YouTube stream health visible and test upload stability over time. A local recording is prudent if you need to retain the program.
Plan separately for live continuity, replay, and DVR
A continuous outgoing OBS feed does not guarantee that YouTube will save or make rewind available for the entire broadcast. YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all; it also recommends keeping a local archive backup. Separately, YouTube says DVR may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. These limits matter for multi-day loops: viewers may not be able to rewind the whole run, and the platform may not save a complete replay.
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If a complete recording matters, record locally and consider whether shorter, separately archived sessions better fit your retention needs. That is a planning approach, not a guarantee about how YouTube will handle a particular event.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common loop-stream problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| Stream health warns of connection or bitrate trouble | Upload capacity is insufficient or unstable for the total outgoing bitrate. | Run a representative upload test, leave 20% headroom, and lower resolution or frame rate if necessary. Use the matching bitrate guidance for the revised output. |
| Dropped frames or an unstable OBS output | The chosen settings or encoder may not be sustainable on the computer or connection. | Check OBS statistics and YouTube stream health during a representative test. Compare encoder workload and stability; reduce output demands if the system cannot hold them. |
| Unexpected stutter, blank section, or audio issue at the loop boundary | The source may not transition cleanly when it returns to the beginning. | Test a full loop cycle before going public, including audio and any scene or source changes; correct the source or transition in OBS and test again. |
| YouTube does not show the expected preview | The event URL or stream key may be missing, incorrect, or associated with a different event. | Recheck the selected Live Control Room event and the URL/key entered in OBS. Keep the key private and reset it if it may have been exposed. |
| No complete replay or limited rewind after a long run | The stream exceeded 12 hours, when archiving may fail and DVR may be limited or unavailable. | Use a local recording for retention and plan session length around the archive and DVR behavior YouTube documents. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube loop without keeping OBS and a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, not a live camera feed.
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