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If OBS Studio forgets your YouTube stream key, first check that you reopened the same OBS Profile and the same OBS installation you used when saving it. Then verify both the YouTube server URL and stream key in Settings > Stream. If the key is still there after restarting OBS but the stream will not connect, troubleshoot the URL or RTMPS connection instead of repeatedly pasting the key.
First, tell whether OBS forgot the key or cannot connect
These are different problems. If the key field is empty or the wrong destination appears after relaunching OBS, check the active Profile and which OBS copy is running. If the intended key and server remain in OBS but the stream fails to connect, skip to the connection checks.
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- Settings disappeared or changed: likely a different Profile or OBS configuration location is in use.
- Settings remain, but connection fails: check the current YouTube server URL, key validity, and RTMPS support.
Check the active OBS Profile
OBS Profiles save stream settings, including the connected account, as well as Video and Output settings. A different active Profile can therefore show a different YouTube setup even though the settings in your original Profile remain saved. Profiles are separate from Scene Collections; a Profile does not store your scenes. OBS Project: Profiles
- In OBS, open the Profile menu.
- Select the Profile where you configured YouTube.
- Open Settings > Stream and check the service, server, and key.
If you want a recovery copy or need to transfer the configuration, export the Profile as a JSON file from OBS’s Profile menu. Keep that file private: it may contain sensitive stream configuration.
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Confirm that each launch opens the same OBS installation
This check is especially relevant on Windows if you use Portable Mode. Portable OBS reads its configuration from the application folder, so launching a different copy or a separate portable folder can present different settings. Confirm that your shortcut points to the same OBS application and location each time. OBS recommends extracting the Windows ZIP to a user folder and specifically advises against using Program Files for Portable Mode. Portable Mode alone is not documented as a cause of settings failing to save. OBS Project: Running in Portable Mode
Re-enter and verify the YouTube server and key
YouTube supplies two separate values: the server URL, which tells OBS where to send the video, and the stream key, which identifies and authorizes the stream. YouTube Help describes stream keys as “like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” Check both fields; a correct key paired with the wrong server is not a complete setup. YouTube Help: Manage live stream settings
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- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live, then open the Stream tab.
- Copy the current stream key shown for the stream you intend to use.
- In OBS, go to Settings > Stream. Choose the YouTube service or preset if available, then check the server/URL and key fields.
- Enter the current values, select Apply and OK, then reopen Settings > Stream to confirm they remain present.
OBS distinguishes a missing server URL from a missing key in its setup messages. If either field is absent, fill in that specific value rather than assuming the other one will supply it. YouTube’s encoder setup also requires both. YouTube Help: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder · OBS Studio interface strings
Reset a key only if it is missing, rejected, or compromised
If you need a fresh key, retrieve or reset it in YouTube Live Control Room, then replace the old value in OBS. Resetting makes the old key unsuitable for the updated encoder setup; paste the new key into the correct OBS Profile. YouTube says only a channel owner or manager can reset a stream key, not an editor or viewer. Manage live stream settings · Troubleshoot your YouTube live stream
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If OBS retains the key but the stream will not connect
When the values remain saved after restarting OBS, persistence is working. Check whether the server URL and protocol are correct and whether your encoder supports RTMPS. YouTube recommends selecting a YouTube RTMPS preset in the encoder where available, or copying the RTMPS URL from Live Control Room. If you see an SSL error, verify the server and URL scheme; YouTube also suggests trying port 443. A connection timeout can point to an incorrect URL or an encoder without RTMPS support. YouTube Help: Encrypt your stream using RTMPS
- Compare OBS’s server URL with the current URL in YouTube Live Control Room; do not check the key alone.
- If available, select the YouTube RTMPS option or preset in OBS.
- For an SSL error, verify the URL scheme and server, then try port 443 as YouTube advises.
- Test the setup before the event and monitor stream health in YouTube Studio.
YouTube’s encoder guidance covers supported settings such as bitrate, resolution, and keyframe interval. Use its current recommendations when configuring OBS for the stream you are sending; changing those encoding settings will not restore a key that is missing from the active Profile. Troubleshoot your YouTube live stream · Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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Or let it run in the cloud
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