In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go live → Stream, copy the key for the stream you intend to use, and paste it into OBS. If the key may be stale or compromised, reset it in Live Control Room and replace the saved key in OBS. Check that the YouTube server URL and key belong together, then start OBS and wait for its preview in Live Control Room before selecting Go live if your broadcast is not set to start automatically.
A rejected key does not have one universal cause or error message. Work through the credential and endpoint checks first; then investigate channel eligibility, encoder health, network, or format errors. For a 24/7 broadcast, also plan for YouTube’s archive limit: an individual stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured as an archive.
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Fix the key and endpoint first
YouTube describes stream keys as “like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” They let an encoder send a feed to the intended YouTube stream, so the key and server URL need to be entered in their corresponding OBS fields. YouTube’s stream settings guide explains how keys are managed.
- Open the intended stream in YouTube Studio. Choose Create → Go live, then select the Stream tab. If you have scheduled or reused streams, make sure you are looking at the one you mean to send to.
- Copy its current stream key. In OBS, open Settings → Stream and paste the key into the stream-key field. OBS versions and interface wording can vary; confirm you are editing the key field, not the server field.
- Match the server URL to the key. In OBS’s server field, use the YouTube stream URL shown for that stream in Live Control Room. Do not put the key in the server field or pair a key with another stream’s URL. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions distinguish the URL from the key.
- Reset only if needed. In Live Control Room, use Reset beside the hidden key if the current credential may be stale or compromised. Copy the newly generated key and replace the one saved in OBS. YouTube says only a channel owner or manager can reset a key; editors and viewers cannot.
- Test the receiving side. Start streaming in OBS and look for the feed preview in Live Control Room. In the standard encoder workflow, YouTube’s instructions put Go live after the preview appears; select it if the broadcast is not configured to start automatically.
Keep the key private. Anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to the associated stream. If you reset it, update any other encoder configuration that uses the old key.
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If YouTube still rejects the feed
Confirm the channel can go live
YouTube’s eligibility guidance requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions during the previous 90 days. A key reset cannot restore access if the channel itself is restricted. Check the channel’s status and follow YouTube’s account-specific guidance: Get started with live streaming.
Check OBS and the outbound connection
If the key and URL match but OBS still reports a start or connection problem, check the encoder and network rather than repeatedly resetting a valid key. YouTube’s live-stream troubleshooting guide recommends updating encoder software, inspecting the stream and encoder dashboard for errors, and checking CPU load. If OBS appears healthy but the feed does not reach YouTube, test outbound internet connectivity; YouTube suggests contacting the internet provider if the outbound connection is the problem. If encoder-side problems remain, YouTube suggests trying a different encoder.
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- If OBS shows it is not connecting, recheck the selected server URL, key, and outbound connection.
- If the encoder reports dropped or unstable output, investigate CPU load and network stability before changing stream credentials.
- If the feed reaches Live Control Room but does not begin broadcasting, use the preview status and the broadcast’s start configuration to determine whether you need to select Go live.
Keep format errors separate from key errors
If YouTube specifically reports “Incorrect stream format,” treat it as a format issue, not proof that the key is invalid. YouTube’s live-stream error guidance says to send H.264 video and AAC audio for that error. Those codec settings address the named format problem; the guidance does not say that changing codecs fixes a stale or rejected key.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsPlan archive handling for a 24/7 stream
A key that works gets OBS connected; it does not guarantee that one continuous broadcast will produce one complete YouTube archive. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, while streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. The 12-hour guidance concerns archiving, not a guaranteed maximum live duration. See Archive live streams.
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- Record locally as a backup and verify that the recording file is growing while the stream runs.
- Check that local disk space is sufficient for the intended recording period.
- Do not rely on YouTube to create one complete archive from a broadcast that exceeds 12 hours. The official guidance does not prescribe a restart cadence or promise a complete 24-hour archive.
YouTube’s live-streaming tips provide additional guidance for planning a broadcast. Use a local recording you can inspect if preserving the full programme matters.
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