Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA disconnect does not, by itself, prove Hetzner is at fault. To find the cause, match the timestamp in YouTube Live Control Room to your encoder and server logs, then check the configured ingest endpoint, outbound firewall rules and network path. Without your server type, encoder, protocol and exact error, the cause cannot be determined—but this sequence can narrow it down.
First determine what is actually disconnecting
Separate an encoder-to-YouTube ingest failure from a viewer playback interruption. If the encoder reports a dropped connection, investigate the sending path. If it stays connected but viewers report interruptions, check YouTube’s stream-health status and whether the issue affects multiple viewers on different networks. YouTube’s live-stream troubleshooting guide distinguishes these symptoms, while Live Control Room metrics provide stream status and error messages.
Record the UTC time and exact wording of each error. A message such as “connection timed out” or “the RTMP server sent an invalid SSL certificate” is a clue to investigate, not a diagnosis unless it is the message you actually see.
Match the disconnect to encoder and server evidence
At each failure time, compare the Live Control Room message with encoder output and the server’s own records. Check whether the encoder or its service/container restarted, and review CPU and memory use, firewall logs and network-interface events around the same timestamp. YouTube recommends checking encoder CPU load and, if no issue is apparent, trying another encoder as a diagnostic. Resource pressure is a possible lead only when the logs or metrics support it.
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If the encoder looks healthy, test outbound connectivity from the Hetzner host to the actual YouTube ingest hostname and port configured for the stream. Run the test over a period that includes the usual failure window and compare the observed capacity with the selected bitrate. A single speed test cannot establish that the connection is stable during a live stream. YouTube recommends testing outbound connection strength when the encoder’s stream appears healthy.
Verify the ingest URL and protocol
For RTMPS, copy the RTMPS ingest URL from YouTube Live Control Room rather than reusing an old or default RTMP address. RTMPS is RTMP carried over TLS/SSL, as explained in YouTube’s RTMPS guidance.
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- If the error concerns an invalid SSL certificate, confirm that both the protocol and host in the encoder are RTMPS. If the encoder allows a port to be specified, YouTube documents port 443 as a troubleshooting step.
- If the error is a timeout, verify the URL and confirm that the encoder supports RTMPS.
- Apply these checks only when the stream uses RTMPS and the reported error matches. They do not establish that RTMPS is the cause of an unrelated disconnect.
Check outbound firewall rules on the server
If this is a Hetzner Cloud server, inspect its Cloud Firewall and the operating system’s firewall. Hetzner’s Cloud Firewall FAQ says outbound traffic is allowed when no outbound rules are defined. Once outbound rules are defined, unmatched outbound traffic is dropped by an implicit deny. Check that the rules allow the host and port used by your configured YouTube connection.
Do not assume this Cloud Firewall behavior applies to a dedicated server’s Robot firewall; verify that product’s firewall policy separately.
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Interpret network tests without mistaking ICMP behavior for packet loss
If you suspect packet loss, collect MTR or WinMTR in both directions. Hetzner asks for at least 200 packets for packet-loss reports. An intermediate hop may show apparent loss because a router ignores or limits ICMP responses; if that loss disappears at the destination, it does not alone demonstrate an end-to-end fault. Loss that continues through to the destination is more relevant to the investigation.
Hetzner’s network error-report instructions ask customers to provide traces rather than a general report that a ping is bad. Attach the bidirectional results to a support request through the Hetzner Console, select the affected server and relevant public or private network issue category. If the evidence points to a fault beyond Hetzner’s network, contact the responsible network provider too.
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Make stream settings fit measured capacity
There is no defensible universal bitrate for this case without the resolution, frame rate, encoder settings and sustained outbound capacity. Choose a bitrate the connection can reliably sustain, test before the stream, and monitor YouTube stream health while live. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you observe | What to check next |
|---|---|
| Viewers report playback problems, but the encoder remains connected | Check YouTube Live Control Room stream health and whether reports come from multiple viewers on different networks. |
| The encoder reports a disconnect or timeout | Match the UTC timestamp to encoder and server logs; test outbound connectivity to the configured ingest host and port. |
| An RTMPS SSL or certificate error appears | Verify the copied RTMPS URL, protocol and host; if supported by the encoder, test the documented port 443 configuration. |
| The server can reach the endpoint, but the stream still drops | Check Cloud Firewall and OS firewall rules, then compare sustained outbound capacity with bitrate and review resource and network events at the failure time. |
| MTR shows loss at an intermediate hop only | Check whether loss continues to the destination before treating it as an end-to-end path problem. |
Give support evidence they can act on
If outbound tests fail or bidirectional traces show loss continuing to the Hetzner destination, preserve the evidence before changing multiple settings. Include the affected server identifier, UTC disconnect times, configured ingest endpoint and port, Live Control Room messages, encoder logs, relevant resource metrics, firewall rules and both-direction MTR output. This lets support compare the symptom to a particular route, rule or service event instead of guessing from a general description.
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