The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To stream a prerecorded video through OBS, create or schedule a YouTube Live event, enter that event’s stream URL and key in OBS, and send the video and audio you want viewers to see. For a scheduled event, start the encoder, check the Live Control Room preview, then select Go live in YouTube Studio. OBS sends the program to YouTube; it does not automatically create or manage a YouTube playlist. After the event, organize the archived recording separately.
How the stream key workflow works
There are three separate tasks: configure OBS to connect to your YouTube event, provide OBS with the prerecorded video and audio, and organize the finished recording on YouTube. YouTube’s encoder guidance explains the connection and event workflow, but the exact OBS menus and playback controls can vary by version. Use the current OBS documentation for version-specific controls rather than relying on assumed menu names.
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Create or schedule a YouTube Live event
- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live.
- Use the Stream tab to create a stream, or use Manage to schedule one. YouTube lets you create a scheduled stream or reuse settings from a previous event.
- Set the event’s title, description, and visibility. Check visibility before proceeding: YouTube offers public, private, and unlisted options, and the default differs for creators aged 13–17 versus those 18 or older.
- Open the event’s encoder settings and note the stream URL and stream key. These are the connection details OBS needs.
Enter the YouTube stream URL and key in OBS
If OBS offers a YouTube service preset, YouTube recommends choosing it. Otherwise, copy YouTube’s stream URL into OBS’s server or RTMP field and the stream key into the encoder’s stream-key field. The precise labels and navigation may differ by OBS version, so confirm them in the documentation for the version installed on your computer.
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Treat the key as a credential. YouTube says, “Stream keys are like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” Do not show it in screenshots or screen recordings, and do not share it. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and replace the old key in OBS. Only a channel owner or manager can reset a key.
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Send the prerecorded video and audio
Once OBS is connected to the event, it must send the intended prerecorded program as its video and audio feed. Configure playback, looping, scene selection, and audio routing using the controls supported by your current OBS version; the YouTube encoder instructions do not verify a particular OBS file-playback setup or playlist-replay method.
Before the event, confirm that the selected video is visible in OBS and that its audio reaches the stream mix. If you plan to play more than one recording, verify how your chosen playback method advances between files and whether it loops as intended. Do not confuse playing a sequence of files in OBS during a live event with adding the completed broadcast to a YouTube playlist.
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Test, preview, and go live
- Set up and test the encoder well before the scheduled start. YouTube advises starting the encoder before the planned start so there is time to inspect the preview.
- Start the OBS encoder. In Live Control Room, wait for the incoming stream preview and check that the picture and audio are present and correct.
- Confirm the event is reachable with the intended visibility, and monitor audio and video quality. Check that a local recording, if you are making one, is being captured correctly.
- For a scheduled event, select Go live in Live Control Room after the encoder is connected and the preview is ready.
Will YouTube save the live stream?
YouTube can automatically archive streams shorter than 12 hours. A stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all, so do not rely on YouTube as the only copy for a long broadcast. YouTube recommends recording a local archive as a backup. Check the local file afterward to make sure it is intact.
Add the finished recording to a YouTube playlist
After the event, use YouTube to organize the live-stream archive and any highlight clips into playlists. This is a post-stream organization step: the OBS encoder connection does not itself send a YouTube playlist or guarantee that the archive will appear immediately. The event’s visibility settings also affect who can watch the recording.
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Common problems and what to check
- YouTube does not receive the stream: Check that OBS has the correct event’s stream URL and key, then confirm the encoder is running and that the event is open in Live Control Room.
- The stream appears in OBS but not in the preview: Give Live Control Room time to receive the encoder feed. Recheck the connection details and wait for the preview before selecting Go live.
- Viewers cannot see the event: Review whether it is public, private, or unlisted and confirm that the selected setting matches your intention.
- The video is visible but audio is missing or wrong: Check OBS’s audio routing and the selected source, then verify audio in the Live Control Room preview before starting.
- The YouTube archive is missing or incomplete: A stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured. Check your local recording; for future broadcasts, keep a local backup rather than depending only on the platform archive.
- The stream key may have been exposed: Have a channel owner or manager reset it in Live Control Room and update OBS with the replacement key.
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Quick Recap
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