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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo stream a prerecorded video at 4K 60fps on YouTube Live using OBS in Windows 11, add the file to an OBS scene as a Media Source, set the output to 3840×2160 at 60fps, choose a supported encoder and bitrate, then connect OBS to a YouTube stream using its stream URL and key. Test the preview and stream health in YouTube Live Control Room before selecting Go live.
This walkthrough covers a standard SDR stream. A 4K output setting does not turn a lower-resolution source into native 4K, and no single PC specification guarantees smooth 4K60 encoding; check the result in a test stream.
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1. Add the prerecorded video to OBS
- Create a scene: In OBS, create or select a scene for the broadcast.
- Add the file: In the Sources panel, select + → Media Source. Give it a name, select Local File, and browse to the video. Use a file path that will remain available for the entire broadcast. OBS Media Source supports formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM. OBS: Media Sources
- Choose playback behavior: For a one-time play, leave Loop off. To repeat the video, turn on Loop. Enable Restart playback when source becomes active if you want playback to restart when the source becomes visible in the active scene.
- Check the preview: Confirm the video is framed correctly and that its audio is routed to OBS. Choosing a 3840×2160 output does not make a lower-resolution source native 4K; inspect the preview rather than assuming OBS has increased its detail.
OBS also offers Use hardware decoding when available for supported formats. Whether it helps depends on the file and PC, so test it rather than treating it as a universal requirement.
2. Set OBS to 4K at 60fps
In OBS, open Settings → Video. Set both the base (canvas) resolution and output (scaled) resolution to 3840×2160 if the source and PC can support that output. Set the common FPS value to 60. Review the scene preview for cropping or scaling issues.
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Windows 11 is supported by OBS, but OS compatibility alone does not guarantee the computer can encode a particular stream smoothly. Performance depends on the encoder, its hardware support, and the workload. OBS generally recommends hardware encoding to offload work from the CPU, but capabilities and quality differ across hardware generations. Test your actual setup before a scheduled broadcast. OBS system requirements OBS hardware encoding
3. Choose the encoder, bitrate, and keyframe interval
YouTube’s live ingest recommendations for 2160p at 60fps vary by codec. These are settings for the live feed sent to YouTube, not recommendations for the bitrate of the source file.
| Ingest codec | YouTube-listed minimum at 2160p60 | YouTube-recommended video bitrate at 2160p60 |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.265 / HEVC | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
Choose a codec that is available in your installed OBS version and supported by the encoder you select. Do not assume a particular GPU supports AV1 or HEVC encoding, or can sustain 4K60 in real time. If you cannot confirm codec support, use a supported option and test its performance. YouTube: Live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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In OBS Settings → Output, use the streaming encoder settings to match YouTube’s guidance where those controls are available:
- Rate control: CBR.
- Video bitrate: Use the recommendation for your chosen codec in the table above.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds; YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds.
- Advanced video settings: YouTube lists progressive scan, square pixels, two B-frames, one reference frame, and CABAC among its recommendations. The exact labels and available controls can vary by OBS encoder.
YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS. For stereo audio, its guidance specifies 128 kbps at a 44.1 kHz sample rate; AAC is required for 5.1 surround over those protocols. YouTube live encoder settings
4. Make sure your upload connection has headroom
YouTube recommends keeping the total stream bitrate within available upload bandwidth and leaving 20% headroom. Applying that margin to the video bitrate recommendations above gives these approximate upload-capacity examples: about 42 Mbps for a 35 Mbps video stream and about 60 Mbps for a 50 Mbps video stream. These are calculations from YouTube’s headroom recommendation, not separate YouTube thresholds; audio and other upload traffic also use capacity.
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Test upload performance at the place and time you expect to stream, and use a reliable connection. If Wi-Fi is unstable, a wired Ethernet connection is an option; a new cable is not automatically necessary if your existing connection is reliable. YouTube live encoder settings YouTube streaming tips
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- Open YouTube Studio: Go to Live Control Room and create or select the stream for your broadcast.
- Copy the connection details: Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the stream.
- Enter them in OBS: Open Settings → Stream, select the appropriate YouTube service option, and enter the URL and key. Use RTMPS when available. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the connection using TLS/SSL.
- Protect the key: The stream key lets the encoder send a feed that YouTube will accept. Treat it like a password; do not publish it or share it with someone who should not control the stream.
- Start and verify: Start streaming in OBS. Wait for the incoming feed and preview in Live Control Room, then verify the picture, sound, and stream health before selecting Go live.
YouTube: Set up your encoder for live streaming YouTube: Stream with an encoder
6. Test before the broadcast and monitor it
Where practical, run a private or unlisted test first. Use a representative portion of the video, including typical movement and audio, and check both the Live Control Room preview and playback as a viewer. Watch stream health and read YouTube’s warnings while the test runs; a successful start alone does not establish that the stream is stable throughout.
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- Confirm OBS is sending the intended scene and the video is not frozen, cropped, or unexpectedly scaled.
- Listen for audio in the YouTube preview and check that it stays in sync.
- Check that YouTube receives the intended resolution and frame rate.
- Watch for dropped frames, encoder overload, and YouTube stream-health messages.
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. After the event, end the stream in YouTube and stop sending from OBS. YouTube streaming tips YouTube encoder setup
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use SDR settings unless you are deliberately streaming HDR
A 4K60 stream does not have to be HDR. For standard SDR, YouTube’s general encoder guidance recommends Rec. 709 and 8-bit color. Do not enable HDR options simply because the output is 4K60.
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HDR has additional requirements: YouTube’s OBS guidance specifies OBS 30.1 or later, an HDR source, a hardware HEVC encoder, Main 10 profile, P010 color format, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG color space. Those requirements are for an HDR workflow, not ordinary SDR 4K60. YouTube live encoder settings YouTube: Live stream in HDR
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Do you need a capture card or a new PC?
A capture card is not established as a requirement when the video is already a local file: OBS can play supported files directly through Media Source. Likewise, there is no universal PC specification that guarantees reliable OBS 4K60 encoding. Encoder capability, scene complexity, and real-world performance matter, so test the machine and settings you plan to use before deciding whether an upgrade is needed.
Common problems and what to check
YouTube does not receive the OBS feed
- Check that the stream URL and key in OBS match the stream selected in Live Control Room.
- Confirm OBS is actually streaming and that the correct scene is active.
- Check YouTube’s stream-health messages and the network connection. Keep the key private; if it may have been exposed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS.
The image stutters or OBS reports encoding trouble
- Check OBS statistics and YouTube stream health to distinguish encoding performance problems from network delivery problems.
- Confirm the selected encoder supports the codec and 4K60 workload. Test a supported hardware encoder if available; hardware encoding can reduce CPU load, but the result depends on the hardware.
- Check that the upload connection can sustain the combined bitrate with headroom. Reduce the stream bitrate or output demands if your test shows the system or connection cannot sustain them.
The stream looks soft rather than native 4K
- Check the original file’s resolution. A 4K OBS output setting does not add source detail to a lower-resolution video.
- Inspect the canvas and output resolution, scene transform, and YouTube preview for unintended scaling or cropping.
The video stops instead of repeating
- Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop.
- If switching scenes, review whether Restart playback when source becomes active matches the desired behavior.
Audio is missing or incorrect
- Check the Media Source audio and OBS audio meters, then listen to the YouTube preview during a test.
- Verify the audio format and sample rate against YouTube’s protocol guidance; for stereo RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz.
Keep the video eligible for YouTube
Technical settings do not grant permission to broadcast the content. Before streaming, make sure you have the rights needed for the video and its music, images, and other included material. YouTube’s copyright systems and channel monetization policies are separate from OBS setup; a successful technical test does not guarantee that a stream or channel will remain available or be eligible for monetization.
For a practical preflight, use StreamNeo’s copyright safety checklist alongside YouTube’s current copyright and monetization guidance.
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Quick Recap
Useful planning tools
- Estimate how long a file will take to upload with the upload-time calculator.
- Compare the cost of running a stream from a PC with a cloud service using the cloud vs PC cost calculator.
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