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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live in 4K at 60 fps, create a live event in YouTube Studio, add the video as a repeating media source in OBS, choose an NVIDIA NVENC encoder available on your system, and configure the output for 3840×2160 at 60 fps. Use YouTube’s recommended ingest bitrate for your chosen codec, a constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval. Test the stream before broadcasting and monitor its health while it runs.
This guide uses OBS as the local encoder. The exact controls can vary by OBS version and GPU, so confirm the labels and options shown by your installed software rather than assuming every system offers the same NVENC modes.
Before you start
You need a prerecorded video, a system with an NVIDIA GPU and an NVENC option exposed in OBS, a stable internet connection with enough upload capacity, and a YouTube channel able to stream live. OBS is listed by YouTube as open-source software available at no charge. You do not need to buy a capture card for this prerecorded-video workflow.
- Check that the video is suitable for a 4K, 60 fps broadcast. A 4K60 output setting does not add detail or motion information absent from the source.
- Allow time to activate live streaming if this is the channel’s first broadcast. YouTube says initial activation may take up to 24 hours.
- Check that the source video and any music or other material are cleared for live streaming and replay. A technical test does not establish that you have the rights to broadcast the content.
- Make sure your upload connection can sustain the selected video bitrate plus audio and network overhead. YouTube’s bitrate figures are encoder recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular connection will remain stable.
For YouTube’s current codec-specific settings and test guidance, see Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. YouTube’s encoder instructions are at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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1. Create the YouTube live event and get its connection details
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Live Control Room. If prompted, enable live streaming and wait for activation.
- Create or schedule the live stream. For a first test, choose a private or unlisted event as appropriate for your channel and audience.
- In the event’s stream settings, copy the stream URL and stream key. The URL tells OBS where to send the feed; the key identifies the feed to YouTube.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password: do not show it in screenshots, recordings, or a published walkthrough. You can review YouTube’s stream settings guidance at Manage live stream settings.
2. Add the video as a repeating OBS source
- In OBS, select or create the scene you want to broadcast.
- Add the prerecorded file as a media source. The source’s loop or repeat control should be enabled so playback starts again when it reaches the end.
- Fit the source to the canvas while preserving its aspect ratio. Avoid stretching a 16:9 video into a different shape; use a suitable canvas or accept unused space rather than distorting the picture.
- Play the scene locally and check the first-to-last transition. Look for a black flash, abrupt audio cut, or a gap before playback restarts.
OBS control names can change between releases. Confirm the media-source options in your installed OBS version; the YouTube and OBS documentation cited here does not establish a timeless, version-independent checkbox sequence.
3. Set the video canvas and output to 4K60
In OBS video settings, set both the base (canvas) resolution and output resolution to 3840×2160 if the source, GPU, and connection can sustain that output. Set the frame rate to 60 fps. Use progressive scan and square pixels; for ordinary SDR material, select Rec. 709 color and 8-bit output.
Do not force 4K60 simply because it is the target. If OBS reports rendering or encoding overload, or YouTube reports an unstable stream, test a lower frame rate or resolution and identify the bottleneck before returning to 4K60. A smaller, stable broadcast is preferable to a nominal 4K60 feed that repeatedly drops frames.
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4. Configure NVENC and YouTube’s ingest settings
In OBS’s streaming output settings, choose an NVIDIA NVENC encoder option actually available in your installed OBS build and on your GPU. Match the codec, bitrate, rate control, and keyframe interval to YouTube’s live ingest recommendations. YouTube’s current English settings page, accessed in 2026, gives these 2160p60 values:
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Codec | YouTube-recommended video bitrate at 2160p60 | Listed minimum | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps | Broad compatibility choice; the recommended figure requires substantial, consistent upload capacity. |
| H.265 / HEVC | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Use only if your GPU, OBS build, and YouTube ingest workflow offer and support it. |
| AV1 | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Use only if the encoder and destination workflow support it. YouTube says AV1 is not supported for HDR. |
These are YouTube’s encoder recommendations, not promised viewer playback rates. The lower listed minimum is not a target for matching the recommended quality. Do not infer that HEVC or AV1 will always look better than H.264; the usable choice depends on encoder and destination support, content, connection stability, and observed results. See YouTube’s live encoder settings for the current table.
- Rate control: CBR (constant bitrate).
- Keyframes: set a two-second interval. YouTube recommends two seconds and specifies no more than four seconds.
- Protocol: use RTMPS where available; YouTube supports RTMP/RTMPS.
- Preset: choose a mode your GPU can sustain. There is no universal NVENC preset for every GPU generation, OBS version, workload, and content type.
For standard SDR, keep the output simple: Rec. 709, 8-bit, progressive scan. YouTube’s recommended advanced frame settings include two B-frames and one reference frame, where those controls are available. HDR is a separate workflow: YouTube recommends H.265/HEVC and 10-bit for HDR, and states AV1 is not supported for HDR. Do not switch to HDR unless the source and complete encoding path are prepared for it.
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OBS’s Advanced NVENC Options (31.0), dated August 21, 2024, documents additional controls introduced in OBS 31.0, including target-quality rate control, Ultra High Quality tuning, and Adaptive Quantization. Availability depends on the GPU, codec, and OBS build; these advanced options are not prerequisites for a basic YouTube live loop.
5. Set audio and connect OBS to YouTube
YouTube accepts AAC or MP3 audio. Its settings page lists 128 Kbps for stereo audio, 44.1 kHz for stereo, and 48 kHz for 5.1. Use settings supported by the source and encoder, and listen for clipping, silence, or a loop seam during the test.
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- In OBS’s stream settings, select the YouTube service if offered, then enter or select the stream URL and provide the stream key from Live Control Room. If the interface asks for a server and key separately, put each value in its matching field.
- Double-check the destination event and key before starting. Never paste the key into a public chat or expose it on screen.
- Start streaming from OBS. Return to Live Control Room and confirm that YouTube receives the feed before starting the public event.
Labels and connection flows vary with OBS releases and service integrations. Follow the fields shown in the installed version and YouTube’s current encoder instructions rather than copying an outdated screenshot.
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6. Test the loop before broadcasting
YouTube recommends testing with representative movement and audio, then checking stream health and messages. Use the same scene, video, codec, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate you intend to use for the real broadcast.
- Confirm YouTube detects 2160p60 and that the picture is not stretched, cropped unexpectedly, or visibly corrupted.
- Watch the loop boundary at least once: check for a blank frame, stalled playback, abrupt audio discontinuity, or a source that stops instead of repeating.
- Listen to representative audio and confirm that levels remain consistent and sound does not cut out or drift.
- Check OBS for rendering or encoding lag and YouTube Live Control Room for stream-health warnings or messages.
- Keep the test running long enough to expose instability; a clean start alone does not demonstrate that a long broadcast will remain healthy.
YouTube documents DVR controls that let viewers pause and resume a live stream. Consider how DVR affects the viewing experience for a continuous loop, and check the event’s available settings at Manage live stream settings.
7. Monitor a long-running broadcast
A local OBS loop depends on the computer, encoder, source file, and internet connection continuing to work. During a long stream, periodically check OBS’s rendering and encoding load, confirm the media source is still advancing, and review YouTube’s stream health and messages. Do not treat a short successful test as proof of uninterrupted 24/7 operation.
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YouTube’s current live settings page says 2160p streams cannot use the low-latency option and are set to normal latency. That matters if viewers expect near-real-time interaction; 4K60 and low latency are not available together under that setting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting: common 4K60 loop problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive the stream | Wrong stream URL or key, wrong event, or live streaming not activated | Recheck the active event’s URL and key in Live Control Room; verify activation if this is the channel’s first stream. Keep the key private. |
| Stream health warns about bitrate or connection | Upload capacity is insufficient or fluctuating for the selected bitrate and overhead | Check the actual upload connection and OBS/YouTube status. Reduce bitrate, resolution, or frame rate until stable, then test again. |
| OBS reports encoding or rendering lag | The selected 4K60 workload or encoder mode exceeds available system capacity | Check OBS load and the available NVENC choices. Try a less demanding supported mode, lower output settings, or a simpler scene; retest before going public. |
| Picture is distorted or has bars/cropping | Source and canvas aspect ratios differ or the source was stretched | Fit the source without changing its aspect ratio; use a canvas appropriate to the content rather than forcing a fill that distorts it. |
| Playback stops at the end | The media source is not configured to repeat, or the source has stopped | Check the media source’s loop/repeat option in your OBS version, then observe a full end-to-start transition in a test. |
| Audio cuts at the loop point or disappears | Source audio has a discontinuity, audio settings do not match the workflow, or the source is not looping as expected | Listen through a full loop, inspect source and OBS audio levels, and test accepted AAC or MP3 settings with YouTube’s listed sample rate and stereo bitrate. |
| HDR looks wrong or AV1 is unavailable for HDR | Color depth, codec, or HDR support is mismatched | For ordinary SDR, use Rec. 709 and 8-bit. For HDR, YouTube recommends HEVC and 10-bit; its page says AV1 is not supported for HDR. |
Cost and operating trade-offs
OBS is free, but a local 4K60 broadcast still uses your own compatible system, electricity, and upload connection for as long as it runs. YouTube’s bitrate recommendations also mean the connection must sustain a substantial continuous upload for the selected codec. If you already have the hardware and want direct control of the scene and encoder, OBS is the do-it-yourself route; if you do not want a home computer and connection to be part of an always-on stream, a cloud service is a different operating model.
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Copyright and channel-policy checks for looped video
Technical compliance with YouTube’s ingest settings does not grant rights to a video, soundtrack, documentary clip, or other material. Before leaving a loop running, confirm you have permission for the content and any music, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization policies. Repeating a video does not change its ownership or make it exempt from those rules. YouTube’s live encoder setup guide is available at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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