Choose H.264 High Profile if you want to follow YouTube’s general recommendation for pre-recorded uploads. YouTube’s upload guidance names High Profile; it does not name Main Profile as an equal alternative. That is a recommendation, not a claim that every Main Profile file will fail.
High vs. Main: what YouTube’s guidance actually says
YouTube’s general recommended upload encoding settings specify H.264 High Profile. They do not compare High and Main or endorse Main as an alternative. So, when the choice is specifically about matching YouTube’s published recommendation, select High.
The guidance does not establish that a particular Main Profile export cannot be uploaded or processed. Nor does it establish universal compatibility or quality differences between the profiles across editing software, encoders, and playback devices. If your software only offers Main, check its format documentation or test an export rather than assuming YouTube will reject it.
This recommendation concerns uploading a pre-recorded video. It is not the same workflow as sending a live stream to YouTube.
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Recommended settings for a pre-recorded upload
YouTube’s general upload page recommends the following container, video, audio, and color settings. Treat these as delivery guidance, not as a guarantee that every source should be converted to a different format or frame rate.
Container and video encoding
- Container: MP4, with no edit lists and the moov atom at the beginning of the file (“Fast Start”).
- Video codec and profile: H.264 High Profile.
- Scan: progressive.
- Frame rate: keep the frame rate used to record the video. YouTube lists 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps as common rates and says other rates are acceptable. Its guidance states: “Content should be encoded and uploaded in the same frame rate it was recorded.”
- GOP and frames: two consecutive B frames and a closed GOP, with GOP length half the frame rate.
- Entropy coding: CABAC.
- Bitrate mode: variable bitrate (VBR). YouTube says no bitrate limit is required and provides recommended rates for reference.
- Chroma: 4:2:0.
Audio and SDR color
- Audio: YouTube lists AAC-LC, Opus, or Eclipsa Audio at a 48 kHz sample rate. Channel configuration depends on the audio setup.
- SDR color: YouTube recommends BT.709.
Use the bitrate reference for your resolution and frame rate
YouTube’s SDR upload recommendations vary by resolution and frame-rate group. These are reference recommendations, not mandatory ceilings or universal quality thresholds.
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| Resolution | 24/25/30 fps | 48/50/60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 360p | 1 Mbps | 1.5 Mbps |
| 480p | 2.5 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 720p | 5 Mbps | 7.5 Mbps |
| 1080p | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 1440p | 16 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) | 35–45 Mbps | 53–68 Mbps |
| 8K | 80–160 Mbps | 120–240 Mbps |
Choose the column that matches the recorded frame rate and the row that matches the export resolution. The figures are YouTube’s recommendations for SDR; they are not a direction to raise a lower-quality source to a higher resolution.
HDR is a separate export decision
Do not treat the SDR High Profile and BT.709 recommendations as a complete HDR workflow. YouTube’s separate HDR guidance calls for correct metadata: PQ or HLG transfer function, Rec. 2020 primaries, and the Rec. 2020 non-constant-luminance matrix. It recommends VP9 Profile 2, AV1, and HEVC/H.265 for HDR, noting their support for 10-bit encoding and HDR metadata at reasonable bitrates. H.264 10-bit is listed as workable but requiring very high bitrates. Follow the dedicated YouTube HDR upload guidance when delivering HDR.
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Do not use live-stream settings for an uploaded playlist video
For a pre-recorded upload, YouTube’s general page specifies VBR. Its separate live encoder guidance specifies settings for live ingestion, including constant bitrate (CBR). Those workflows serve different purposes: do not replace the upload page’s VBR advice with live-stream CBR settings just because the uploaded video will later be played as a YouTube live stream.
YouTube also has a separate music-video encoding specification. Its figures apply to that distinct delivery context, not the general upload bitrate table above.
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Check the export if processing or color looks wrong
If your editor offers Main but not High
The general upload recommendation favors High, but it does not say that Main is categorically invalid. Consult your editor or encoder’s documentation for what its profile option produces. If uncertain, export a short sample and upload it privately or unlisted to confirm that it processes and plays as expected before preparing a long playlist.
If the color looks different after upload
Check that the transfer characteristics, color primaries, and matrix metadata match the video’s mastering. YouTube’s troubleshooting guidance points SDR creators to BT.709. For HDR, check the dedicated HDR metadata requirements rather than applying SDR settings by default. See YouTube’s upload audio and video troubleshooting guidance.
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Keep a YouTube playlist live without leaving a computer running
If your separate goal is to keep uploaded recordings playing as a 24/7 YouTube stream, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos or playlists. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. The encoding choice in this article remains an upload decision—StreamNeo does not change the recommendation to use High when following YouTube’s general upload guidance.
StreamNeo streams to YouTube and recovers automatically if YouTube drops the stream. It accepts uploads up to 4K 60fps as made, at one flat price per slot regardless of quality. The first day is free without a card, once per account. Learn more at StreamNeo or start the free day.
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