To stream 4K at 60 frames per second to YouTube from OBS, use the YouTube stream-key workflow, set OBS to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, and configure an available H.264 encoder for CBR with a 2-second keyframe interval. YouTube’s recommended H.264 bitrate for 2160p60 differs between regional versions of its help page, so check the current page for your region and test your upload before going live.
Before you configure OBS
This setup is for a live video signal encoded as H.264 and sent to YouTube at 3840Ă—2160, 60 fps. Your source, encoder and connection must all sustain that output. YouTube recommends choosing an encoder configuration that is reliable for the available connection; a speed test and a realistic preflight stream help reveal whether yours can maintain it.
Use OBS’s stream-key workflow rather than its direct YouTube setup path for this 4K configuration. The OBS resource describing direct YouTube setup says that particular path does not support 4K. YouTube detects resolution and frame rate automatically by default; a custom stream key can be configured for manual resolution selection. YouTube: Set up your encoder for live streaming · OBS: YouTube setup guide
Configure YouTube and OBS
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Create or select a YouTube stream key
In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select a stream key for the broadcast. Copy the key and keep it private: anyone with access to it may be able to send a stream to your channel. Use a custom key if you need manual resolution selection; otherwise YouTube detects the incoming resolution and frame rate automatically.
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Set OBS video output
In OBS, open Settings → Video. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution to 3840×2160, and set Common FPS Values to 60. These settings assume your video source is suitable for 4K60 and your system can render and encode it without dropped frames.
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Choose the stream-key connection
Open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service, and use the stream-key option. Paste the key from Live Control Room into OBS. Choose RTMPS when it is available. Do not share the key in screenshots, public chat or recordings.
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Set H.264 output
Open Settings → Output and select the Streaming tab. Choose an available H.264 encoder. OBS systems vary, so select an encoder your machine supports and verify its performance during a test; no single hardware or software encoder is best for every PC. Set Rate Control to CBR, set Keyframe Interval to 2 s, and enter a video bitrate guided by the regional YouTube recommendation and your sustained upload capacity.
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Set SDR color and advanced H.264 options
For SDR, YouTube recommends progressive scan, square pixels, Rec. 709 color and 8-bit depth. Its advanced H.264 recommendations include CABAC, two B-frames and one reference frame. Where these options are exposed by the selected encoder in OBS, configure them accordingly; available controls can differ by encoder.
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Configure audio
For stereo, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps. Keep this separate from a 5.1-channel setup: YouTube lists 48 kHz and 384 Kbps for 5.1, and RTMP/RTMPS 5.1 is supported only with AAC.
Choose a bitrate without treating regional guidance as one universal number
YouTube’s official help page has surfaced different H.264 recommendations for the same 2160p60 setting: one regional version lists 14 Mbps minimum and 50 Mbps recommended, while another English regional result lists 35 Mbps recommended. These figures should not be combined or treated as a single worldwide recommendation. Check the current YouTube help page for your region and follow its 2160p60 H.264 guidance.
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Whichever recommendation applies, confirm that your connection can sustain the selected video bitrate plus audio and network overhead. A speed test is useful, but a preflight stream is a better check of the complete OBS-to-YouTube path. YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Test the stream before the broadcast
- Start a preflight stream using representative footage, motion and audio rather than a static desktop.
- Check YouTube Live Control Room for stream health and status messages, and watch OBS for encoding or rendering problems.
- Confirm the received stream is 3840Ă—2160 at 60 fps and that audio is present and synchronized.
- If the test shows unstable delivery or encoding strain, reduce the load or address the connection or system bottleneck, then test again before the live event.
At 4K/2160p, YouTube’s low-latency option is unavailable; the stream uses normal latency. YouTube: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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Troubleshoot common 4K60 problems
- YouTube does not receive a 4K signal: Confirm OBS’s output resolution is 3840×2160, verify the source supports that resolution, and use the stream-key workflow rather than the direct setup path described in the OBS guide.
- Stream health reports instability: Compare the bitrate you configured with the current regional YouTube recommendation and verify sustained upload capacity with a realistic preflight stream. A brief speed-test result alone does not establish that the connection will remain stable throughout a broadcast.
- OBS drops frames or struggles to encode: Check whether the selected H.264 encoder can sustain 4K60 on your system under the actual broadcast workload. Try another available encoder or reduce output demands, then test again.
- Keyframe or rate-control warning: Check that the encoder uses CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval. YouTube recommends a 2-second interval and allows up to 4 seconds.
- No picture or the stream will not connect: Recheck the stream key in OBS and YouTube, confirm the selected service and RTMPS connection where available, and verify the stream is started in both OBS and Live Control Room as required for your workflow.
- Audio is missing or incompatible: Check that OBS is sending an audio track and that the format matches the intended channel setup. Use the stereo settings for stereo; for 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS, use AAC.
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