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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesYes. You can send a pre-recorded video to a YouTube Live event through encoder software: schedule or create the stream in YouTube Studio, connect the encoder using YouTube’s stream URL and stream key, then play the file through the encoder. If you want YouTube to schedule an uploaded video for a viewing event instead, use a Premiere.
Can you stream pre-recorded videos on YouTube Live?
Yes. YouTube Live can carry a video feed sent by an encoder, including playback of a recorded video. YouTube’s setup instructions explain how to connect an encoder; loading, playing, and looping a file are controlled by the encoder you choose, not by one universal YouTube setting. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
An encoder-fed Live event uses a live-stream watch page and can include live chat. If you simply want to schedule an uploaded video as a viewing event, a YouTube Premiere may be a better fit.
What you need before scheduling
- A channel that is verified and has not had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days.
- A person operating the stream who is at least 16 years old.
- An encoder that can play your video file and send its audio and video to YouTube.
- The rights to stream every part of the recording, including music, footage, images, and other third-party material.
YouTube states these eligibility requirements in its live-streaming getting-started guidance. Check the current requirements in Studio before a time-sensitive event, since platform interfaces and rules can change.
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How to stream a pre-recorded video as a YouTube Live event
- Check channel eligibility. Sign in to YouTube Studio and confirm that live streaming is available for your channel. Make sure the operator meets YouTube’s minimum age requirement.
- Create or schedule the event. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create a stream or schedule one for later. Scheduling gives viewers an upcoming event page where they can find the broadcast and opt into notifications. See YouTube’s live stream settings guidance.
- Copy the stream URL and key into your encoder. Configure the encoder to send its feed to the YouTube stream URL and use the corresponding stream key. Treat the key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send a feed to your channel. YouTube describes this connection in its encoder setup instructions.
- Load the recording in the encoder. Use the encoder’s own documented media or file-playback feature. Select the intended video, confirm the audio source is included, and set any playback or looping options there. The exact controls differ by encoder; YouTube does not specify one set of file-loading steps that applies to all of them.
- Preview before starting. Check the outgoing picture and sound in Live Control Room, then monitor the feed as it begins. YouTube’s live streaming tips recommend previewing and monitoring audio and video quality.
- End the broadcast from the encoder. When the event is over, stop sending the feed. If you need a replay, check the archive settings and keep a separate local recording as backup.
Live stream or Premiere: which should you choose?
| Choose | Best suited to | What the format does |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder-fed Live stream | A broadcast that should appear as a live event, with a live-stream watch page and live-event tools such as chat. | An encoder sends the video feed to YouTube using the stream URL and key. |
| Premiere | A scheduled viewing of a video you upload, rather than a feed sent from an encoder. | YouTube schedules the uploaded video as a Premiere; see YouTube’s Premiere guidance. |
YouTube’s live stream settings documentation refers to scheduling both live streams and Premieres. Choose based on whether you need an encoder-fed broadcast or want to schedule an uploaded video.
Copyright and other policy risks
You are responsible for having the necessary rights to stream the recording. YouTube’s live-stream terms say creators must have the rights needed to use Live Content on Google services, including applicable music licensing rights. A video being pre-recorded does not remove that obligation.
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YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. A match may result in a placeholder image, a warning, a temporary interruption, or termination of the stream. If you have licensed material, YouTube advises asking the rights owner to add your channel to its allowlist; a license alone may not prevent an interruption if the channel has not been allowlisted. See YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
Live streams must also follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Monetization is not automatic: live-stream ads and fan-funding features depend on channel eligibility and applicable policies. YouTube’s channel monetization policies cover live streams, but they do not guarantee that a particular prerecorded broadcast will earn revenue.
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Will YouTube save the live stream?
YouTube says it can automatically archive live streams shorter than 12 hours. Streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all, so keep a local recording if preserving the full event matters. See YouTube’s archive guidance and confirm the replay is available after the broadcast.
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