Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA codec is the method used to encode and decode audio or video. For a YouTube livestream, your encoder compresses the picture and sound with codecs before sending them over an ingestion protocol such as RTMP or RTMPS. YouTube receives that feed and transcodes it into formats for viewers. Codec and protocol are separate choices, and the combination has to be supported.
What a codec does in a livestream
The word codec combines “coder” and “decoder.” A video codec represents moving images in a compressed form so they can be stored or transmitted, then decoded for playback. An audio codec does the equivalent for sound. Compression makes a stream more practical to send, but settings such as codec, bitrate, resolution, and frame rate affect the data rate and the result.
In a typical encoder-based YouTube Live setup, the encoder compresses the video and audio, packages the resulting stream for delivery, and sends it to YouTube. YouTube then transcodes the incoming live stream into formats that viewers can receive. The codec describes how media is encoded; the protocol describes how the stream is delivered.
Codec vs. streaming protocol
RTMP, RTMPS, HLS, and DASH are ingestion protocols, not codecs. A protocol and a codec must be compatible with each other and with the encoder and YouTube ingest option you use. Google’s protocol comparison lists the following combinations and trade-offs:
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| Protocol | Video codecs listed | Transport and latency notes |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP | H.264 | Suitable for normal, low, or ultra-low latency; no encryption is listed. |
| RTMPS | H.264 | Like RTMP, supports normal, low, or ultra-low latency; adds encrypted transport. |
| HLS | H.264 and H.265/HEVC | Encrypted; suited to higher-resolution use cases. Segment-based delivery typically means higher latency, and YouTube turns off Ultra low-latency for HLS. |
| DASH | H.264 and VP9 | Encrypted; suited to higher-resolution use cases. Segment-based delivery typically means higher latency. |
This table is a compatibility guide, not a guarantee that every encoder or YouTube setup exposes every combination. Check the selected ingest protocol and encoder support before building around a newer codec. RTMPS can protect transport, but it does not itself improve picture quality: quality depends on the media encoding and the conditions of the stream.
Which video codecs does YouTube Live support?
YouTube’s general encoder-settings guidance, accessed October 3, 2026, lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 for video over its RTMP/RTMPS encoder settings. It lists frame rates up to 60 fps. The protocol comparison is more specific about ingest compatibility: it lists H.264 for RTMP/RTMPS, HEVC for HLS, and VP9 for DASH. Therefore, do not assume that codec support listed for one YouTube workflow applies to every protocol.
H.264
H.264 is listed for RTMP and RTMPS and remains an option in YouTube’s general encoder settings. In YouTube’s recommended bitrate table, H.264 uses a higher bitrate than AV1 or HEVC for several matched resolution and frame-rate examples. That is a platform recommendation, not a universal comparison of quality at every setting.
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H.265 / HEVC
H.265, also called HEVC, is listed in YouTube’s general encoder settings and is supported by HLS according to YouTube’s HLS guidance. Google’s protocol comparison does not list it for RTMP/RTMPS or DASH. YouTube’s guidance specifies HEVC for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR; check the current settings page and your chosen ingest path before enabling HDR.
AV1 and VP9
AV1 appears in YouTube’s general RTMP/RTMPS encoder-settings list and in bitrate recommendations, but the protocol comparison table does not list AV1 among the codecs for RTMP/RTMPS. That difference makes it especially important to confirm the currently supported combination in the YouTube settings for your stream. The protocol comparison lists VP9 for DASH; YouTube’s general encoder-settings list cited here does not list VP9 for RTMP/RTMPS.
Audio codecs and settings
YouTube’s general RTMP/RTMPS settings list AAC and MP3 for audio. For 5.1 surround sound over RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube says only AAC is supported. Its guidance recommends 44.1 kHz for stereo or 48 kHz for 5.1, with a recommended audio bitrate of 128 Kbps for stereo or 384 Kbps for 5.1. These are YouTube settings recommendations, not general limits for all audio codecs or delivery systems.
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YouTube’s HLS setup page lists AAC, AC3, and EAC3 audio for HLS. Those HLS options should not be treated as interchangeable with the general RTMP/RTMPS list.
Recommended YouTube Live video settings
YouTube’s current encoder-settings page recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a keyframe interval of two seconds, and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. It also recommends square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, and CABAC. Its listed maximum frame rate is 60 fps. For SDR, it specifies Rec. 709 and 8-bit depth; for HDR, H.265/HEVC and 10-bit depth, and notes that AV1 is not supported for HDR. These are YouTube’s platform recommendations, not universal codec requirements.
Recommended bitrate examples
Bitrate depends on codec, resolution, and frame rate. These values are from YouTube’s “Recommended Bitrate setting” columns, accessed October 3, 2026; they are recommendations rather than guarantees of quality or proof that a connection can sustain them.
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| Resolution and frame rate | AV1 or H.265/HEVC | H.264 |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) at 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
Use the row that matches your target and the codec you will actually send. YouTube advises running an upload-speed test, choosing a quality your connection can sustain reliably, testing with audio and movement similar to the live event, and monitoring stream health. A bitrate figure alone cannot account for fluctuations in upload capacity or prove that a particular encoder and connection will remain stable.
How to choose a codec and protocol
- Start with the YouTube ingest option. Check the current YouTube encoder settings and the relevant protocol documentation. Do not choose a codec based only on its name or compression claims.
- Confirm encoder support. Verify that your encoder can output the codec, resolution, frame rate, and audio format for the selected protocol. Compatibility is a combination, not a single codec checkbox.
- Set a sustainable target. Match resolution and frame rate to the content and available upload capacity. Use YouTube’s recommended bitrate as a starting point, then test and monitor the actual stream.
- Choose for latency and transport needs. RTMPS adds encryption to RTMP. HLS and DASH have different codec combinations and typically higher segment-based latency; HLS disables the Ultra low-latency option.
- Check HDR requirements separately. YouTube’s guidance calls for HEVC and 10-bit depth for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. Do not infer HDR compatibility from SDR support.
Advanced note: HLS setup is not just a codec choice
YouTube’s HLS setup guidance specifies additional transport requirements: TS segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and segment durations from one to four seconds. It also states that HLS turns off the Ultra low-latency option. These implementation details matter when configuring an HLS encoder; selecting HEVC alone does not make an HLS stream ready to ingest.
Copyright and stream health are separate from codecs
A codec controls media encoding; it does not establish whether you have permission to stream the material or whether a channel meets YouTube’s rules for reused content. Those are separate questions to check against YouTube’s current policies before broadcasting. If a stream has an ingest or health problem, changing codecs blindly may not address it: confirm protocol compatibility and consult YouTube’s LiveStreams documentation for stream-health error information.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does RTMPS improve video quality?
No. RTMPS encrypts transport; it is not a video codec or a quality enhancement.
Can I use the same codec settings for SDR and HDR?
Not necessarily. YouTube’s guidance specifies Rec. 709 and 8-bit depth for SDR, while HDR uses HEVC and 10-bit depth; it also says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
Quick Recap
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