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To broadcast a pre-recorded video on YouTube from a Windows 11 PC, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, connect OBS to the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio, and start streaming. For a scheduled broadcast, check the preview in YouTube’s Live Control Room and click Go live when you are ready. Test the setup first, and use only video and audio you have the right to stream.
Before you start
- A Windows 11 computer with OBS Studio installed and the video file saved locally.
- A YouTube channel that is verified and has had no livestreaming restrictions in the past 90 days, as specified in YouTube Help’s livestreaming tips.
- A stable upload connection capable of sustaining your selected stream settings.
- Streaming rights for all video and audio in the file. YouTube’s rights-management controls do not grant permission to use someone else’s material; see YouTube Help on managing live stream settings.
You do not need a camera or capture card just to play a local video file. OBS can play it directly as a Media Source.
Set up the YouTube live stream
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live. Choose the Stream tab to set up a new stream, or open Manage → Schedule Stream to create one for later. A scheduled stream can have an upcoming watch page where viewers can set a reminder. See YouTube Help’s encoder streaming instructions and stream settings guidance.
- In Live Control Room, locate the stream URL and stream key. You will enter them in OBS. Keep the key private: it tells an encoder where to send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it. If the key is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update OBS.
- For a scheduled stream, YouTube advises setting up the encoder at least two hours ahead and starting it at least 15 minutes before the event. This leaves time to confirm that YouTube receives the feed.
Add the video to OBS on Windows 11
- Open OBS Studio and choose or create the scene that will contain the broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source. Name the source if you want, then select OK.
- In the Media Source properties, select Browse beside the local-file option and choose your video. OBS documents common supported formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM. If the file does not play, check that it is a usable video file in a supported format.
- Turn on Loop if the video should restart automatically after it ends. Loop is off by default. Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default; leave it on if the video should begin at the start whenever the source is activated. Close file when inactive is also on by default, so OBS hides the source when playback ends unless looping keeps it playing. OBS documents these controls in its Media Sources guide.
- Select OK, then check the OBS preview. Make sure the video fits the canvas as intended and that audio is visible on the mixer when the file plays.
Connect OBS to YouTube
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream.
- Choose YouTube from the service list if it is available. Otherwise, select the option to use a custom streaming server and paste the stream URL from Live Control Room into the server field.
- Paste the YouTube stream key into OBS’s stream key field, then select Apply and OK. Do not share screenshots or recordings that reveal the key.
- Open Settings → Output and check the encoder and bitrate settings. In Settings → Video, choose the output resolution and frame rate you intend to send. Use settings your connection can sustain; the recommendations below are YouTube’s published guidance, not a guarantee that a particular internet connection will remain stable.
Choose resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and audio settings
YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted delivery. Its current encoder guidance for RTMP/RTMPS lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1; up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); AAC or MP3 audio; and a two-second keyframe interval, which should not exceed four seconds. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the current recommendations.
| Setting decision | What it affects | Guidance for this setup |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Visual detail | Choose an output size appropriate to the source and the connection. Higher resolution requires more bitrate to preserve detail. |
| Frame rate | Motion smoothness | YouTube’s listed guidance allows up to 60 fps. Match the source where practical rather than increasing frame rate without a reason. |
| Bitrate and upload capacity | Connection headroom and reliability | Use CBR and choose a bitrate your sustained upload speed can support with headroom. YouTube’s 1080p30 examples are below. |
| Keyframe interval | Encoder delivery behavior | Use two seconds as recommended; do not exceed four seconds. |
| Video codec and audio | Encoding format and sound | YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 for video and AAC or MP3 for audio over RTMP/RTMPS. |
| 1080p30 codec example | YouTube-listed minimum bitrate | YouTube-listed recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
These bitrate figures are YouTube Help recommendations and minimums for the specified codec and 1080p30 case, not independent test results. YouTube transcodes the incoming stream for playback on different devices and network conditions. If OBS or YouTube reports instability, lower the bitrate or output resolution and test again.
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Test the feed, go live, and end the broadcast
- Before the event, play a representative part of the video and listen for audio problems. YouTube recommends testing with representative motion and audio, checking the preview and stream health, and monitoring sound and picture quality during the broadcast. See YouTube’s livestreaming tips.
- In OBS, select Start Streaming. In YouTube Live Control Room, wait until the incoming feed appears in the preview and check stream health.
- For a scheduled broadcast, select Go live in Live Control Room when the preview is ready and you want viewers to see the event. Sending video from OBS does not, by itself, complete that scheduled go-live step.
- When finished, end the event in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS or the encoder as applicable. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived.
Common problems and fixes
- YouTube does not show an incoming preview: Confirm OBS is streaming, the stream URL and key are correct, and the key belongs to the intended live event. If the key was exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and replace it in OBS.
- The video is cropped, missing, or not visible in OBS: Confirm the Media Source points to the correct local file, check the OBS preview, and adjust the source to fit the scene. Try a supported file format if OBS cannot play the file.
- The video stops at the end: Enable Loop in the Media Source properties if the video should repeat. Loop is off by default.
- The picture or audio is unstable: Check OBS’s output settings and YouTube’s stream-health indicator. Reduce bitrate or resolution if the upload connection cannot sustain the selected output, then test with representative content again.
- The scheduled stream is not public yet: Confirm the correct event is open in Live Control Room, wait for its preview, then select Go live when ready.
- YouTube blocks or claims material in the broadcast: Check that you have rights to every visual and audio element. Live rights-management settings do not authorize third-party content.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep a pre-recorded YouTube stream running without leaving a Windows PC on, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not broadcast from a camera.
Quick Recap
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LAPGEAR Home Office Lap Desk – Pink, Fits 15.6” Laptops
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AboveTEK Portable Laptop Lap Desk w/Retractable Left/Right Mouse Pad Tray, Non-Slip Heat Shield Tablet Notebook Computer Stand Table w/Sturdy Stable Work Surface for Bed Sofa Couch or Travel
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Yilador Webcam Cover 3 Pack, 0.03 inch Ultra Thin Laptop Camera Cover Slide
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Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
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- Nothing at home has to stay on for the stream to continue.
- Any quality up to 4K 60fps as uploaded costs one flat price per slot; StreamNeo does not re-encode or use quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
Start your free StreamNeo day.
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