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To broadcast a pre-recorded video on YouTube from Windows 11, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, connect OBS to the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio, then check the Live Control Room preview before you make the scheduled stream public. Turn on Loop only if you want the video to repeat. Test the full setup first, and stream only audio and video you have the rights to use.
Before you start
- A Windows 11 PC with OBS Studio and the video file saved locally. A camera or capture card is not needed just to play a file.
- A YouTube channel eligible to livestream. YouTube says the channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. See YouTube live streaming tips.
- A stable upload connection able to sustain the bitrate you choose. Run a test with representative motion and audio before the event.
- Streaming rights for all video, music, voice and other material in the file. YouTube’s rights-management controls do not grant permission to use third-party content; review YouTube’s live-streaming rights guidance.
Create or schedule the YouTube stream
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live.
- For an immediate broadcast, use the Stream tab. For a later event, open Manage → Schedule Stream and set up the event. Scheduling can create an upcoming watch page where viewers may set a reminder.
- Open the stream’s Live Control Room details and locate its stream URL and stream key. You will enter these in OBS. Treat the key as a password: it lets an encoder send a feed to your event. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update OBS. YouTube’s current encoder workflow is described in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder and its stream settings guidance.
Set up the pre-recorded video in OBS
- Open OBS Studio and select or create the scene you want to use.
- In the Sources panel, select + → Media Source. Give it a name if prompted, then choose the video file. OBS documents common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and WebM; see the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Set playback behavior. Loop is off by default: enable it if the video should restart automatically at the end. Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default. Hide source when playback ends is also on by default; leave it on if you want the source to disappear after a one-time playback, or change it if your scene should remain visible.
- Check the OBS preview. Resize or position the source in the canvas if needed, and confirm the video’s audio is present in the mixer. Play through representative sections rather than checking only the opening frame.
Connect OBS to YouTube
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream.
- Choose YouTube if it is available in the service list. Otherwise select a custom streaming service and enter the stream URL from YouTube Studio.
- Paste the YouTube stream key into OBS’s stream-key field. Do not share screenshots or recordings that reveal it.
- Select Apply, then OK. Before going live, verify that the selected OBS scene is the one containing the Media Source.
Choose resolution, frame rate and bitrate
These settings balance visual detail, motion smoothness and the reliability of your upload connection. YouTube transcodes incoming streams for playback on different devices and network conditions, but you still need to send a stable feed. Its current encoder guidance recommends encrypted RTMPS delivery, constant bitrate (CBR), AAC or MP3 audio, and a two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. For RTMP/RTMPS, the listed video codecs include H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1, at up to 60 fps. Check YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates and resolutions for current recommendations.
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| Example at 1080p30 | Minimum bitrate listed by YouTube | Recommended bitrate listed by YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
These figures are YouTube Help recommendations accessed on October 3, 2026, for the specified codec and 1080p30 setting; they are not independent test results. The minimum is not a guarantee of uninterrupted delivery. Choose a bitrate your upload connection can sustain consistently, and test the actual scene and audio. If the connection struggles, reduce the output bitrate or resolution before the event rather than waiting for a live interruption.
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Test, start and end the broadcast
- YouTube advises setting up an encoder at least 2 hours before a livestream and starting it at least 15 minutes before the scheduled event. These are YouTube Help recommendations, not technical minimums.
- In OBS, select Start Streaming. In YouTube Live Control Room, wait for the incoming preview and check stream health, picture and audio. Test representative movement and sound, not just a static opening image.
- For a scheduled encoder stream, sending video from OBS does not by itself make the event live to viewers. When the preview is ready and you are satisfied with it, select Go live in Live Control Room.
- When finished, end the event in Live Control Room and stop the OBS stream. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume that an event lasting 12 hours or longer will be archived automatically.
Troubleshooting
- YouTube does not receive a signal: Check that OBS is streaming, the selected service or server URL is correct, and the stream key matches the event. Reset an exposed key in Live Control Room and replace the saved key in OBS.
- The preview appears, but viewers cannot watch: For a scheduled encoder stream, open Live Control Room and select Go live after checking the preview.
- The video stops at the end: Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop if you intended continuous playback.
- The source disappears at the end: Check Hide source when playback ends. It is on by default; turn it off if the source should remain visible after a one-time playback.
- Audio is missing or wrong: Check that the file itself has an audio track and that its source appears in the OBS mixer with the meter moving during playback. Confirm audio in the YouTube preview before making the event live.
- Video or audio delivery is unstable: Check YouTube’s stream-health indicators and whether the upload connection can sustain the chosen bitrate. Lower bitrate or resolution, then test again before the event.
- The channel cannot start a livestream: Check channel verification and whether a live-streaming restriction has applied within YouTube’s 90-day eligibility lookback.
- A copyright claim or rights issue arises: Use only material you are authorized to livestream. A YouTube setting or successful test does not establish that you have rights to third-party music or footage.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep looping uploaded videos without leaving your Windows 11 PC on, StreamNeo runs the stream from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month.
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