If YouTube Live shows a lower resolution than OBS, first find out whether YouTube received a lower-resolution source or a viewer is seeing a lower playback rendition. Those are different things: YouTube automatically detects encoder settings at ingest, then transcodes live streams into multiple formats for viewers. A lower quality option in the player alone does not prove OBS sent a lower-resolution stream.
First distinguish ingest resolution from playback quality
There are two checkpoints to compare:
- Ingest: the resolution and frame rate YouTube detects from the encoder feed. This is the relevant check if Live Control Room reports a lower source resolution than you expect.
- Playback: the rendition available or currently selected for a viewer. YouTube creates multiple output formats so viewers on different devices and networks can watch; a viewer may not be seeing the source resolution.
Compare OBS’s encoder output with YouTube’s ingestion information and stream-health messages, then check the viewer’s quality menu separately. YouTube explains its detection and transcoding behavior in Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. OBS also notes that YouTube transcodes all streams, including the source feed, in its transcoding explanation.
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Check the resolution OBS actually encodes
The OBS canvas or the dimensions of a source are not, by themselves, proof of the resolution being sent. Compare the intended resolution with OBS’s output or encoder resolution. Menu locations can vary by OBS version, so verify the output setting in the version you use rather than relying on the canvas size alone.
Then compare that output with the resolution shown in YouTube’s ingest information. If YouTube detects a lower resolution there, investigate the encoder output and stream-key configuration before troubleshooting the viewer’s device.
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Check the YouTube stream key’s resolution setting
YouTube normally detects resolution and frame rate automatically. A custom stream key can instead have a manual resolution setting, which may conflict with what the encoder sends. Review the stream settings associated with the selected key and check whether manual resolution is enabled. YouTube’s Manage live stream settings page explains stream keys and stream URLs; encoder detection guidance is on its encoder settings page.
Verify bitrate, codec, frame rate, and keyframes
A resolution setting is only one part of a stable ingest. YouTube’s recommended bitrate depends on codec, resolution, and frame rate. For H.264, its published guidance gives these figures:
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| H.264 stream | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published H.264 ingest recommendations, not a guarantee that every viewer will receive that playback rendition. For other codecs or combinations, use the matching row in YouTube’s current guidance rather than assuming the H.264 values apply.
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- YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS as protocols and H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 as video codecs.
- Its guidance supports frame rates up to 60 fps and recommends constant bitrate (CBR).
- It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds.
See YouTube’s current encoder table for the settings applicable to your codec, resolution, and frame rate.
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Test the stream and read stream-health messages
Before an important event, test the same resolution, frame rate, and encoder settings you plan to use. Include representative motion and audio, then monitor stream health and messages in Live Control Room while the test runs. This helps separate an ingest or configuration issue from a playback choice on one viewer’s device or network.
Troubleshoot by what YouTube shows
Live Control Room reports a lower ingest resolution
- Confirm OBS’s encoder output resolution, not just the canvas or source dimensions.
- Check whether the selected custom stream key has manual resolution enabled; YouTube’s default is automatic detection.
- Compare the configured codec, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s guidance for that combination.
- Run a representative test and use Live Control Room’s stream-health messages to identify the issue.
Ingest matches, but a viewer sees lower quality
- Open the player’s quality menu and check which playback rendition is selected or available.
- Test from another capable device and network, then compare that result with YouTube’s ingest report.
- Do not treat one viewer’s playback selection as evidence that OBS sent a lower-resolution source; YouTube transcodes the source for different playback conditions.
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