To broadcast a pre-recorded video on YouTube from a Windows 11 PC, add it to an OBS Studio scene as a Media Source, connect OBS to the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio, and send the video to YouTube. If the broadcast is scheduled, check its preview in Live Control Room and click Go live when you are ready. Test the setup first, and use only audio and video you have the rights to stream.
Before you begin: check channel access and schedule
YouTube requires a verified channel for livestreaming and says the channel must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. Check access before preparing the broadcast. YouTube’s live streaming tips advise setting up encoders at least two hours ahead and starting them at least 15 minutes before a scheduled event.
In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live. Use the Stream tab for a new stream, or go to Manage → Schedule Stream to plan one for later. Scheduling can create an upcoming watch page where viewers may set a reminder. Interface labels can change, so check YouTube’s current encoder setup instructions if your Studio layout differs.
Set up the video in OBS Studio
- Create or choose a scene. In OBS, select a scene for the broadcast. A camera or capture card is not needed just to play a local video file.
- Add the file. In the Sources panel, select + → Media Source, give it a name, and choose the video file. OBS documents common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide for the source controls.
- Choose playback behavior. Turn on Loop if the video should restart after it ends; Loop is off by default. Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default. Decide whether the source should hide when playback ends; that option is also on by default. For a one-time broadcast, leave Loop off. For continuous playback, enable it and check that the transition from the end back to the beginning is acceptable.
- Check the scene and audio. Confirm the video fits the canvas as intended and that its audio is audible in the OBS mixer. Play a representative section rather than assuming the opening frame or a silent portion proves the whole file is ready.
Connect OBS to the YouTube stream
In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, obtain the stream URL and stream key for the event. In OBS, open Settings → Stream and either select YouTube if it is offered as a service, or enter YouTube’s server URL and stream key in the corresponding fields. YouTube’s encoder instructions explain where to find these details.
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Treat the stream key like a password: it tells the encoder where to send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it. Do not publish or share it. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and replace the saved key in OBS.
Choose stream settings that fit the video and connection
YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted delivery. Its current guidance for RTMP/RTMPS lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, up to 60 frames per second, CBR bitrate control, AAC or MP3 audio, and a two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. Use settings supported by your OBS output and the YouTube event. Details are in YouTube’s encoder settings guidance.
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| Setting decision | What it affects | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Visual detail and required bitrate | Choose a resolution the source supports and your upload connection can sustain. |
| Frame rate | Motion smoothness and required bitrate | Match the character of the video; YouTube’s cited encoder guidance supports up to 60 fps. |
| Bitrate | Image quality and connection headroom | Use a stable upload capacity with headroom rather than setting bitrate at the edge of what the connection can sustain. |
For 1080p30, YouTube lists these codec-specific figures in its current guidance: H.264: 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended; AV1 or H.265: 4 Mbps minimum and 10 Mbps recommended. These are YouTube recommendations and minimums, not guarantees of a stable stream on any particular connection. YouTube transcodes an incoming stream for playback across devices and network conditions.
Test, start, and end the broadcast
- Test before the event. Send representative video and audio, inspect the YouTube preview, and check stream health. YouTube recommends monitoring audio and video quality during the broadcast; do not rely only on OBS showing that it is connected.
- Start OBS streaming. Select Start Streaming in OBS to send the encoder feed to YouTube.
- Confirm the viewer-facing start. For a scheduled event, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and select Go live when ready. OBS sending video does not, by itself, mean the scheduled event has been made live for viewers.
- End cleanly. End the event in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS or the encoder as applicable. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived.
Copyright and YouTube live-stream rules
Only stream video and audio you have permission to use, including music, footage, narration, and other embedded material. YouTube provides live rights-management settings, but those controls do not grant permission to use third-party content. Its live-streaming guidance covers eligibility and event preparation; rights must be secured separately.
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Troubleshooting common problems
- You cannot start a livestream: verify the channel and check whether a live-streaming restriction applies. YouTube’s eligibility lookback is 90 days.
- YouTube does not receive the OBS feed: check that OBS has the correct event’s stream URL and key, and that the key has not been reset or mistyped. If it was exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update OBS.
- The scheduled event preview appears, but viewers do not see a live event: start the encoder, wait for the preview, then select Go live in Live Control Room.
- The video stops at the end: enable Loop in the Media Source properties if it should repeat; Loop is off by default.
- Audio or video is missing or unstable: test representative sections, inspect the OBS mixer and YouTube stream health, and reduce resolution, frame rate, or bitrate if the upload connection cannot sustain the selected output.
- The source disappears at the end: check the Media Source option that hides the source when playback ends. It is on by default; enable Loop as well if playback should continue.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want a Windows PC and home connection to keep sending the video, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the upload in the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting from a camera.
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