To stream 4K at 60 fps from Ubuntu, use OBS Studio with an NVIDIA GPU and driver that expose a compatible NVENC encoder. In OBS, set the output to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, use constant bitrate (CBR), choose YouTube’s recommended bitrate for your ingest codec, set a two-second keyframe interval, and connect to YouTube over RTMPS. Confirm that your particular GPU, driver, OBS build, and codec work together, then test the complete setup before relying on it.
Check that your Ubuntu system can encode the stream
NVENC availability depends on the NVIDIA GPU, installed driver, OBS version, and selected codec. Do not assume that an NVIDIA card supports every current encoding mode or can handle every 4K60 workload.
Confirm GPU and OBS compatibility
OBS documents NVENC support on Linux and gives GeForce 750 Ti, Maxwell 900-series, or newer as general hardware guidance. This is not a guarantee of support for every codec or workload. OBS 31.0.4 release notes, for example, say that NVIDIA Kepler 600/700-series GPUs are no longer supported for NVENC and note that NVIDIA Linux users may need driver 550.54.14 or newer for that OBS release. Those details are specific to OBS 31.0.4; check the release notes for your installed version and the capabilities of your GPU.
After installing or updating the driver, open OBS and check whether an NVIDIA NVENC encoder is available in the streaming output settings. If it is missing, verify the driver is loaded, restart if required, and check the OBS package and version. Do not plan around a codec until it appears and works in your installation.
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Install OBS and the NVIDIA driver
Use OBS’s official download instructions for your Ubuntu release. OBS documents an official PPA for Ubuntu 24.04 and newer and also offers Flatpak; for other Ubuntu releases, follow the current instructions rather than applying commands intended for a different release. Install NVIDIA drivers through Ubuntu’s supported driver guidance. Ubuntu notes that if an obsolete branch is requested, its tooling moves to a supported branch.
Choose a codec and bitrate for 4K60
YouTube’s live encoder recommendations for 4K/2160p at 60 fps are codec-specific. The figures below are YouTube ingest recommendations, not guarantees of the image viewers will receive.
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| Ingest codec | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube listed minimum | HDR note |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps | SDR guidance applies below; YouTube recommends H.265 for HDR. |
| H.265 (HEVC) | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | YouTube recommends H.265 for HDR. |
| AV1 | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | YouTube says AV1 is not supported for HDR. |
The minimum is a floor, not the recommended target. Use a codec supported by your GPU, driver, OBS build, and YouTube ingest. If your hardware cannot encode a supported codec reliably, or your connection cannot sustain the chosen bitrate, lower the resolution or frame rate instead of treating an unstable stream as a successful 4K60 setup.
When 4K60 is not sustainable
YouTube’s listed recommended rates at lower resolutions provide alternatives if your upload capacity or encoding hardware is a constraint:
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| Resolution and frame rate | H.264 recommendation | AV1 or H.265 recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
These are YouTube ingest recommendations, not promises about viewer-side quality. Select a setting your complete system can sustain and verify it during a test.
Set OBS for a YouTube 4K60 broadcast
- Set the video dimensions and frame rate. In OBS, open Settings > Video. Set the base (canvas) resolution to 3840×2160 and the common frame rate to 60. If you use a scaled output, set the output resolution to 3840×2160 as well; otherwise OBS may send a lower-resolution stream.
- Configure streaming output. Open Settings > Output and select streaming output. Choose the NVIDIA NVENC encoder and a codec supported by your GPU, driver, OBS version, and YouTube ingest. Set rate control to CBR and enter the bitrate recommended for that codec in the table above.
- Set the keyframe interval. Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. YouTube recommends two seconds and says the interval must not exceed four seconds.
- Use compatible video characteristics. For an SDR stream, use progressive scan, square pixels, Rec. 709 color, and 8-bit SDR. YouTube’s advanced guidance also lists two B-frames, one reference frame, and CABAC. Use these where the installed OBS and encoder expose the controls. Do not enable HDR unless the capture pipeline and ingest codec are deliberately configured for it; YouTube recommends H.265 for HDR and does not support AV1 for HDR.
- Set audio. YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. Its listed audio bitrates are 128 Kbps for stereo and 384 Kbps for 5.1; 5.1 audio over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only with AAC. For a typical stereo stream, configure audio for stereo and use the platform guidance as your reference.
OBS’s NVENC guide also recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval. Its other preset and tuning suggestions are older; do not let them override YouTube’s current ingest recommendations or controls available in your installed OBS version.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live over RTMPS
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the broadcast and retrieve its current stream URL and stream key.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Choose the appropriate service or enter the server URL, then copy in the current stream URL and key using the fields shown by your OBS version.
- Prefer RTMPS, which encrypts the transfer to YouTube’s servers. Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish it or include it in a recording or screenshot.
- Start streaming from OBS and confirm that YouTube receives the signal in Live Control Room before beginning the broadcast for viewers.
YouTube supports RTMP/RTMPS ingest with H.264, H.265, and AV1, and supports up to 60 fps. YouTube says 4K streams use normal latency; its low-latency option is unavailable for 4K. YouTube transcodes live input into multiple output formats for viewers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Test the full setup and monitor stream health
A settings checklist cannot establish whether a particular computer and internet connection will remain stable. YouTube advises testing before going live, measuring connection speed, and using audio and movement similar to the actual event. Its instruction is simple: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
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- Run a speed test and check that your upload connection can sustain the selected ingest bitrate during the broadcast.
- Send a test with representative fast movement, detailed scenes, and audio. Check that the stream arrives at the intended resolution and frame rate.
- Watch YouTube’s stream-health indicators and messages. Investigate dropped frames, encoder overload, or ingest warnings before relying on the stream.
- Recheck stream health during the event; an initially successful connection does not establish that conditions will remain stable.
Troubleshoot common 4K60 problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| NVENC is missing in OBS | The driver is not loaded, or the GPU, driver, OBS build, or package does not expose NVENC. | Confirm the NVIDIA driver is installed and loaded, restart if the installation requires it, and check OBS’s version-specific NVENC support. Verify that your GPU supports the encoder mode you need. |
| YouTube does not receive a signal | The stream URL or key is wrong, stale, or entered in the wrong field. | Copy the current URL and key from the selected broadcast in Live Control Room, replace the OBS values, and keep the key private. |
| Stream health reports dropped frames or connection trouble | The upload connection may not sustain the chosen bitrate. | Retest the connection and stream. If it cannot sustain the codec-specific recommendation, reduce resolution or frame rate and test again. |
| OBS reports encoder overload or the stream misses its target | The GPU, driver, codec, or workload may not sustain 4K60. | Check the GPU’s codec support and OBS version, then test a lower resolution or frame rate rather than assuming the encoder can manage the target. |
| Viewers do not see 4K60 | The outgoing OBS resolution or frame rate may differ from the intended output, or YouTube may not yet be processing the stream as expected. | Verify OBS’s canvas and scaled output, confirm the received stream’s resolution and frame rate in YouTube, and allow for platform processing. |
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