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To loop a video through OBS on a Mac at 4K 60fps, add it as a looping Media Source, set OBS to 3840×2160 at 60fps, configure the encoder for YouTube’s recommended bitrate, then test the full workload before going live. Whether it will run reliably depends on the Mac, source, scene and sustained upload connection; OBS’s minimum requirements do not guarantee 4K60 performance.
Before you configure OBS
This setup is for a prerecorded video played repeatedly through OBS into a YouTube Live broadcast. It is different from a cloud service that continues broadcasting after the Mac is turned off: OBS must remain running, and the Mac must stay powered and connected.
Use a source that matches the job. A local video file needs no camera or capture card. Desktop, app or window capture needs macOS Screen Recording permission. A webcam or console feed requires an appropriate input; an external camera or console may need a compatible capture card, so verify the device supports your resolution, frame rate, macOS version and connection before buying.
OBS lists Intel or Apple Silicon processors and macOS 11 or later among its basic macOS requirements, but warns that meeting them does not guarantee streaming capability. Actual demands depend on resolution, frame rate, encoder and scene complexity. Treat the Auto-Configuration Wizard as a starting point, then test your real source and scene. OBS system requirements
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Configure the video loop and output
1. Add and loop the video
- Open OBS and add a Media Source to the scene you intend to stream.
- Select the local video file in the source properties and enable its looping option.
- Check the preview to confirm the video fills the frame as intended. If the source is below 3840×2160, OBS can scale it up, but that does not create native 4K detail.
For a screen or app capture rather than a file, add the corresponding capture source and grant Screen Recording permission in macOS. A capture card is not needed for a local media file.
2. Set canvas size and frame rate
In OBS → Settings → Video, set Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution to 3840×2160, and set Common FPS Values to 60. These settings produce a 2160p60 output target; they do not guarantee that your Mac can render and encode it without dropped frames.
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3. Choose an encoder and streaming rate
In Settings → Output, switch to Advanced output mode if needed, then configure the Streaming section. OBS documents Apple VideoToolbox streaming with H.264 on Apple Silicon. For Intel Macs, OBS says to use x264 for streaming because VideoToolbox lacks the constant-bitrate support typically required by streaming services. Do not assume every OBS/macOS combination offers AV1 or HEVC streaming encoders. OBS hardware encoding guidance
- Rate Control: CBR.
- Bitrate: for H.264 at 2160p60, YouTube lists 50 Mbps recommended and 14 Mbps minimum. For AV1/H.265, it lists 35 Mbps recommended and 10 Mbps minimum. Those AV1/H.265 figures apply only if your encoder and OBS configuration actually support that codec.
- Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds. YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds.
- Audio: AAC is appropriate for RTMP/RTMPS; YouTube recommends stereo at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz.
For SDR video, YouTube recommends Rec. 709 and 8-bit depth. YouTube’s 4K streams use normal latency; its low-latency optimization option is not available for 4K. See YouTube’s live encoder settings.
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4. Grant only the permissions your sources need
On macOS, use OBS Studio → Review App Permissions to review OBS access. Grant Screen Recording for desktop, window or app capture; Camera for a webcam or camera input; and Microphone for microphone input. Accessibility permission is relevant if you use OBS keyboard shortcuts while OBS is not the foreground app. Permission names and dialogs can vary by macOS version. OBS macOS permissions guide
5. Connect OBS to YouTube
- In YouTube Studio, create or open the stream in Live Control Room.
- Copy the stream server URL and stream key into OBS → Settings → Stream, following the connection method shown in YouTube Studio.
- Use RTMPS when available. YouTube recommends it because it encrypts stream data to and through Google’s servers.
- Keep the stream key private. Anyone with access to it may be able to send video to your broadcast.
Test the complete stream before relying on it
Run a representative test with the same video, scene, filters and audio you plan to use. Check that the YouTube preview appears, the audio is present and synchronized, and YouTube Studio’s stream health does not report problems. YouTube specifically advises testing before starting a live stream.
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Check sustained upload capacity, not just whether a speed-test result briefly exceeds the target. For H.264 2160p60, YouTube’s recommended 50 Mbps is the relevant ingest target; leave practical headroom for normal variation in your connection. A short speed test cannot establish that the connection will sustain a long broadcast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When 4K60 is too demanding
If OBS reports encoding overload or dropped frames, or YouTube reports an unstable stream, reduce the workload and test again. OBS identifies resolution, frame rate, scene complexity, sources, filters and browser sources as factors that consume resources.
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- Try reducing output frame rate from 60 to 30, or lower the output resolution.
- Simplify the scene: remove sources you do not need and reduce or remove expensive filters.
- Check Activity Monitor and close only unnecessary applications.
- Change the canvas resolution only if you need to; lowering it may require repositioning sources.
- Retest the actual broadcast workload and monitor YouTube stream health.
YouTube’s recommended H.264 bitrate is lower at 2160p30 than at 2160p60: 42 Mbps rather than 50 Mbps. For AV1/H.265, its listed recommendations are 30 Mbps at 2160p30 and 35 Mbps at 2160p60. Moving to 4K30 reduces the bitrate target while retaining 4K dimensions; lowering resolution instead may be a better trade if stable delivery matters more than 4K output. The better choice depends on the source detail, motion, Mac performance and available upload capacity—not on a universal visual-quality rule. OBS encoding performance troubleshooting
Common problems and fixes
- The video does not repeat: Reopen the Media Source properties and check its looping option. Confirm the selected source is the file you intend to play.
- The stream is not actually 4K60: Check both OBS output resolution and frame rate, then confirm the resulting stream status in YouTube Studio. A smaller source scaled to 3840×2160 is still not native 4K detail.
- OBS shows encoding overload or frames drop: Reduce frame rate or output resolution, simplify scenes and filters, and remove unnecessary sources. Follow OBS’s encoding performance guidance.
- Screen capture is blank or unavailable: Grant OBS Screen Recording permission in macOS and restart or reopen OBS if the permission change requires it.
- Camera, microphone or capture device is missing: Check the relevant Camera or Microphone permission and verify the device is connected and selected in OBS. For a capture card, check compatibility with the input format and Mac.
- YouTube reports poor stream health: Verify the stream key and server settings, use the correct codec-specific bitrate target, and test sustained upload capacity. Review YouTube’s stream-health messages rather than relying on a speed test alone.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a prerecorded YouTube channel that stays live without leaving a Mac on, StreamNeo is an alternative to maintaining an OBS broadcast locally. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud.
- Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
- Every slot streams the uploaded quality, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; there are no quality tiers or re-encoding.
- Automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required, once per account.
- Monthly service is $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
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