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There is no published maximum local file size for a pre-recorded video played in OBS and sent to YouTube Live. OBS reads and decodes the file on your computer; YouTube receives the encoded live stream, not the source file. In practice, the limits are your available storage, the computer’s ability to play the file, your stream’s duration, and the stability of your upload connection—not a stated YouTube source-file cap.
Why the source file size is different from the live stream
When you add a video as an OBS Media Source, the file stays on your computer. OBS plays it and encodes the program output for delivery to YouTube. The outgoing stream has its own resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate settings; those settings do not establish a maximum size for the local recording.
This distinction is an inference from the documented OBS-to-live workflow, not an explicit YouTube guarantee. The official OBS and YouTube pages reviewed do not give a numeric maximum for a local pre-recorded source file.
YouTube’s recommendations for uploading a finished video through YouTube Studio describe a separate workflow. They should not be treated as a file-size cap for streaming a local OBS source live.
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What determines whether a large file works?
Storage and local playback
Your computer needs enough free storage for the file, and OBS must be able to read and decode it smoothly. OBS documents Media Source support for MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Its Media Sources guidance does not specify a maximum file size or duration. Media Source controls include looping and restarting playback when the source becomes active.
Outgoing stream settings and upload capacity
The stream bitrate is the amount of encoded data OBS sends per second; it is not the size of the original file. YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 options, supports frame rates up to 60 fps, recommends a 2-second keyframe interval (no more than 4 seconds), and recommends CBR for RTMP/RTMPS. For H.264, YouTube’s current guidance lists 14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps.
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| H.264 live output | YouTube recommended bitrate |
|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
These are recommended live-ingest bitrates, not requirements for the source file. For other codecs, resolutions, or frame rates, use YouTube’s encoder settings guidance rather than extrapolating from these two examples.
Stream duration and automatic archives
YouTube says it can automatically archive a live stream if it is less than 12 hours; a stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. This is an archive limitation, not a source-file size limit. If keeping a complete recording matters, make and check a local recording rather than relying only on YouTube’s automatic archive.
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Set up OBS and YouTube Live for a local video
- Confirm live access. YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. Check access in YouTube Studio before preparing a long broadcast.
- Add the file in OBS. In the Sources panel, select + → Media Source, create or select a source, and browse to the local video. Enable looping if you want it to repeat. Check the preview and audio before going live.
- Configure the outgoing stream. In OBS, open Settings → Output and set the encoder and bitrate appropriate for your chosen output. Set resolution and frame rate under Settings → Video. For RTMP/RTMPS, use CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval; do not exceed YouTube’s recommended maximum of 4 seconds. Match the codec, resolution, and frame rate to YouTube’s live encoder guidance.
- Connect the stream key. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service, and connect the account or enter the stream key from YouTube Studio. Treat the key like a password; anyone with access to it may be able to stream to your channel.
- Leave upload headroom. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend upload capacity 20% above the stream bitrate and warn that a shared network can reduce the bandwidth available to your computer. YouTube also recommends running a speed test to test your upload bitrate.
- Test before the broadcast. Start a test stream, verify video and audio playback, and monitor stream health in YouTube Studio. If you are making a local recording as a backup, check that the recording is intact and that its file size is growing during the test.
Common problems and fixes
- OBS stutters or the video freezes: The computer may be struggling to read or decode the file. Test playback before going live, close unnecessary workloads, and try a format and resolution your system can handle smoothly.
- YouTube reports poor stream health or dropped frames: The available upload bandwidth may be too close to the stream bitrate, or other devices may be using the connection. Re-run a speed test, reduce the outgoing bitrate if needed, and preserve YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom.
- The source plays once and then stops: Check the Media Source’s looping setting. If you need a playlist rather than one repeating file, confirm that the selected OBS source and workflow support the playback behavior you intend before starting.
- The automatic YouTube archive is missing or incomplete: If the broadcast exceeded 12 hours, YouTube may not have captured it. Keep a local recording when a complete archive is important and verify that it is being written.
- You cannot start a live stream: Check channel verification and whether a live-streaming restriction has applied within the previous 90 days.
Copyright and reused-content considerations
Using OBS to play a video does not change the rights attached to its music, footage, or other material. Make sure you have the necessary rights or permissions for everything in the broadcast. YouTube’s monetization policies also assess a channel’s content, including reused material; permission to use a clip does not by itself establish that a channel meets monetization requirements. Review YouTube’s current policies before building a channel around repeated or third-party content.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a prerecorded YouTube stream running without leaving a computer on, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.
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Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB of storage per slot pooled across active slots, looping and playlists, and support from the StreamNeo team. UPI and cards are accepted in India; card checkout is available worldwide. See StreamNeo, then start your free first day.
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Official guidance
- YouTube: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
- OBS Project: Media Sources
- YouTube: Archive live streams
- YouTube: Streaming tips
- YouTube: Recommended upload encoding settings
- YouTube: Get started with live streaming
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