For a continuous YouTube stream from OBS, use CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval, then choose resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate to fit both YouTube’s guidance and your sustained upload capacity. For H.264, YouTube’s recommended video bitrate is 14 Mbps at 1080p30 or 17 Mbps at 1080p60; its minimums are 5 Mbps and 6 Mbps respectively. Leave upload headroom and test the complete setup before relying on it for an unattended stream.
Recommended starting settings
These are YouTube’s encoder guidelines, not a guarantee that a particular computer or internet connection can sustain a stream indefinitely. The table separates platform minimums from recommended video bitrates; use the recommended figure when your connection and encoder can maintain it, and do not go below the listed minimum without a reason to expect reduced quality or ingestion problems.
| Output | H.264 minimum | H.264 recommended | AV1/H.265 minimum | AV1/H.265 recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
Bitrates are video only. Audio and protocol overhead add to the total upload demand. YouTube’s current table also covers 480p, 360p, 1440p and 4K, with recommendations that vary by codec and frame rate; consult YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates and resolutions guide for the exact combination you plan to use.
Set OBS output and video
Output mode and bitrate
In OBS, open Settings > Output. Use Advanced output mode if needed to expose encoder controls. For the streaming encoder, select constant bitrate (CBR), choose a bitrate supported by both YouTube’s table and your tested connection, and set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. Encoder names and available codecs differ by OBS version, operating system and hardware; use a codec your encoder and YouTube ingestion workflow support.
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Resolution and frame rate
Under Settings > Video, set the output resolution and frame rate for the actual content. Static artwork or slow-moving scenes may not benefit from 60 fps, while gameplay with fast motion can. Higher resolution and frame rate increase the data and encoding work required. Avoid selecting 1080p60 simply because it is available if your network, encoder or content is better suited to 1080p30 or 720p.
Advanced encoding details
YouTube’s recommended advanced settings include square pixels, progressive scan, 2 B-frames, 1 reference frame, CABAC, Rec. 709 color for SDR, and 8-bit SDR. For stereo audio, YouTube lists 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps; its guidance for 5.1 audio lists 48 kHz and 384 kbps. OBS control names and whether a setting is exposed depend on the selected encoder. Do not force a control your encoder does not offer.
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Choose bitrate for the connection you actually have
A speed-test result is not the same as bandwidth guaranteed to OBS all day. YouTube recommends that total stream bitrate stay within available upload bandwidth and advises leaving 20% headroom. Other devices and users on a shared network can reduce the capacity available to your stream. See YouTube’s streaming tips for its bandwidth guidance.
- Run an upload speed test on the connection and computer that will stream.
- Choose resolution, frame rate and codec, then add the video bitrate to the audio bitrate to estimate total stream demand.
- Keep that total below the upload capacity available during busy periods, with YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom.
- If capacity fluctuates or OBS reports dropped frames, reduce bitrate, resolution or frame rate and test again rather than treating a brief peak speed as sustained capacity.
There is no universal “best” preset: encoding options depend on the machine, and a bitrate reliable on one network may fail on another.
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Connect OBS to YouTube safely
YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts data to and through its servers. In YouTube Studio, create or select the live stream and copy its stream key into OBS under Settings > Stream, using the YouTube service and the appropriate server/key fields shown by OBS. A stream key is a credential: keep it private, do not show it in screenshots, and reset it if it is exposed. YouTube describes stream keys and event setup in its guide to creating a live stream with an encoder.
HLS is another ingestion option, but it has additional setup requirements and a different latency and encoder workflow. Do not switch protocols for a generic settings recipe. Latency and DVR are configured in YouTube Live Control Room and affect the viewer experience; they are not OBS bitrate settings. See Manage live stream settings.
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Test before leaving a stream running
- In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, set up the stream and confirm the selected stream key and event settings.
- Start OBS and send a representative scene with the real audio, motion and graphics you expect to use. YouTube explicitly advises: “Make sure that you test before you start your live stream.”
- Check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages. Confirm that audio is audible, the image is stable, and the incoming resolution and frame rate are as intended.
- Let the setup run long enough to reveal intermittent network or encoder problems. If you use a backup encoder, test switching to it before depending on failover.
- For an event or unattended run, verify access settings, monitor audio and video quality, and confirm local archive growth if you are recording locally. YouTube’s computer live-streaming tips cover advance setup, preview and monitoring.
OBS and YouTube do not promise uninterrupted uptime for a 24/7 stream. Plan how you will notice a failure and how you will restore the feed; do not assume an untested reconnect setting guarantees recovery. OBS also notes that consistent keyframe intervals can help YouTube’s quality selector transition smoothly between output formats: OBS’s transcoding guidance.
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- OBS reports dropped frames or YouTube stream health is poor: the upload path may be congested or unstable. Check other network use, verify available upload at the time of trouble, and lower the bitrate or output demands before retesting.
- Encoding overload, stutter or skipped frames: the computer may not be encoding the chosen resolution and frame rate reliably. Reduce output demands or choose an encoder supported by the hardware, then test with representative motion.
- Soft or blocky image: the bitrate may be too low for the chosen output, codec or motion. Compare against YouTube’s codec-specific recommended figure, while ensuring the connection can sustain it; if not, lower resolution or frame rate instead of overloading the upload.
- No preview or stream does not start: check that the correct YouTube event, server and private stream key are in use, and confirm the event is configured and accessible in Live Control Room.
- Audio is silent, clipped or mismatched: inspect OBS audio sources and levels, then listen to the Live Control Room preview. Test the actual program audio, not just a silent desktop scene.
- Feed stops during a long run: identify whether the encoder, computer, power or network stopped sending data. Restore the encoder connection and check YouTube’s stream health; if a backup encoder is part of the plan, switch using the workflow you tested.
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Quick Recap
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