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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For a typical YouTube Live stream, use constant bitrate (CBR), set a keyframe every two seconds, and choose a bitrate for your codec, resolution, and frame rate from YouTube’s current recommendations. In FFmpeg, -g sets the GOP size in frames: use -g 60 at 30 fps or -g 120 at 60 fps for a two-second interval. Test with representative gameplay and audio, then check YouTube’s stream health before and during the broadcast.
Recommended FFmpeg settings at a glance
| Setting | Starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ingest protocol | RTMPS | Use the server address and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room for the selected ingest method. |
| Video codec | H.264 for a straightforward SDR setup | YouTube also lists H.265 and AV1 for ingestion; its guidance recommends H.265 for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. |
| Rate control | CBR | Encoder controls vary. The example below sets the x264 target, minimum, and maximum rates to the same value. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds | YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. Match GOP frames to frame rate. |
| Audio | AAC, stereo, 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz | These are YouTube’s recommended advanced settings for a typical stereo stream. |
| SDR color | Rec. 709, 8-bit | Use settings appropriate to the source and encoding path. |
These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that your encoder or internet connection can sustain a given stream. YouTube advises choosing a quality your connection can reliably deliver and checking upload speed. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
What bitrate should I use for YouTube Live?
Choose the recommended rate for your video codec, resolution, and frame rate. The figures below are YouTube’s published recommended H.264 ingestion bitrates; they are not minimums. YouTube’s table lists separate minimum values, which can be lower. The current settings page was checked on October 3, 2026.
| Resolution and frame rate | H.264 recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 2160p (4K), 60 fps | 50 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K), 30 fps | 42 Mbps |
| 1440p, 60 fps | 34 Mbps |
| 1440p, 30 fps | 21 Mbps |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p, 60 fps or 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 480p, 30 fps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p, 30 fps | 4 Mbps |
For example, YouTube lists 6 Mbps as the H.264 minimum and 17 Mbps as the recommended rate for 1080p60. For 1080p30 H.264, its listed minimum is 5 Mbps and recommended rate is 14 Mbps. The recommended H.264 rate for 1080p60 is higher than YouTube’s listed recommended 12 Mbps for AV1 or H.265 at the same mode; for 1080p30, the listed AV1/H.265 recommendation is 10 Mbps versus 14 Mbps for H.264. Use the row for your actual codec and mode rather than copying a bitrate from a different setup.
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Leave headroom for a stable upload
The bitrate is the amount your upload must carry continuously, in addition to network overhead and any other traffic sharing the connection. If your upload cannot reliably sustain the target, lower the resolution, frame rate, or bitrate and recheck stream health. A nominal speed-test result does not guarantee a stable live connection.
How do I set keyframes in FFmpeg?
YouTube recommends one keyframe every two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. FFmpeg’s standard -g option sets GOP size in frames for encoders that honor it. Multiply the frame rate by two to get the starting GOP size for a two-second interval:
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- 30 fps:
-g 60 - 60 fps:
-g 120
For x264, -keyint_min 60 and -sc_threshold 0 in the 30 fps example below help keep the interval regular by setting a minimum keyframe interval and disabling scene-cut keyframes. Encoder behavior and option support can differ, so check the documentation for your selected encoder and local FFmpeg build. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance gives the two-second target and four-second limit; its LiveStreams API health diagnostics include warnings for long or excessive GOP intervals and unsupported open GOPs.
FFmpeg command for 1080p30 H.264
This is an illustrative starting point for a 1080p30 H.264 stream at YouTube’s recommended 14 Mbps video rate. It has not been run or live-tested; adapt it to your input, hardware, FFmpeg build, and the ingest details YouTube provides.
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ffmpeg -re -i INPUT
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-b:v 14M -minrate 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://INGEST_URL/STREAM_KEY"- Replace
INPUTwith your video source, such as a capture device or file.-rereads file input at its native rate so it can be sent as a live stream; it is not a substitute for a stable real-time capture source. - Replace
INGEST_URLandSTREAM_KEYwith the RTMPS server address and key provided in YouTube Live Control Room. Treat the key as a password: do not share it or publish it in logs, screenshots, or a command history accessible to others. Reset it in YouTube if exposed. - Confirm that your source really is 1080p30 and that
libx264is available in your FFmpeg build. Runffmpeg -h encoder=libx264locally to inspect supported options. - Set the output pixel format and audio to match your delivery plan. This example uses
yuv420pSDR video and stereo AAC at YouTube’s recommended 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz. - Start with a private or unlisted test broadcast where appropriate, check YouTube’s incoming stream and health messages, and verify both moving video and audio before relying on the setup.
The FFmpeg options documented for encoding and GOP behavior are in the FFmpeg codecs documentation. An encoder may interpret or expose controls differently, so this command is not a universal preset.
Adapting the command for 60 fps
For a two-second GOP at 60 fps, change -g 60 and -keyint_min 60 to -g 120 and -keyint_min 120. Also choose a video bitrate from YouTube’s table for the new resolution, frame rate, and codec; the 1080p30 rate in the example should not be carried over automatically.
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Test the stream and diagnose health warnings
YouTube Help advises testing before a live stream with audio and video movement similar to the planned broadcast. Game footage can have rapid camera movement, effects, and changing detail, so test with representative gameplay rather than a static menu alone. Monitor YouTube’s stream health while the encoder runs.
| Symptom or health message | Likely check | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| Low bitrate or unstable stream | Upload capacity, competing network traffic, and configured target rate | Use a sustainable lower bitrate or reduce resolution/frame rate; test again on the connection you will use. |
| High bitrate warning | Encoder target versus YouTube’s recommended range for the selected mode | Verify codec, resolution, and frame rate, then adjust the rate against YouTube’s table. |
| Keyframes too far apart or GOP warning | GOP frame count, actual frame rate, and encoder-specific keyframe behavior | Set a two-second interval in frames and confirm the encoder honors it; avoid exceeding four seconds. |
| Open GOP warning | Whether the selected encoder is producing an open GOP | Use an encoder configuration that produces a closed GOP, then repeat the test; option names depend on encoder. |
| Missing audio or video | Input device/file, stream mapping, audio codec, and capture permissions | Confirm FFmpeg is receiving both tracks and that the outgoing stream includes them. |
| Unsupported video codec | Selected encoder and YouTube ingest configuration | Choose a codec supported for the ingest mode and verify the encoder output settings. |
| Primary/backup stream mismatch | Whether both streams use matching properties | Align the primary and backup stream properties or use only the configured ingest stream. |
The YouTube API health issue names include gopSizeLong, gopSizeOver, openGop, bitrateLow, and codec or audio errors. The exact diagnostics exposed depend on the stream and ingest configuration.
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Copyright and YouTube Live policy checks
Technical compliance does not establish that you have the rights to broadcast game footage, music, or other material. Check the game publisher’s streaming policy and make sure you have permission for any third-party music or media captured in the stream. YouTube may apply copyright enforcement to live content; a stream key and healthy encoder do not grant distribution rights. For prerecorded or looping gameplay, also consider whether the channel’s presentation adds meaningful original context rather than relying on repetitive reused material.
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