Run tmux on the VPS, start your encoder inside a named tmux session, and detach with Ctrl+b, then d, before closing SSH. The encoder can then keep running when your SSH client disconnects. tmux protects a process from an ordinary terminal disconnect; it does not restart a crashed encoder, survive a VPS reboot, or restore a failed network or YouTube connection.
What tmux does—and what it does not
tmux runs a server that manages terminal sessions and the programs inside them. Detaching closes the tmux viewing client while leaving the session’s programs running in the background. The tmux project describes detaching as leaving “the tmux session and any programs inside it running in the background” (tmux Getting Started).
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For a YouTube stream, that means an encoder process can continue on the VPS after you close your laptop or lose the SSH terminal, provided the VPS, tmux server, encoder, and network connection remain operational. It is not host-level uptime or automatic recovery. If the VPS reboots, the tmux server stops, the encoder exits, or the ingest connection fails, tmux alone will not bring the stream back.
Start the stream inside tmux on the VPS
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Connect to the server
From your computer, SSH into the VPS that will run the encoder. The tmux session must be created on that remote host. Starting tmux locally and launching SSH inside it does not make the remote encoder process part of a tmux session on the VPS.
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Create or reattach to a named session
At the VPS shell, run:
tmux new-session -A -s ytstreamThis creates a session named
ytstream, or attaches to it if that named session already exists. Run the command after connecting to the VPS, under the same user account that will later reconnect. -
Start your encoder in the session
Run the encoder command you have configured for your source video and YouTube ingest inside the tmux session. There is no universal command to give here: the correct command depends on your media, codecs, installed software, and chosen ingest settings. Confirm that the encoder starts successfully and that YouTube receives the feed before detaching.
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Detach without stopping the encoder
Press Ctrl+b, release both keys, then press d. This detaches the tmux client and returns you to the shell while leaving the session programs running. Do not type
exitin the pane if you intend to leave the shell and encoder running. -
Reconnect and check the session
SSH back into the same VPS as the same user. List available sessions:
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tmux list-sessionsThen reattach:
tmux attach-session -t ytstreamYou should see the existing terminal and encoder output if the session is still running. Reattaching confirms that the session is accessible; check YouTube Live Control Room separately to confirm the feed is healthy.
Set up the YouTube feed correctly
tmux only keeps the terminal process detached from your SSH client. A working live stream still depends on a compatible encoder configuration and sufficient, stable VPS upload bandwidth.
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Encoder and ingest settings
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP or RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, frame rates up to 60 fps, and constant-bitrate encoding. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says it should not exceed four seconds. Its recommended bitrate varies by codec, resolution, and frame rate; consult the current YouTube live encoder settings rather than treating one bitrate as universal.
For reference, YouTube’s current table gives H.264 1080p at 30 fps a minimum of 5 Mbps and a recommended 14 Mbps; for 720p at 30 fps, it gives a minimum of 3 Mbps and a recommended 8 Mbps. These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular VPS or network route can sustain those rates.
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Stream key and first-time setup
The encoder setup uses the YouTube Live server URL and stream key. Treat the key as a credential: do not share it or publish it in a command, log, or screenshot. YouTube says a custom stream key can be reused; if the key is compromised, reset it in Live Control Room under the stream settings. For a first live stream, enabling live streaming may take up to 24 hours. See YouTube’s guides to creating a live stream with an encoder and managing stream settings.
Test the VPS connection before relying on it
Test with audio and video motion representative of the intended stream, then monitor YouTube’s stream-health messages. YouTube recommends leaving about 20% additional upload bandwidth headroom. A network disruption can interrupt delivery even while tmux and the encoder process remain alive; review YouTube’s encoder and network guidance and its stream-health feedback during the test.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a missing session or offline stream
tmux list-sessionsshows noytstreamsession: Confirm you connected to the same VPS and user account. Sessions belong to a particular host and tmux server/socket, so a different host, account, or socket can make the original session appear missing. Also check whether the VPS rebooted or the tmux server stopped.- The session disappears when you disconnect: Check the remote tmux configuration for the
exit-unattachedoption. When enabled, it can cause the server to exit after its last client detaches. Check host-specific logout policies as well. - The session exists, but YouTube is not receiving the stream: Reattach and inspect encoder output, then check YouTube Live Control Room’s stream health. Session persistence and successful delivery are separate conditions.
- The stream drops during a network interruption: tmux does not repair the connection. Check the VPS route and available upload capacity, and ensure the configured bitrate leaves the recommended bandwidth headroom.
- The encoder has stopped: tmux preserves a running process; it does not restart a process that crashed or exited. Restart it manually or configure an appropriate process supervisor if you need recovery beyond terminal disconnection.
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