Yes. YouTube supports H.265 (HEVC) for live ingest over RTMP/RTMPS, including 4K/2160p at up to 60 fps. For that resolution and frame rate, YouTube’s current guidance lists 10 Mbps as the minimum and 35 Mbps as the recommended bitrate for H.265/AV1. These are ingest recommendations, not a guarantee that your encoder or internet connection will deliver a stable stream.
HEVC settings for a 4K/2160p 60fps YouTube Live stream
YouTube’s live encoder settings list “H.265 (HEVC)” as a supported video codec for RTMP/RTMPS streaming and include frame rates up to 60 fps. The 4K/2160p at 60 fps row in YouTube’s bitrate guidance groups H.265 with AV1. The figures below reflect YouTube’s guidance checked on October 3, 2026; the retrieved help page did not show a publication or revision date.
| Codec | 4K/2160p at 60 fps minimum bitrate | 4K/2160p at 60 fps recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.265 (HEVC) or AV1 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These values concern the video encoder’s ingest bitrate. They do not establish a guaranteed quality level for every viewer, nor do they account for instability on the upload connection. YouTube says it detects encoder settings and transcodes a live stream into formats for viewers, so the source codec you send is not necessarily the codec viewers receive. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
Configure the encoder for SDR
For a standard-dynamic-range (SDR) stream, use the settings YouTube specifies for live ingest:
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- Protocol: RTMP or RTMPS; YouTube recommends RTMPS.
- Video codec: H.265 (HEVC).
- Resolution and frame rate: 2160p at no more than 60 fps.
- Rate control: Constant bitrate (CBR).
- Keyframes: Set a 2-second interval; do not exceed 4 seconds.
- Scan: Progressive.
- Audio: AAC or MP3.
Use the encoder’s documentation for where these options appear; labels and availability differ between software, hardware and services. YouTube’s settings page includes additional advanced options, so check it alongside your encoder’s current documentation rather than assuming every encoder exposes identical controls.
Choose a bitrate your connection can sustain
The 35 Mbps recommended video bitrate is not a promise that a connection with a 35 Mbps upload test will be reliable. Upload capacity can fluctuate, and the stream needs enough stable headroom for the selected video and audio settings. YouTube advises testing upload speed, choosing a quality that fits the available connection, and trying the complete setup before the event.
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- Run an upload-speed test on the same connection and at the location you will use for the stream.
- Select a bitrate that the connection can sustain consistently, not just at its best moment. If it cannot hold YouTube’s recommended 35 Mbps video bitrate, lower the stream’s settings rather than forcing a configuration that drops frames or disconnects.
- Before going live to an audience, test with representative movement and audio. A static scene can conceal problems that appear in fast motion or more complex footage.
- Monitor YouTube’s stream health during the test and event; a supported codec does not prevent problems caused by the encoder or network.
YouTube’s live settings say 4K/2160p streams do not have the low-latency improvement option and are optimized for quality at normal latency. Confirm the latency options available for your intended stream in YouTube Studio. YouTube’s encoder settings are the reference for ingest and latency guidance.
HDR is a separate HEVC workflow
Do not apply the ordinary SDR RTMP/RTMPS bitrate table as if it were an HDR transport specification. YouTube says HDR live streaming is supported only with H.265/HEVC, but its HDR requirements describe a separate workflow: HLS delivery, 10-bit video, BT.2020 color primaries and matrix, and PQ or HLG transfer characteristics. The HDR page also specifies TS segments of 1–4 seconds along with playlist and HTTPS requirements.
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If you are producing HDR, follow YouTube’s dedicated HDR live streaming requirements and the documentation for an encoder compatible with those requirements. A setting that works for SDR over RTMP/RTMPS is not, on its own, evidence that an HDR stream is configured correctly.
Encoder choice: software, hardware or a service
YouTube does not require one particular encoder, computer, capture card or router for HEVC ingest; the encoder must support the configuration you intend to send. YouTube’s encoder list includes AWS Elemental MediaLive as an example of a service supporting live video up to 4Kp60 HEVC. That example establishes a supported option, not a requirement to use it. Check YouTube’s encoder setup and listing and the chosen encoder’s own documentation for current capabilities.
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Troubleshoot a 4K60 HEVC stream
- You cannot select HEVC: The encoder may not support H.265 live output, or the option may be unavailable in that encoder or configuration. Check the encoder’s current documentation and select another YouTube-supported configuration if necessary.
- The stream drops frames or disconnects: The upload connection may not sustain the chosen bitrate, or the encoder may be overloaded. Test the full path, check stream health, and reduce the load or bitrate until the stream is stable.
- YouTube reports an encoder or keyframe issue: Confirm CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval, which should not exceed 4 seconds, then check the encoder output settings.
- HDR color looks wrong or the stream will not start: Verify the dedicated HDR requirements, including 10-bit video, BT.2020 and PQ or HLG, HLS delivery and the required segments and playlists. The SDR ingest configuration alone is insufficient.
- The stream does not feel low-latency: YouTube’s settings state that 4K streams lack the low-latency improvement option and are optimized for quality at normal latency.
Copyright and programming rights still apply
HEVC is an encoding choice, not permission to broadcast the content. Before streaming a documentary, film, soundtrack or other material, make sure you have the necessary rights for live transmission on YouTube. A technically valid stream can still face copyright enforcement if its content is not authorized.
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