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To stream an MP4 to YouTube Live with FFmpeg, create or select a live event in YouTube Studio, copy that event’s stream URL and key, then have FFmpeg encode the file at one resolution and send it to YouTube in real time. YouTube creates multiple playback formats from that incoming feed, so most broadcasts do not need separate FFmpeg streams for different viewer resolutions.
What “different resolutions” means for a YouTube live stream
There are two separate resolutions to consider: the resolution FFmpeg sends to YouTube (the ingest), and the playback quality available to viewers. You choose one ingest resolution in FFmpeg. YouTube says it automatically transcodes a live feed into multiple output formats, allowing viewers to watch on different devices and network connections. Separate ingests for 720p, 1080p and other playback sizes are not normally needed.
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If you mean broadcasting separate events at different resolutions, that is a different setup. This guide covers choosing the single outgoing resolution for one live event.
Choose the outgoing resolution and bitrate
Pick a resolution and frame rate that suit the MP4, the computer doing the encoding and the sustained upload capacity of its connection. Upscaling a small source does not restore detail that is not in the file. YouTube recommends constant-bitrate encoding and a two-second keyframe interval, with keyframes no more than four seconds apart. Its currently displayed H.264 bitrate recommendations are below; the YouTube Help page has no displayed publication date and was accessed on October 3, 2026.
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| FFmpeg ingest resolution and frame rate | YouTube H.264 bitrate recommendation |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 34 Mbps |
These are YouTube encoder targets, not promises of a particular playback result. The recommendation depends on codec, resolution and frame rate. YouTube’s streaming tips advise keeping about 20% upload headroom, so do not choose a bitrate that uses all of a connection’s measured upload capacity. A speed test is only a snapshot; the actual route and time of your broadcast can behave differently.
YouTube recommends RTMP or RTMPS ingest and recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport. It supports H.264, H.265 and AV1 video, with frame rates up to 60 fps. AAC or MP3 audio is supported over RTMP/RTMPS; 5.1 surround sound is supported only with AAC. The command below is an SDR H.264/AAC example, not an HDR recipe. YouTube’s current guidance recommends H.265 for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR, so check its current encoder requirements before configuring HDR.
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Prepare the MP4 and YouTube event
- Create or select the event: in YouTube Studio, open Go Live, create or select the live event, and copy the stream URL and stream key shown in its Live Control Room. Confirm the event is ready to receive an encoder feed. Use the values for that event rather than an endpoint copied from an unrelated example.
- Inspect the file: check the MP4’s dimensions, frame rate, aspect ratio and whether it contains audio. Make sure the source and the chosen output settings make sense together. If the file has no audio, FFmpeg cannot supply a soundtrack just by mapping an optional audio stream.
- Choose the picture shape: decide whether to preserve the source aspect ratio, add padding, or crop it. The example’s scale filter preserves aspect ratio; a non-16:9 input may therefore produce a non-16:9 output rather than filling a 16:9 frame.
- Protect the key: treat the stream key like a password. Do not put a real key in a public article, screenshot or source repository. Reset it in YouTube Studio if it is exposed or compromised.
Run FFmpeg at one chosen resolution
This is an adaptable command template, not a command tested against a live event. Replace input.mp4 with your file and set the destination to the stream URL and key from the event’s Live Control Room. Keep the key private. For this example, provide the destination through the YOUTUBE_STREAM_URL environment variable.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a?
-vf "scale=1920:-2"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_STREAM_URL"What to change for your file and event
-rereads the file at its native rate, so the file is sent as a live-style feed rather than as fast as FFmpeg can process it.-stream_loop -1loops the input. Remove that option if the stream should end when the file finishes.scale=1920:-2sets a 1920-pixel width and calculates an even height that preserves the source aspect ratio. Use a suitable width for a lower-resolution output. Scaling up does not add source detail.-b:vand-maxrateset the example video bitrate;-bufsizesets the rate-control buffer. The example targets YouTube’s listed H.264 recommendation for 1080p/30 fps. Change the bitrate to match the chosen codec, resolution and frame rate, and ensure your connection has headroom.-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP. At 30 fps, that is a two-second keyframe interval. At 60 fps, use a GOP of 120 for the same interval. Keep the keyframe interval at about two seconds and within YouTube’s four-second maximum.-map 0:v:0selects the first video stream.-map 0:a?maps audio if the file has it; the question mark makes that mapping optional, not audible. The AAC options encode mapped audio at the values shown.-c:v libx264requires an FFmpeg build that includes the libx264 encoder. FFmpeg builds and enabled protocols vary, so verify your installed build supports the encoder and the required output protocol.
The exact command syntax and encoder options can depend on the installed FFmpeg build. The destination must be the stream URL and key for the configured event; do not publish either credential.
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Start the feed and check stream health
- Start the command and look for FFmpeg to begin reading and encoding the file without an error.
- Open the event’s Live Control Room and check that the incoming preview appears and the intended audio is audible.
- Test representative content, including the fastest motion and the loudest or quietest audio passages. YouTube advises testing before starting the live stream.
- Watch the stream-health messages while monitoring the broadcast. If the feed is unstable, reduce the bitrate or output resolution/frame rate until the computer and connection can sustain it.
Copyright and YouTube live-stream rules
An MP4 being on your computer does not establish that you have the rights to broadcast it. Before streaming, confirm that you have permission for the video, music, images and other material it contains, including any relevant live-stream rights. A stream can be interrupted or restricted if it violates YouTube’s policies or rights requirements. The encoding workflow does not bypass those rules.
For a recurring or continuous broadcast, make sure the content and its use comply with YouTube’s rules as well as applicable copyright law. Review the video and audio rights before scheduling the event, and do not assume that crediting a creator or owning a copy grants broadcast permission.
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Troubleshooting FFmpeg-to-YouTube problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped frames or unstable stream health | The total output bitrate is too high for the sustained upload connection, or the computer cannot encode reliably at the chosen settings. | Leave upload headroom; lower bitrate, resolution or frame rate and test again. Check the actual stream route and time window rather than relying only on a speed-test result. |
| Picture is stretched, letterboxed or unexpectedly shaped | The source aspect ratio differs from the intended output frame. | Inspect the MP4’s display aspect ratio. Choose deliberately to preserve the ratio, pad the image or crop it. The example’s scale filter preserves ratio and can result in a non-16:9 frame. |
| No audio in the YouTube preview | The MP4 may contain no audio, or the selected stream may not be the intended one. | Confirm that the input has an audio stream and that the Live Control Room preview has sound. The optional audio map does not create audio. |
| FFmpeg reports an encoder or protocol error | The installed build may not include libx264 or support the required protocol. | Check the capabilities of that specific FFmpeg build and adjust for the encoders and protocols it includes. |
| YouTube does not receive the feed | The stream URL or key may be wrong, stale or for another event. | Copy the current values from the selected event’s Live Control Room. Reset the key if it may have been exposed. |
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