For most 24/7 YouTube Live streams, use RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), a supported video codec, and a 2-second keyframe interval. Choose the resolution and bitrate your encoder and internet connection can sustain reliably for long periods. YouTube publishes no separate 24/7 format preset; its standard live-encoder recommendations are the starting point.
Recommended settings for a 24/7 YouTube stream
These are YouTube’s general live-streaming recommendations, not a special profile for broadcasts lasting a day or longer. The right setting is the highest quality your full setup can maintain without saturating the connection or destabilizing the encoder.
| Setting | YouTube guidance | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
| Ingestion protocol | RTMP/RTMPS are listed; YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport. (YouTube encoder settings) | Use RTMPS for a typical non-HDR stream. |
| Video codec | H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 are supported for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion. (YouTube encoder settings) | Choose a stable option supported by both your encoder and workflow. H.264 is a conservative compatibility choice; H.265 or AV1 may suit a compatible setup. |
| Rate control | CBR is recommended. (YouTube encoder settings) | Set constant bitrate. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds. (YouTube encoder settings) | Set 2 seconds. |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps. (YouTube encoder settings) | 30 fps is a reasonable starting point for low-motion scenes; use 60 fps when motion or detail benefits enough to justify the higher bitrate. |
| Audio | AAC or MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS; YouTube recommends stereo at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. (YouTube encoder settings) | AAC stereo is a conventional choice. |
| Upload capacity | YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload-bandwidth headroom. (YouTube streaming tips) | Test sustained upload under representative conditions, and count both primary and backup bitrates if using failover. |
YouTube ingests one live feed and automatically transcodes it into multiple viewer outputs for different devices and network conditions. You do not need to send separate versions for each viewer resolution. (YouTube encoder settings)
Choose resolution and bitrate
The following are YouTube’s recommended ingestion bitrates in Mbps. The recommendation depends on both codec family and resolution/frame rate; higher resolution or frame rate generally requires a higher rate.
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| Input resolution and frame rate | AV1/H.265 recommended | H.264 recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 4K/2160p 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| 4K/2160p 30 fps | 30 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 1440p 60 fps | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 1440p 30 fps | 15 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 1080p 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p 30 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 480p 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
For example, YouTube recommends 10 Mbps for 1080p30 with AV1 or H.265 and 14 Mbps for 1080p30 with H.264. These are published recommendations, not measured guarantees. For a long-running stream, a lower resolution that stays stable is preferable to a sharper feed that repeatedly drops. YouTube’s advice is to choose a quality that will result in a reliable stream based on your internet connection. (YouTube encoder settings)
RTMPS or HLS?
Use RTMPS for most ordinary streams
RTMPS is YouTube’s secure extension of RTMP and the straightforward default for a typical non-HDR broadcast. For HDR workflows, YouTube recommends H.265 over RTMP(S); HLS is an option when the encoder cannot provide the needed HDR workflow over RTMP or when a codec unsupported by RTMP is required. (YouTube encoder settings; YouTube HLS setup)
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Use HLS only when its requirements fit
HLS sends video in segments rather than as a continuous stream, so it has higher latency. YouTube’s HLS ingestion requires TS segments lasting 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT requests, and no byte ranges. HLS also disables YouTube’s “Ultra low-latency” option. It is a tool for a specific technical need, not an automatic improvement for a 24/7 feed. (YouTube HLS setup)
Prepare the stream for continuous operation
Test the whole operating setup
- Run a test with representative video motion and audio, then check the stream’s health and playback.
- Test backup-encoder failover if your setup uses it; include the backup stream’s bandwidth in your capacity planning.
- Check that the event can be viewed on the channel or watch page and on mobile, and monitor audio and video quality.
- Verify that local archive files are being saved correctly if you rely on them.
YouTube warns that network disruption can break a stream. Leave the recommended 20% upload headroom, avoid saturating a shared connection, and assess upload performance during the conditions in which the stream will actually run. (YouTube streaming tips)
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Plan for power and recovery
A UPS for dedicated streaming and network equipment may help bridge a brief power interruption, but it does not prevent internet outages. Size it for the equipment load and the runtime you need; it is an equipment consideration, not a YouTube requirement.
YouTube does not specify a separate codec, container, or encoder profile for streams lasting 24 hours or longer. Build around stable power, sustained upload capacity, an encoder you have tested, and a recovery plan rather than looking for a special “24/7 format.”
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DIY setup checklist
- Choose a feed your connection can sustain. Use the bitrate table above as YouTube’s recommendation, then confirm sustained upload capacity with at least 20% headroom.
- Configure the encoder. Select RTMPS, a supported codec, CBR, a 2-second keyframe interval, and an appropriate resolution and frame rate. Set audio to a supported format such as AAC stereo at YouTube’s recommended 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz.
- Connect to YouTube Live. Use the stream key and server details provided in YouTube’s live-stream setup. Keep the key private; anyone with access to it may be able to send a feed to your stream.
- Run a representative test. Check stream health, audio/video playback, archive files, and viewing on the channel or watch page and a mobile device. Test failover if configured.
- Monitor the long run. Watch for network instability, encoder overload, audio problems, and power interruptions. Keep a recovery plan available rather than assuming a stream will restart itself.
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