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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To send a prerecorded video to YouTube through Restream, connect the YouTube channel in Channels > Add New > YouTube, then schedule the video using Restream’s Pre-recorded livestream workflow. Choose a video or playlist, select YouTube as a destination, and set the event time. Restream says scheduled prerecorded streams start automatically; you do not need to start an external encoder at that time.
Choose the right Restream workflow
“YouTube RTMP destination” can mean connecting your YouTube channel to Restream, attaching an existing YouTube event, or sending an encoder’s live output through Restream. For a prerecorded file that should play at a scheduled time, use the native YouTube connection and Restream’s prerecorded scheduling workflow—not the encoder-input workflow.
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| What you want to do | Restream path | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule a prerecorded file or playlist to your YouTube channel | Connect YouTube, then use Pre-recorded livestream and choose Video or Playlist | Restream says the scheduled video starts automatically. |
| Send to a YouTube event you already created | Edit the YouTube channel in Restream’s RTMP setup and select the event from the Event dropdown | This uses the connected YouTube integration. |
| Connect an existing YouTube event using its server URL and stream key | Add the event as a Custom RTMP channel | Restream says Custom RTMP requires a paid plan; some API-dependent features, including Restream Chat and Analytics, are unavailable for custom channels. |
| Send live encoder output through Restream | Create an Encoder | RTMP stream and enter Restream’s URL and key in the encoder | This is for live encoder input, not required to schedule prerecorded-file playback. |
Before you connect YouTube
- Use the channel owner’s Google account. Restream says the YouTube channel owner must authorize the connection; a manager or editor account is not sufficient. If the wrong channel appears, check which Google account you authorized.
- Enable YouTube live streaming. Restream says first-time activation may require phone verification and a 24-hour wait before you can stream.
- Check the event and schedule in your account. Destination choices, permissions, plan access, and event-level settings depend on your accounts. Confirm the selected channel and event in your own dashboards.
Add your YouTube channel to Restream
- Sign in to Restream and open Channels.
- Select Add New > YouTube.
- Choose the Google account that owns the YouTube channel you want to use.
- Review and grant the requested authorization. Confirm the intended YouTube channel appears as a connected destination in Restream.
Schedule a prerecorded video or playlist
- In Restream, open Pre-recorded livestream.
- Choose Video to schedule one file or Playlist to schedule multiple files.
- Select the file or files and enter the event details.
- Set the date and time, then select the connected YouTube channel among the destinations.
- Review the event and destination settings, then schedule it. Restream’s documented workflow says the video event goes live automatically at the scheduled time.
This file-scheduling flow does not require you to open OBS or another encoder and start it when the scheduled broadcast begins. If you are using a YouTube event that was created separately, verify the event selection and schedule in Restream before relying on automatic playback.
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Use an existing YouTube event or a Custom RTMP channel
Select the event through the connected YouTube channel
If the YouTube event already exists, edit the YouTube channel in Restream’s RTMP setup and choose the event from the Event dropdown. This is the event-selection route for the native YouTube integration.
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Add the event as Custom RTMP
Alternatively, copy the event’s stream URL and stream key from YouTube Live Dashboard and add the event in Restream as a Custom RTMP channel. Restream’s Help Center says a paid plan is required for streaming on Custom RTMP channels. It also says API-dependent Restream features such as Chat and Analytics do not work for custom channels.
When RTMP encoder settings matter
Restream’s Encoder | RTMP workflow is for sending a live encoder output into Restream: create that stream type, enable the destination, and enter Restream’s URL and key in your streaming software. YouTube’s encoder guidance likewise uses a YouTube server URL and stream key in an encoder. Those steps are relevant when your source is a live encoder—not when you are scheduling a file using Restream’s prerecorded workflow.
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Restream’s July 9, 2026 YouTube guide reports a recommended bitrate range of 3,000–40,000 Kbps depending on resolution and frame rate, along with a 100-character title limit and a 5,000-character description limit. Those are figures reported by Restream for its guide; check current YouTube and Restream settings for your specific output and account rather than treating them as universal requirements for every prerecorded schedule.
Troubleshoot common setup problems
- YouTube is missing or the wrong channel is connected: Disconnect or change the authorization as appropriate, then reconnect using the Google account that owns the intended channel.
- YouTube will not accept a live destination: Check that live streaming is enabled for the channel. If this is its first activation, Restream says verification and a 24-hour wait may apply.
- The existing event does not appear: Confirm you are editing the correct connected YouTube channel and inspect the Event dropdown. If using Custom RTMP instead, confirm your Restream plan permits that channel type and that the event’s URL and key were copied correctly.
- The event does not use the expected Restream features: A Custom RTMP destination does not support some API-dependent features, including Restream Chat and Analytics, according to Restream.
- You expected an encoder to start the scheduled file: The prerecorded Video or Playlist workflow is the relevant scheduling path. Encoder | RTMP is for a live encoder input.
Long broadcasts and YouTube archives
Restream’s July 9, 2026 YouTube guide says YouTube has no stream-duration limit but archives only streams under 12 hours. If the length or archive availability matters for your event, verify the current behavior in YouTube’s own guidance and in the event settings before scheduling a long broadcast.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule a prerecorded stream without leaving my computer on?
Yes. Restream’s documented Pre-recorded livestream workflow schedules the selected video or playlist to start automatically; it does not require an operator to start an external encoder at the scheduled time.
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No. Connect the channel with Channels > Add New > YouTube. Custom RTMP is an alternate method for an existing YouTube event using its URL and stream key.
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