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Find where the black bars are coming from
Before changing the scene, check whether the bars appear in the original video, the OBS preview, the encoded stream, or only in YouTube playback. Those are different problems, and a transform in OBS cannot remove black pixels already baked into the file without cropping them.
- Inspect the source file. Open it outside OBS and check its actual width and height. Calculate its aspect ratio by dividing width by height; compare it with the frame you want, commonly 16:9.
- Check the OBS preview. If the bars are visible there, inspect the scene’s source transform and the canvas dimensions.
- Compare a recording or stream output. If the preview looks correct but the stream does not, check a local recording if available and then YouTube playback. This helps distinguish the OBS output from the player’s display.
A 16:9 frame can use dimensions such as 1920×1080 or 1280×720. YouTube’s recommended resolutions for default 16:9 video include 1920×1080, 1280×720, and 3840×2160; the right choice depends on your setup and output. YouTube’s player adapts to video dimensions and viewer devices, so bars in playback do not automatically mean OBS added them. See YouTube’s video resolution and aspect-ratio guidance.
Match the OBS canvas and output to the intended frame
In OBS, open Settings → Video and compare Base (Canvas) Resolution with Output (Scaled) Resolution. If you intend a standard 16:9 stream, use 16:9 dimensions for both, such as 1920×1080 or 1280×720. A familiar width alone does not guarantee the right ratio: 1080×720 is not 16:9.
The Tool Desk
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Changing output resolution does not necessarily change how a source is framed inside the canvas. After adjusting settings, inspect the source transform as well. OBS’s Aspect Ratio Guide explains scaling, cropping, stretching, and scene composition. Menu details may vary by OBS version.
Choose how the video should fill the frame
When source and target aspect ratios differ, no transform can preserve every pixel, cover every part of the frame, and keep the image undistorted at the same time. Choose based on whether you value the full picture, full-frame coverage, or geometry.
Rank #2
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| Approach | What it preserves | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fit proportionally | The full image and its geometry | May leave unused space around the video |
| Crop or enlarge to fill | Frame coverage and undistorted geometry | Cuts off some edges of the image |
| Stretch | All pixels and frame coverage | Distorts the image’s shape; generally avoid it |
| Use a designed background or other scene content | The full image and its geometry while filling unused space with other content | Requires a background or additional scene elements |
Fit the entire video
Select the video source in the OBS preview and use a proportional fit so the whole image remains visible. This is the right choice when cutting off content is unacceptable. If the video is not the same shape as the canvas, empty space may remain; fill it with a background or other scene content rather than distorting the video.
Crop the edges or enlarge to fill
If edge content can be sacrificed, crop the source or enlarge it beyond the canvas boundaries until the frame is covered. OBS documents cropping by holding Alt while dragging a source edge. Check all sides after cropping so important text, faces, or game UI are not cut off.
Rank #3
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Avoid stretching to force a match
OBS documents that holding Shift while dragging a source edge stretches it. That may remove blank space, but it changes the image’s proportions. Use a proportional fit, crop, or designed background when geometric accuracy matters.
Check YouTube playback after correcting OBS
YouTube recommends avoiding black padding or bars embedded directly in the video. If the source itself contains black borders, crop them in OBS or edit the file before adding it to the loop. If the OBS preview is clean, review the encoded output and the YouTube player separately: YouTube automatically detects encoder resolution and frame rate by default and transcodes live video for playback on different devices. See YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance.
Rank #4
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A 2017 OBS forum thread described a case where the preview looked correct but YouTube showed side bars; the response pointed to a mismatch between a 1920×1080 canvas and a 1080×720 output, and suggested 1280×720 as a 16:9 alternative. It is a historical example, not an official diagnosis for every YouTube-side symptom. The thread is at OBS Project forum: “Question / Help – Youtube Black Bars”.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common black-bar symptoms
- Bars are visible in the original file: They are likely encoded into its pixels. Crop them in OBS or edit the file; fitting the source alone will not remove them.
- Bars appear in OBS preview: Confirm the canvas and output ratios in Settings → Video, then select the video source and review its transform.
- Preview is clean but YouTube shows side bars: Check the actual encoded output and compare the source, canvas, and scaled output dimensions. Also check playback on another device or player size before concluding the video itself has bars; YouTube adapts its player to the video’s shape and device.
- Filling the canvas cuts off important content: Return to a proportional fit, or use a background to occupy the unused space.
- The picture looks unnaturally wide or tall: Undo the stretch and use a proportional fit or crop instead.
Or let it run in the cloud
For a YouTube loop stream, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It is a separate way to keep a prerecorded-video stream running; it does not change the source file’s aspect ratio, so prepare the video framing you want before uploading.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
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