You can send a prerecorded video stream to YouTube around the clock from a Hetzner Cloud virtual machine by creating a YouTube live stream, running an encoder such as FFmpeg on the VM, and supervising that process. The VM needs outbound access to YouTube’s ingest endpoint, enough CPU if it must transcode, and enough included outbound traffic for the selected bitrate. Hetzner and YouTube do not document or guarantee a specific end-to-end Hetzner recipe, so test the exact media, settings, and recovery behavior before relying on it.
What you need before starting
- A YouTube channel eligible for live streaming. YouTube requires channel verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days; its getting-started guidance also sets a minimum age of 16. First-time enablement can take up to 24 hours. See YouTube’s live-streaming getting-started guide.
- A Hetzner Cloud VM with a public network interface and outbound connectivity. Hetzner describes Cloud servers as virtual machines; a public IP is needed for a public network interface. See Hetzner Cloud server overview.
- The video or playlist files available to the VM, an encoder or remuxer, and a protected way to supply your YouTube stream key.
- A plan and location whose compute resources and traffic allowance suit the workload. Hetzner does not publish a minimum FFmpeg VM size for this use, so verify performance with your actual source and settings.
Create a YouTube live stream and protect its key
- Open YouTube Live Control Room, create or schedule a stream, and follow the channel’s live-stream enablement steps if prompted. Allow up to 24 hours for first-time enablement.
- Copy the ingest URL and stream key shown in Live Control Room. The URL goes in the encoder destination; the key identifies the stream.
- Store the key in a root-readable configuration file or an environment secret on the VM. Do not commit it to a repository, paste it into a public shell transcript, or show it in a screenshot. Treat it like a password and rotate it in YouTube if exposed.
YouTube’s encoder settings guidance recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP. Use the ingest URL YouTube supplies for the stream rather than guessing an endpoint.
Choose a source and encoding approach
Remux when the file already fits
If the prerecorded file’s codecs and stream characteristics already suit YouTube’s ingest requirements, remuxing can avoid the extra CPU load of re-encoding. Whether a particular file can be remuxed reliably depends on its format and stream parameters; test it with the exact file and installed FFmpeg build.
Transcode when the source does not fit
Transcoding converts the source to the desired video and audio codecs, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate, but uses CPU or any supported hardware encoder. A low-cost VM may not encode every source in real time. Check CPU load and dropped frames during a sustained test before choosing a plan.
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Make the source continuous
Keep the media on the VM or make it reliably accessible, and configure the input to repeat or provide a continuous playlist. Check what happens at the end of each file: gaps, a black frame, missing audio, or a failed process can interrupt the broadcast even when the VM itself is running.
Set YouTube-compatible video and audio parameters
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest; H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant-bitrate encoding; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Use the table on YouTube’s encoder settings page for the exact resolution, frame rate, and codec you plan to send.
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| Output | Codec | YouTube minimum bitrate | YouTube recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | H.264 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p30 | AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
These are YouTube Help’s encoder guidance values, accessed in 2026. They are not guarantees of picture quality or of a particular VM’s encoding capacity. A higher bitrate generally requires more outbound traffic; choose based on the source, audience, and YouTube’s table rather than assuming the largest number is best.
Install FFmpeg and run a protected test
Install FFmpeg using the package method supported by your VM’s operating system, then check that the installed build includes the codecs you intend to use. YouTube specifies ingest recommendations, not a tested Hetzner command, and FFmpeg options vary with build and workflow. The following is a template only: replace the bracketed placeholders, use the actual values for your file, and inject the key from a protected secret rather than typing it into a command saved in shell history.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "[path-to-video]"
-c:v libx264 -b:v [video-bitrate] -minrate [video-bitrate] -maxrate [video-bitrate] -bufsize [buffer-size]
-g [keyframe-interval-in-frames] -c:a aac -b:a [audio-bitrate]
-f flv "[YouTube-RTMPS-ingest-URL]/[STREAM_KEY_FROM_SECRET]"This illustrates a looping, real-time input and an H.264/AAC RTMP-style output; it is not a ready-to-run recipe. Set the keyframe interval in frames to match the chosen frame rate and YouTube’s recommended two-second interval, and check the installed FFmpeg documentation for correct option behavior. Configure constant bitrate and codec parameters appropriately for the selected encoder. For remuxing, use compatible copy options only after confirming the source streams meet YouTube’s requirements. Avoid putting a live key directly in a command line where it may be visible in process listings or logs; a protected configuration or secret-injection method is safer.
Estimate traffic before choosing a Hetzner plan
A continuous 5 Mbps video payload uses about 1.62 TB over 30 days in decimal units: 5,000,000 bits per second Ă— 2,592,000 seconds Ă· 8 = 1,620,000,000,000 bytes. This is arithmetic for video payload alone; audio and protocol overhead increase the total. Each additional independent output generally adds its own outbound traffic.
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Hetzner’s traffic documentation lists 20 TB for several EU Cloud server families, with plan-dependent allowances in other regions, including the US and Singapore. The figures and included amounts can change, so check the current allowance for the exact product and location before ordering: Hetzner traffic documentation. Hetzner’s traffic billing FAQ says outgoing traffic beyond the included amount may be charged; usage notifications at 75% and 100% do not cap or stop traffic. Confirm current order-page prices and terms rather than treating a traffic alert as a safeguard.
Compare the monthly server cost and included egress with the expected bitrate and number of simultaneous streams. Also weigh compute capacity and network placement for your audience; a large traffic allowance alone does not establish encoding performance or ingest reliability.
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Keep the stream supervised and prove recovery
A running VM is not proof that YouTube is receiving a healthy stream. Run FFmpeg under a process supervisor configured to restart it after failure, and monitor process state, CPU, disk space, outbound traffic, and the stream’s health in YouTube Live Control Room. YouTube recommends checking the preview, testing before going live, and monitoring stream quality; it does not prescribe a specific process supervisor.
- Test the full playlist and verify that audio and video remain continuous through file transitions.
- Watch the YouTube preview and stream-health indicators during a sustained run.
- Stop and restart the encoder deliberately, then confirm that the stream recovers as expected.
- Reboot the VM and verify that the supervisor starts the process and the source is still available.
- Check logs and traffic during the test, and confirm that a failed restart or exhausted disk space raises an alert you will see.
YouTube’s encoder directory lists Gyre as a cloud-based tool for 24/7 prerecorded-video streaming and describes CamStreamer’s continuous 24/7 stream use case for cameras. Those examples show that continuous streaming is a recognized use case; they do not mean YouTube endorses every custom Hetzner configuration or guarantees a particular server’s uptime. See YouTube’s encoder directory.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube never shows a preview | Wrong ingest URL or key, disabled live streaming, or blocked outbound connectivity | Recheck the URL and key in Live Control Room, confirm the account is enabled, and test outbound access from the VM. |
| Stream connects but YouTube reports poor health | Bitrate, keyframe interval, codec, or network delivery does not match the chosen settings | Compare the output with YouTube’s table for the exact codec, resolution, and frame rate; use CBR and keep keyframes within the recommended interval. |
| Video stalls or audio disappears at a loop boundary | Input looping or playlist transition is not seamless, or the source lacks a compatible audio/video stream | Test the file boundary, inspect the source streams, and adjust the playlist or encoding approach. |
| Encoder exits or falls behind | Insufficient compute for transcoding, incompatible input, or resource exhaustion | Inspect FFmpeg logs and CPU, test remuxing if the source already fits, or use a VM with more suitable resources. |
| Stream stops after the VM or network recovers | Encoder process did not restart or reconnect, or the source is no longer available | Check supervisor configuration and logs, verify the input path, and test restart behavior rather than assuming the VM reboot restored the broadcast. |
| Unexpected traffic charges or allowance exhaustion | Actual bitrate, audio, overhead, or multiple outputs exceeded the estimate | Measure outbound usage, recalculate from the actual streams, and recheck the current allowance and billing terms for the selected plan and region. |
Check YouTube’s content rules before looping a documentary
A technically healthy stream can still cause a policy or rights problem. Only stream material you own or are authorized to use, including its music and other embedded content. YouTube’s encoder guidance covers technical settings, not permission to rebroadcast a film. Review YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization policies for your channel and content; a continuous loop does not make copyrighted or reused material permissible.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you would rather not maintain a Hetzner VM and encoder, 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. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams from uploaded videos, not camera broadcasts. Start your free first day with StreamNeo.
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