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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo stream an MP4 to YouTube Live with FFmpeg, create or select a live event in YouTube Studio, copy that event’s stream URL and key, then have FFmpeg read the file in real time, encode it at one chosen resolution, and send it to YouTube. You normally do not need a separate FFmpeg feed for every viewer resolution: YouTube transcodes one live ingest into playback formats for different devices and connections.
What “different resolutions” means for a YouTube stream
FFmpeg sets the resolution of the feed you send to YouTube. YouTube then creates multiple playback formats for viewers, so one ingest resolution is usually enough for adaptive viewing. Choose an output resolution that suits your source file, computer, and sustained upload capacity—not a separate resolution for each viewer.
If you mean broadcasting distinct events or separate feeds, that is a different workflow. This guide covers sending one MP4 as one YouTube Live feed.
Choose an ingest resolution and bitrate
Start with the MP4’s dimensions and frame rate. Downscaling a high-resolution source can reduce encoding and upload demands; upscaling a smaller source does not add detail. Choose a frame rate and resolution your computer can encode in real time and your internet connection can sustain. YouTube’s current H.264 recommendations are below; the support page has no displayed publication date and was accessed on October 3, 2026.
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| Ingest resolution and frame rate | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 34 Mbps |
These are YouTube encoder recommendations, not a promise of picture quality. The appropriate bitrate depends on codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend about 20% upload headroom, so do not plan to use your connection’s entire measured upload capacity for the video stream. A speed test is only a snapshot; test the actual setup and time window when possible.
YouTube recommends RTMP or RTMPS ingestion, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, constant bitrate, and a keyframe frequency of two seconds (no more than four seconds). It recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport. AAC or MP3 audio is supported over RTMP/RTMPS; 5.1 surround is supported only with AAC. The example below is for conventional SDR H.264/AAC, not HDR. For HDR, check YouTube’s current requirements: its guidance recommends H.265 for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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Prepare the YouTube event and MP4
- Create or select the event. In YouTube Studio, open Go Live and create or choose the live event. In its Live Control Room settings, copy the stream URL and stream key. Use the values for this configured event rather than relying on a hardcoded endpoint from an unrelated example.
- Keep the key private. Treat the stream key like a password. Do not put a real key in a public article, screenshot, or source repository. Reset it in YouTube Studio if it is exposed or compromised.
- Inspect the input. Check the MP4’s dimensions, frame rate, aspect ratio, and whether it contains an audio track. Confirm that your FFmpeg build supports the encoder and protocols you plan to use.
- Choose the frame shape. Preserve the source aspect ratio, or deliberately choose whether to pad or crop it to fit your intended output. A scale setting that preserves the source ratio may not produce 16:9 if the original video is another shape.
Use FFmpeg to send the MP4 live
This is an adaptable command template, not a tested command. Replace the input filename, scale width, bitrate, and destination with values for your file and event. Set the environment variable YOUTUBE_STREAM_URL to the stream URL and key supplied by YouTube, in the format accepted by the current event settings. Do not publish that value.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a?
-vf "scale=1920:-2"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_STREAM_URL"-rereads the file at its native rate, giving FFmpeg a live-style feed rather than sending the file as fast as it can be processed.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. Remove it if you want the stream to end when the file finishes.scale=1920:-2sets the width to 1920 pixels and calculates an even height while preserving the source ratio. For a lower output resolution, choose an appropriate width.-b:v 14M,-maxrate 14M, and-bufsize 28Mare example video rate-control values for the 1080p/30 fps H.264 recommendation above. Change them to suit your selected codec, resolution, frame rate, and upload capacity.-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP. At 30 fps that is a two-second keyframe interval. At 60 fps, use 120 frames for the same interval; adjust for other frame rates to keep it near two seconds.-map 0:a?makes audio mapping optional; it does not create audio if the MP4 has no audio track. The example encodes audio as AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz.-f flvspecifies the output container commonly used for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. Use the stream URL provided for the event.
FFmpeg options and encoder availability vary by build. The libx264 example requires a build with that encoder enabled. Consult the FFmpeg documentation for options supported by your installed version.
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Start, test, and monitor the feed
- Run the command and wait for FFmpeg to connect and begin sending the feed.
- Check the event preview in YouTube Live Control Room. Confirm that the video framing and intended audio are present.
- Test representative motion, not just a still opening frame. Watch YouTube’s stream-health messages and confirm the selected output remains stable.
- Test before the event and monitor the broadcast while it is running. YouTube specifically advises testing before starting a live stream.
Troubleshoot common FFmpeg-to-YouTube problems
- Dropped frames or unstable stream health: The output bitrate may be too high for sustained upload capacity, or the computer may be struggling to encode. Leave upload headroom; lower resolution, frame rate, or bitrate and test again.
- The video has the wrong shape or black bars: Inspect the MP4’s display aspect ratio. The example scale preserves the source ratio, which may not be 16:9. Choose an intentional scale-and-pad or crop approach if you need a particular frame shape.
- No sound in the preview: Check whether the file contains an audio stream and whether the preview has the expected sound. Optional audio mapping does not supply audio absent from the input.
- FFmpeg reports an encoder or protocol error: Your installed build may lack
libx264or the required protocol support. Check the capabilities of that specific build; availability is not identical across FFmpeg builds. - YouTube does not receive the feed: Verify that the stream URL and key came from the current event and are entered correctly. Reset the key if it may have been exposed.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a YouTube channel that stays live from uploaded videos, StreamNeo is an alternative to running FFmpeg on a computer at home. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud; it does not broadcast a camera feed.
- Nothing has to stay powered on at home: your computer and home connection are not needed to keep the stream running.
- Each slot uses one flat price for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60 fps, without re-encoding or quality tiers.
- StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account). The monthly option is $9.99 per month.
StreamNeo streams to YouTube only. See StreamNeo or its plan details. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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