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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In FFmpeg, the YouTube stream key goes at the end of the output URL, after the server and application path. Copy the current stream URL and key from YouTube Studio, then use them in this form:
ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -f flv 'rtmp://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY'Replace every placeholder with the values shown for your stream. YouTube recommends RTMPS, so use the secure RTMPS ingestion URL supplied for your stream when available. Never share the completed command: it contains your key.
Where to find the YouTube stream URL and key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room.
- Create or select the encoder stream you intend to use, then open Stream settings.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream. Use the current values there; server names and paths in examples are not universal.
YouTube describes stream keys as like a stream’s “password and address.” Treat yours as a secret. The exact controls and stream availability depend on your channel and Studio configuration.
Put the key in FFmpeg’s output URL
Unlike an encoder with separate Server URL and Stream key fields, FFmpeg takes an output destination at the end of the command. Its documented RTMP publishing pattern is ffmpeg -re -i myfile -f flv rtmp://myserver/live/mystream. YouTube’s connection details can therefore be expressed as a combined destination, in the form STREAM_URL/STREAM_NAME.
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ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -f flv 'rtmp://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY'Here, input.mp4 is your input file, SERVER/APP represents the actual server and application path from YouTube Studio, and STREAM_KEY is the matching key. Keep the URL in quotes, especially if its characters could be interpreted by your shell. This is a template based on FFmpeg’s documented syntax, not a tested command for every input, system, channel, or FFmpeg build.
Use the secure RTMPS endpoint when supplied
YouTube recommends RTMPS. Copy the RTMPS ingestion address shown in Studio and preserve its hostname and full path when adding the key. YouTube’s RTMPS guidance requires TLS and port 443; the hostname is also needed for server authentication through SNI. FFmpeg documents RTMPS support, but protocol availability depends on how the installed build was compiled. Do not substitute a guessed endpoint or assume that an example path applies to your stream.
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Check the encoder settings separately
Entering the key only addresses where FFmpeg sends the output. It does not configure the video and audio encoding YouTube expects. If the connection reaches YouTube but the stream is rejected or looks poor, check YouTube’s current encoder recommendations for your stream and media.
- Keyframe interval: YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds.
- Bitrate mode: YouTube specifies constant bitrate (CBR) encoding.
- Other media settings: Verify codec, frame rate, resolution, and audio settings against YouTube’s current encoder guidance. The appropriate values depend on the output you are sending.
Troubleshoot connection and key problems
FFmpeg connects to the wrong destination or YouTube sees no stream
Check that you copied the current URL and the key belonging to the selected stream. Confirm the combined output destination contains the full server/application path followed by the key; tools that expose separate fields may require these values separately, while this FFmpeg form combines them.
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RTMPS times out or reports an SSL/TLS error
Confirm that the destination is the RTMPS endpoint supplied by YouTube, that it uses port 443, and that the connection uses TLS. Preserve the hostname so SNI can authenticate the server. Using cleartext RTMP against an endpoint expecting RTMPS can result in a timeout. Also verify that your FFmpeg build supports the required protocol.
The stream connects but is rejected or has poor quality
Review the encoding settings rather than changing the key first: check CBR, the 2-second recommended keyframe interval (no more than 4 seconds), codec, frame rate, resolution, and audio against YouTube’s current guidance.
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The key may have been exposed or reset
Reset the stream key in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, then replace the old value anywhere the FFmpeg destination is configured. YouTube requires channel owner or manager permissions to reset a key. Avoid placing a live key in public issue reports, screenshots, shared shell history, or logs; command arguments may be visible depending on how the command is launched and observed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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