The Tool Desk
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Where to find your YouTube RTMP server URL and stream key
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- At the top right, select Create, then Go Live to open Live Control Room.
- Open the Stream tab. Create a stream or select the scheduled stream you plan to use. For a first live stream, you may need to edit the stream and create it; if the channel has streamed before, earlier stream settings may load.
- In Stream settings, copy the Stream URL and Stream key.
- Keep the Live Control Room open while you enter those values in your encoder.
Which value goes in each encoder field?
| YouTube value | Encoder field | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stream URL | Server, RTMP server, or equivalent | Paste the complete URL shown for your stream. |
| Stream key | Stream Key or equivalent | Paste the key into the separate key field. |
Some encoders have a direct YouTube preset. Choose it if available, then provide the stream key when prompted. Otherwise, use the two fields in the table. Third-party encoders use different labels, so match by purpose rather than expecting identical wording. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes this URL-and-key mapping.
RTMP or RTMPS: which URL should you use?
YouTube shows ordinary RTMP by default. To reveal the secure RTMPS address, click the lock icon beside the Stream URL field. RTMPS is RTMP carried over TLS/SSL, so use it only if your encoder supports RTMPS. YouTube’s live encoder tips explain the secure URL and compatibility checks.
| Option | Transport | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP | Ordinary RTMP | Your encoder supports RTMP; this is the URL displayed by default. |
| RTMPS | RTMP over TLS/SSL | Your encoder supports RTMPS and you want to connect using YouTube’s secure URL. |
Copy the URL shown for your own stream. Do not use an example address from a help page in place of the account-specific URL.
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Start a scheduled stream after connecting
- Start the encoder and send the stream to YouTube using the URL and key.
- Wait for the preview to appear in Live Control Room.
- Select Go live there to begin the scheduled broadcast.
- When finished, end the stream using Live Control Room’s controls and stop sending from the encoder as YouTube directs.
YouTube’s encoder setup instructions cover the preview and go-live sequence.
Protect or reset your stream key
Treat the stream key as a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to send video to your stream. YouTube describes stream keys as “like your YouTube stream’s password and address” in Manage live stream settings. Don’t publish it in a screenshot, article, or shared support message.
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If the key is exposed or YouTube reports a key error, a channel owner or manager can reset it in the key section of Live Control Room. After resetting, replace the old key in the encoder with the new one; the old value will no longer be the key to use.
Troubleshooting URL, key, and connection errors
- No preview or connection: Check that the complete Stream URL is in the server field and that the key is in the separate key field. Make sure neither value has been truncated or pasted into the other field.
- SSL certificate error: Confirm that you selected YouTube’s RTMPS URL rather than the ordinary RTMP URL. If the RTMPS URL is correct and the SSL error persists, YouTube suggests trying port 443. Use your account’s URL, not an illustrative example.
- Connection timeout: Verify the URL and check that the encoder supports RTMPS if you selected the secure URL.
- Bad-key error: Check that you copied the current key for the intended stream. If it still fails or may have been exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update the encoder.
For protocol and connection checks, see YouTube’s live encoder tips and stream settings help. The exact interface can vary slightly by stream state or account.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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