To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live in 4K at 60 fps, use OBS with the video set to repeat, an available NVIDIA NVENC encoder, and the stream URL and key from YouTube Live Control Room. Set OBS to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, use YouTube’s recommended ingest settings for your chosen codec, then test the stream before making it public. This setup keeps the broadcast running from your computer, so the PC and its internet connection must remain on.
Before you start
You need a prerecorded video, an NVIDIA system whose GPU and installed OBS version offer a compatible NVENC encoder, OBS, and a YouTube channel enabled for live streaming. You do not need a capture card or paid streaming software for this workflow: YouTube lists OBS as an open-source encoder available at no charge.
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- Check that the source video is suitable for 4K60 output. OBS can output at that resolution and frame rate, but it cannot add real detail or motion information that is absent from a lower-resolution or lower-frame-rate source.
- Make sure your upload connection can sustain the selected video bitrate, plus audio and network overhead. YouTube’s bitrate figures are encoder recommendations, not guarantees of picture quality or proof that your connection can carry the stream reliably.
- Allow time to enable live streaming if this is the channel’s first broadcast. YouTube says initial activation may take up to 24 hours.
- Use content you have the rights to broadcast. A live loop is still a public transmission: repeating a video does not grant permission to use its music, footage, images, or other material.
Create the YouTube live event and get its connection details
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or schedule a live stream. Choose the event’s visibility to suit your test; an unlisted event is useful for checking the setup without listing it publicly.
- Open the stream settings and copy the stream URL and stream key. Enter the URL in OBS as the server and the key as the stream key. YouTube uses the key like a password to identify which encoder feed to accept, so do not share it or show it in screenshots. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio.
- Use RTMPS if it is offered for the event and supported by your OBS setup. YouTube’s encoder guidance accepts RTMP/RTMPS; use the connection details shown for the event rather than guessing a server URL.
Build a scene that repeats the video
In OBS, create or select a scene, add the prerecorded clip as a media source, and enable the source’s repeat or loop option. OBS labels and controls can vary by version, so confirm the exact control in the version installed rather than relying on a click path that may have changed. Keep the source visible in the scene.
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Set OBS video output to 4K at 60 fps
In OBS’s video settings, set the base (canvas) resolution and output (scaled) resolution to 3840×2160, and set the common frame rate to 60 fps. The exact labels may differ by OBS release. If your source, GPU, or upload connection cannot sustain that output reliably, use a lower frame rate or resolution that your setup can maintain instead of forcing 4K60 and accepting repeated drops.
- Use square pixels and progressive scan.
- For standard dynamic range (SDR), use Rec. 709 color and 8-bit output, as listed in YouTube’s live encoder guidance.
- Use HDR only if the source and full encoding path are deliberately set up for it. YouTube’s guidance recommends H.265/HEVC and 10-bit for HDR, and says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
Choose NVENC and match YouTube’s ingest settings
In OBS’s streaming output settings, select an NVIDIA NVENC encoder option available on your GPU and in your installed OBS build. NVENC choices and controls depend on the hardware, codec, and OBS version; there is no single preset that is right for every system. YouTube’s current live encoder settings page, accessed in 2026, specifies the following 2160p60 bitrate recommendations and minimums:
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| Codec | YouTube recommended video bitrate at 2160p60 | YouTube minimum video bitrate at 2160p60 |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| H.265/HEVC or AV1 | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s encoder settings, not viewer playback bitrates. H.264 is the broad-compatibility choice; use HEVC or AV1 only when the encoder option, YouTube ingest path, and your intended workflow support it. The lower listed bitrate for HEVC/AV1 does not mean either codec will always look better. Judge the result by a representative test and YouTube’s stream-health feedback.
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- Set rate control to CBR.
- Set the keyframe interval to two seconds. YouTube recommends two seconds and says the interval should not exceed four seconds.
- For ordinary SDR, use the YouTube-listed advanced frame settings of two B-frames and one reference frame if those controls are available in your chosen NVENC mode.
- Do not apply a blanket preset recommendation without checking GPU load and the available NVENC options. OBS 31.0 introduced additional NVENC controls, including target-quality rate control, Ultra High Quality tuning, and Adaptive Quantization; their availability depends on the GPU and codec.
YouTube’s live settings specify H.264, H.265, or AV1, up to 60 fps, CBR, and RTMP/RTMPS. At 2160p, YouTube does not offer the low-latency option; the stream is set to normal latency.
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Configure audio
Use an audio codec accepted by YouTube, such as AAC or MP3. YouTube lists 128 Kbps for stereo audio and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz for stereo; its listed sample rate for 5.1 audio is 48 kHz. For a typical stereo video loop, set OBS’s audio output to stereo and check that the clip’s sound is neither muted nor duplicated by another source.
Test the loop before going public
- Start the event as unlisted or otherwise private to your intended audience, then start streaming from OBS.
- Watch the event in YouTube Live Control Room. Confirm YouTube detects 2160p60, the stream health is stable, and there are no encoder or connection warnings.
- Test with representative movement and audio, not just a static opening frame. Let the clip reach its end and confirm it restarts cleanly without an unintended gap, freeze, or audio cut.
- Check the playback on another device or browser if possible. Verify that the sound stays in sync and that the image is not stretched or unexpectedly cropped.
- Only after the test is satisfactory, switch to the intended public event or schedule and start the actual broadcast.
YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring Live Control Room messages and stream health during the event. A short test can catch setup problems, but it cannot establish that a long-running stream will never be interrupted.
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Keep the local stream healthy during a long loop
With OBS running locally, the broadcast depends on the computer staying powered, OBS continuing to encode, and the internet connection maintaining the upload. Keep an eye on OBS rendering and encoding load as well as YouTube’s stream-health status. A stable start does not rule out later network drops, thermal or resource problems, a stopped media source, or a system restart.
- If YouTube reports a weak or unstable connection, check upload capacity and competing network traffic; lower the bitrate or output settings if the link cannot sustain them.
- If OBS reports encoding overload, reduce the output resolution or frame rate, or choose an available NVENC configuration that the system can sustain.
- If the image freezes at the loop point, check the media source’s repeat setting and test the end-to-start transition again.
- If sound disappears or falls out of sync, check the media source audio, OBS audio routing, and sample-rate settings, then retest before returning to the public event.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is the cloud option to try first if you want a prerecorded YouTube stream to continue without keeping a home computer and connection running. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud. It streams to YouTube only and does not broadcast from a camera.
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- Nothing has to stay on at home for the stream to keep running.
- Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free, with no card required.
The monthly option is $9.99 per month. Plans include one always-on stream per slot, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, looping and playlists, automatic recovery, and StreamNeo team support; the product is the same across plans, with billing length changing. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
Rights and YouTube monetization considerations
Before leaving a loop running, confirm you have the necessary rights for every part of the recording, including music, video, artwork, and any third-party clips. YouTube’s copyright rules apply to live broadcasts as well as uploads. A stream that is technically stable can still be interrupted or restricted if it uses material you are not authorized to broadcast.
Permission to use content and eligibility for monetization are separate questions. Repeating prerecorded material does not itself establish that a channel or stream qualifies for monetization, and a loop should not be treated as a way around YouTube’s policies on reused content. Review the rules applicable to your channel and the material before broadcasting.
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Can I stream 4K60 if my source video is 1080p?
OBS can output a 1080p source at 4K60 settings, but scaling it up does not create genuine 4K detail or 60-fps motion.
Can viewers pause a YouTube Live loop?
YouTube documents DVR for live streams, which lets viewers pause and resume playback; availability and behavior can depend on the event settings and platform.
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