To stream a prerecorded video to YouTube Live with OBS, add it to a scene as a Media Source, create a live event in YouTube Studio, connect OBS with the event’s private stream key, then test the stream before sharing it. On a budget PC, start with 720p at 30 fps, H.264, CBR, and a two-second keyframe interval—but treat that as a test configuration, not a guarantee for every computer or internet connection.
Before you set up OBS: check YouTube eligibility
Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the preceding 90 days. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance explains how to get started. Use YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room to create or schedule an event and retrieve its stream URL and key.
The stream key works like a password: keep it private. Do not show it in screenshots, recordings, or a public tutorial. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio before using the event.
Add the prerecorded video to OBS
- Create a scene. In OBS, use the Scenes panel to add a scene for the broadcast.
- Add a Media Source. In Sources, select +, choose Media Source, give it a name, and select the local video file. OBS documents support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM; a supported container does not guarantee every codec or file will play correctly on your PC.
- Check playback. Confirm the video appears in the OBS preview and that its audio is audible. Enable Loop if you want the file to restart after it ends; leave it off for a one-time play. Options such as restarting playback when the source becomes active and hardware decoding are available, but hardware decoding depends on what your GPU supports.
- Use VLC Video only when you need a playlist. OBS’s VLC Video source can play multiple files and loop a playlist, but it requires VLC to be installed. For a single video, Media Source is the simpler choice. See the OBS media sources documentation.
Choose settings a budget PC can test
YouTube’s live encoder settings cover H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 ingest. For a straightforward SDR setup, H.264 is a practical starting point. In OBS, choose Settings → Output and, if necessary, switch Output Mode to Advanced to select the encoder. Start with:
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- Rate control: CBR.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds. YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds.
- Video bitrate: for H.264 720p30, YouTube lists 3 Mbps minimum and 8 Mbps recommended; for H.264 1080p30, it lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended. These are ingest figures, not a promise that a particular PC can encode smoothly.
- Audio: AAC; YouTube recommends 128 kbps stereo.
- Color and scan: Rec. 709 for SDR, square pixels, and progressive scan.
Set OBS output to 720p and 30 fps as an initial, conservative trial. If OBS reports rendering or encoding lag, reduce the output resolution or frame rate, or try a hardware encoder available on your system. The appropriate choice depends on the computer, the source file, and whether it can decode and encode that video smoothly; there is no single CPU, RAM, or GPU minimum established for this setup.
Use YouTube’s bitrate table for the chosen resolution and frame rate rather than substituting its separate upload-video recommendations. YouTube recommends testing your upload bitrate before streaming.
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Check the connection at the streaming location
The relevant figure is stable upload capacity, not the download speed advertised by an internet plan. YouTube notes that total stream bitrate cannot exceed available upload bandwidth; other users and devices on the same connection can reduce what OBS gets. Its streaming tips recommend keeping 20% upload headroom and suggest a wired connection where practical. These are general recommendations, not measurements for a particular Indian provider or locality. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
- Test upload speed from the place and at a time similar to the planned stream.
- Account for other people and devices using the connection, and leave headroom above your selected bitrate.
- If practical, connect the PC to the router by Ethernet. Wi-Fi may be more convenient, but results depend on the network; a cable cannot make an inadequate upload connection sufficient.
Connect OBS to your YouTube event
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream.
- Select YouTube – RTMPS or the YouTube service option shown in your OBS version, then sign in or enter the stream URL and private stream key supplied by YouTube Studio. If entering details manually, use the server URL shown for that event rather than a value copied from someone else.
- Click Apply and OK, then verify the right scene and Media Source are active.
OBS labels can vary slightly by version. YouTube’s encoder workflow is based on connecting an encoder to the event using its server URL and stream key.
Run a full test, then start the event
- Schedule the event early enough to test before its intended start.
- Start streaming from OBS and check the YouTube Live Control Room preview. Confirm the video is framed correctly, the audio is present, and the stream-health indicators do not show a problem.
- For a first run, use an unlisted event and test with the actual video, or with representative footage that has similar motion and audio. Check OBS’s stats for rendering or encoding lag while YouTube reports stream health.
- Check the event from the channel or watch page and monitor sound and picture during the stream. Follow YouTube’s encoder guidance and streaming tips if the preview or health status indicates trouble.
- When the broadcast is over, end it in YouTube and stop the OBS stream.
Copyright and monetization still apply to prerecorded video
Being able to play a file in OBS does not give you permission to broadcast it. Use your own material or obtain the necessary rights for every included element, including music, footage, and other content.
Live rebroadcasting does not automatically make reused material original or eligible for monetization. YouTube’s channel monetization policies describe reused content as material republished from YouTube or another online source without significant original commentary, substantive modification, or educational or entertainment value. The policy is assessed at channel level, and YouTube says reused-content examples do not override separate copyright rules.
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Troubleshooting common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive the OBS stream | Wrong event, server URL, or stream key; the key may have been copied incorrectly. | Check the selected event in Live Control Room, then copy its current server URL and key into OBS. Keep the key private. |
| Video is black or the file does not play | Wrong source, file path, or a format/codec issue. | Re-select the local file in Media Source, check that it plays locally, and confirm the OBS preview. Try another supported file format if needed; listed container support alone does not establish codec compatibility. |
| Video plays but audio is missing | Muted or incorrectly routed source audio, or an issue with the file’s audio track. | Check OBS audio meters and mixer mute controls, listen to the local file, then confirm audio in YouTube’s preview during a test. |
| OBS shows rendering or encoding lag | The PC cannot render the scene or encode the selected output smoothly. | Lower output resolution or frame rate; if available, test a hardware encoder supported by the PC. Recheck with the actual video. |
| YouTube reports unstable stream health or the stream drops | Upload capacity is insufficient or fluctuating, the connection is shared, or Wi-Fi is unstable. | Lower the bitrate to a suitable value from YouTube’s live table, test upload under realistic network use, reduce competing network use, and try Ethernet if practical. |
| File stops instead of repeating | Loop is disabled for the Media Source. | Open the source properties and enable Loop if continuous repetition is intended. |
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