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How to Stream Vertical Videos in a Continuous YouTube Livestream from a VPS

By Freedom251 Team · · 8 min read

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To stream a vertical video continuously on YouTube from a VPS, configure a 9:16 output in YouTube Live Control Room before going live, then use an encoder such as FFmpeg on the VPS to send the video to YouTube over RTMP or RTMPS. A loop option can replay a file, but it does not by itself keep the encoder alive or restore a broadcast after a connection failure; those depend on your command, process supervision and recovery setup.

Choose how YouTube should make the vertical view

You can send YouTube a portrait 9:16 feed directly, or send a landscape 16:9 feed and have YouTube create a vertical version from it. The first gives you direct control over the portrait composition. The second can serve horizontal viewers as well, but its vertical view is generated from the landscape image.

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Approach What viewers see Framing and setup
Direct 9:16 output A portrait feed designed for mobile viewing and vertical discovery in the Shorts browsing experience. Compose the source for portrait and configure the vertical output and its stream key before the broadcast starts.
Horizontal feed with YouTube-generated vertical view A horizontal version and a vertical view for eligible mobile viewing. YouTube’s default vertical version is a center crop. Its layout canvas offers center crop, fit-to-phone-width and stacked layouts. Check the crop and layout before going live.

For a single portrait video intended mainly for phones, a direct vertical output is straightforward. If you also want a desktop- or TV-oriented horizontal view, configure YouTube’s simultaneous horizontal and vertical output and match each format to its corresponding key.

Check channel eligibility and configure the YouTube stream

YouTube Help says a channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days to livestream. YouTube documents the third-party encoder path for simultaneous horizontal and vertical output using RTMP(S), a second stream key for the vertical feed, and the correct format assigned to each key. The vertical format must be set before the stream starts; it cannot be added after you are live. See YouTube’s guidance on vertical live streams.

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  1. Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create or schedule the stream and select the third-party encoder workflow. Enable the vertical format if you want a portrait feed, or enable simultaneous output if you want both orientations.
  2. Get the ingestion details from YouTube. Use the server URL, protocol and stream key shown for the stream. For dual output, use the distinct key assigned to the vertical feed and match each encoder output to the format YouTube identifies for that key.
  3. Record the settings without exposing credentials. Stream keys are credentials. Store them securely; do not put a real key in a public script, repository, screenshot, support post or log.
  4. Finish format and framing setup before starting FFmpeg. Confirm the portrait canvas and crop/layout in Live Control Room. YouTube warns that a vertical version cannot be added after a stream has begun.

RTMPS is RTMP carried over SSL. Google describes it as “a regular RTMP (RealTime Messaging Protocol) video stream tunneled through an SSL connection.” For RTMPS, the protocol, valid YouTube endpoint and application path, port 443, and SNI hostname must all be correct. Use the current values provided for your stream rather than copying an endpoint from an unrelated example. See Google’s RTMPS ingestion guide.

YouTube’s Live Streaming API describes ingestion details and stream status, including resolution, frame rate and health information. Its documented ingestion types include RTMP (including RTMPS), HLS and DASH. For a VPS encoder workflow, follow the RTMP(S) details YouTube supplies in Studio. See the LiveStream resource documentation.

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Prepare the VPS and encoder

The basic pipeline has three parts: a video file on the VPS, an encoder/muxer that packages it as a live output, and YouTube’s ingestion destination and key. Before choosing a server, decide whether the VPS will simply pass through already-compatible media or decode and re-encode it. Re-encoding changes CPU demand; source format, output resolution and frame rate, bitrate, network allowance and monitoring all affect the workload.

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For a portrait source

Use a source already composed as 9:16 where possible. If the source is landscape, cropping or scaling it to portrait changes the visible composition: check that faces, text and other important content remain in frame. Set the encoder output to the vertical format selected in Live Control Room, and send it to the vertical key rather than the horizontal key.

For a continuous file loop

Configure the encoder to repeat the input file, then keep the process running under a supervisor or other process-management approach suitable for your VPS. A loop setting addresses replaying the file; it does not guarantee that FFmpeg stays alive, reconnects after a network loss, or resumes at the intended point. Those behaviors depend on the encoder command, the input and output state, and the recovery design. The official YouTube documentation does not validate a particular FFmpeg command or supervisor as an outage-proof setup.

For RTMPS output

  • Use the RTMPS protocol and the exact ingestion destination and application path YouTube provides.
  • Use port 443 and ensure the connection supplies the correct hostname through SNI.
  • Keep the stream key out of source control and public diagnostics. Prefer a protected secret or configuration mechanism; restrict access to the VPS account and files that contain credentials.
  • Do not assume a successful process launch means YouTube is receiving a healthy stream. Confirm status in Live Control Room.

How do I stream 9:16 video to YouTube with FFmpeg?

At a high level, FFmpeg reads your local video, optionally scales or transcodes it to the chosen portrait format, and publishes it to the YouTube RTMP(S) destination using the assigned key. The exact command depends on the source’s codecs, dimensions, frame rate, audio, desired output settings and the ingestion details shown in Studio. Avoid copying a generic command with an embedded key: it may mismatch your format, expose a credential or use an incorrect endpoint. Consult the RTMPS connection requirements and use the current stream-specific values from YouTube.

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For a dual-format broadcast, configure and send two correctly matched outputs: landscape to the horizontal key and portrait to the vertical key. Confirm that the vertical output is enabled in Live Control Room before either output starts. YouTube documents this dual-output workflow, but a VPS command must be built for the actual source and encoder configuration; no single command is established here as suitable for every file or server.

Rehearse, verify framing and monitor stream health

  1. Start with a rehearsal. Use an available practice path in YouTube Studio or schedule an unlisted/private test as appropriate to your channel workflow.
  2. Inspect the encoder preview. Confirm the correct orientation, crop, readable text, audio presence and synchronization. Check both previews if sending two formats.
  3. Check Live Control Room stream health. YouTube’s API health information can report issues such as low video bitrate, frame-rate mismatch or no audio stream. Fix the reported issue at the source or encoder and retest before relying on the broadcast.
  4. Test recovery deliberately. If continuity matters, test what your process does when FFmpeg exits or network connectivity drops. Verify both process restart and YouTube’s reception after recovery; a restarted process is not proof that the broadcast resumed correctly.
  5. Monitor the VPS during a longer rehearsal. Observe CPU, memory, disk space, network transfer and encoder logs for your actual workload. Set alerts or checks that tell you when the process exits or the stream stops being healthy.
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What vertical livestreaming changes for viewers and features

YouTube says vertical live streams provide a full-screen mobile experience and can be discovered as viewers browse Shorts. Its Help comparison lists clickable links, pre- and mid-roll live ads, premieres, live redirect and 4K broadcast as horizontal-stream features rather than vertical-feed features. Memberships and gifted memberships are listed for both. YouTube describes one go-live notification, a shared stream URL and the same chat for both versions when using the simultaneous format. Metrics specific to the vertical stream become available 24 hours after the stream, according to the Help page. These are platform-described feature distinctions, not a guarantee of audience reach or monetization.

YouTube also documents limits of 10 active streams per channel and 3 active streams per stream key. These are configuration limits, not a measure of how many viewers a VPS can support. See YouTube’s vertical live stream feature comparison.

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Choose VPS capacity for your workload

There is no universally sufficient VPS size established for continuous streaming. Estimate the actual workload and compare plans against it rather than choosing a server by a generic “24/7 streaming” label.

  • Encoding workload: determine whether you are passing through compatible media or transcoding, and account for resolution, frame rate and the number of outputs.
  • Outbound transfer: estimate monthly data from the bitrate and hours streamed. A continuously running stream can consume substantial transfer allowance; check the provider’s included bandwidth, overage terms and network caps.
  • Network and region: compare connectivity to YouTube’s ingestion endpoint, any relevant bandwidth limits, and the server region available to you.
  • Operational support: check access, monitoring, restart options and support response arrangements that suit the length and importance of your broadcast.
  • Total cost: include server rental, extra transfer, storage and any required management or monitoring services. Recheck current provider terms before committing.

YouTube’s documentation specifies stream configuration and ingestion, not a recommended VPS plan or uninterrupted-operation guarantee. Size and reliability therefore need to be judged against your media and tested setup.

Common problems and fixes

Symptom Likely cause What to check
The vertical option is missing or cannot be enabled after going live The format was not configured before the stream began. Stop and create or configure the stream with vertical output enabled before starting the encoder.
The vertical image is cropped badly A landscape-origin center crop cuts off important content, or the canvas layout is unsuitable. Preview the vertical layout and adjust framing; try the available center-crop, fit-to-phone-width or stacked layout options where appropriate.
YouTube does not receive the stream Incorrect protocol, endpoint, application path, port, SNI hostname, key or format-to-key assignment. Compare each value with the current YouTube ingestion details; for RTMPS check port 443 and SNI as well as the destination and key.
Stream health reports low bitrate or a frame-rate issue Encoder output does not meet the configured stream’s needs or is unstable. Check the encoder’s actual output and YouTube’s health details; adjust the workload and validate in a rehearsal.
Video plays once, FFmpeg exits, or broadcast does not resume after a drop File looping, process supervision and reconnect/recovery are separate behaviors. Check the loop configuration and supervisor separately, then test the full restart and reconnection path. Do not treat a process restart as proof of a restored live broadcast.
Audio is absent The source or output may lack an audio stream, or the encoder mapping may not include it. Check the file’s audio and encoder output, then verify the preview and stream health report.

Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is an always-on YouTube stream from uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a hosted alternative to operating a VPS and encoder yourself. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from its cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams from uploaded video, not live camera capture. See StreamNeo or plan details, then start the free day.

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