Owncast and YouTube are separate streaming destinations, so they need separate server URLs and stream keys. To broadcast to Owncast, send your encoder to Owncast’s RTMP endpoint—usually rtmp://<owncast-host>:1935/live—with an Owncast key. To broadcast to YouTube, use the server URL and key for a YouTube Live stream from YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. A normal encoder output configured for one destination does not automatically send to the other.
Know which URL and key go with each service
Your encoder sends video to a destination. Owncast’s URL and key identify your Owncast server; YouTube’s URL and key identify a YouTube Live stream. Do not swap or reuse them. If you want the same program to appear on both services, you need a multi-output workflow or a relay in addition to the basic single-destination setup.
| Destination | Server URL | Stream key |
|---|---|---|
| Owncast | Your Owncast RTMP address, normally using port 1935 and the /live path |
From Owncast’s admin interface under Configuration > Server Setup > Stream Keys |
| YouTube | The server URL shown for the selected stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room | The key shown for that YouTube stream in Live Control Room |
Send an encoder to Owncast
1. Find the Owncast ingest address and key
Owncast documents RTMP ingest on TCP port 1935 by default and the /live path. In the admin interface, open Configuration > Server Setup > Stream Keys and copy the key you intend to use. Owncast can manage multiple keys. Keep each key private; if a key is exposed, replace it in Owncast and update the encoder that uses it.
The usual encoder setup separates the base server address from the key. For a server whose host is owncast.example.com, the base URL would be rtmp://owncast.example.com:1935/live; enter the selected Owncast key in the encoder’s separate key field. Owncast also documents a full-URL form with the key appended to the /live/ path, but use the format expected by your encoder rather than entering the key twice.
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2. Configure OBS
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream.
- Choose Custom as the service.
- Set Server to
rtmp://<owncast-host>:1935/live, replacing the example with the publicly reachable hostname or address of your Owncast server. - Paste the matching Owncast key into Stream Key, then apply the settings.
- Start streaming in OBS. Check the Owncast page or status display to confirm the incoming broadcast is visible.
Other RTMP-compatible broadcasting software can generally be used, but Owncast notes that it has not tested every application. Its documented OBS and Streamlabs workflow uses a custom server and key. Choose output resolution and bitrate that your Owncast server and upload connection can sustain; higher settings can increase server processing and network demands.
3. Check network reachability
If Owncast is behind a firewall or cloud security group, allow inbound TCP traffic to port 1935 for RTMP ingest. Owncast’s installation documentation lists port 1935 for RTMP and port 8080 for its web interface; the web port is not a substitute for the RTMP ingest port. If you use a hosting provider or reverse proxy, verify that the address and port you enter are reachable from the encoder’s network.
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Send an encoder to YouTube
- Open YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live, and open or create the stream in Live Control Room.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that specific YouTube stream.
- In your encoder’s stream or custom-destination settings, enter YouTube’s server URL in the server field and the YouTube key in the key field. Do not enter Owncast’s endpoint or key here.
- Start the encoder and check Live Control Room for the incoming preview.
- If the YouTube stream is scheduled, wait for its preview to appear and then click Go live in Live Control Room when you are ready to publish.
YouTube recommends RTMPS—RTMP protected by TLS/SSL—when the encoder supports it. Use the RTMPS URL provided in Live Control Room for the YouTube destination. YouTube notes that the default displayed URL may be ordinary RTMP. Owncast’s cited ingest instructions document RTMP, so do not assume that YouTube’s RTMPS URL can replace Owncast’s endpoint; configure protocol and destination separately for each output.
Broadcast to Owncast and YouTube at the same time
The single-output steps above configure one destination at a time. For a simultaneous broadcast, choose software that supports multiple concurrent outputs or use a relay capable of sending to both destinations. Confirm that the option supports the required protocols, especially RTMPS for YouTube if you plan to use it, and that your upload connection can carry the resulting streams. A direct multi-output setup sends from your encoder; a relay sends the program through a third party, which adds another service and possible cost.
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Owncast documents a paid Restream account as one custom-RTMP route for sending to Owncast. That route requires Owncast port 1935 to be publicly reachable. It is an option, not a requirement for every dual-output setup; check the current functionality and terms of any service you choose.
Protect your keys and avoid common setup errors
- Never use the initial Owncast credentials as permanent credentials. Owncast’s first-stream documentation identifies
abc123as the initial default stream key and admin password and recommends changing both immediately. The key and password are separate credentials; change them and do not publish or reuse the default key. - Confirm the destination before starting. An Owncast key belongs with the Owncast server URL; a YouTube key belongs with the YouTube URL for its selected stream.
- Check the Owncast path and port. The documented default is port 1935 with the
/livepath. A missing path, wrong port, or blocked inbound port can prevent the connection. - For a scheduled YouTube stream, distinguish preview from publication. An encoder preview may arrive before the operator presses Go live in Live Control Room.
- Do not substitute RTMPS indiscriminately. Use YouTube’s RTMPS URL for YouTube when supported; Owncast’s documented endpoint is RTMP.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Owncast never shows an incoming stream | Incorrect endpoint, key, or blocked network access | Verify the host, port 1935, /live path, matching Owncast key, and inbound TCP access through the firewall or security group. |
| Encoder connects to one service but not the other | The two destinations have been treated as one configuration | Check the server URL and key for the destination that is failing. Owncast and YouTube require their own matching pairs. |
| YouTube shows a preview but viewers cannot watch the stream | The scheduled broadcast has not been manually started | When ready, select Go live in YouTube Live Control Room. |
| Connection fails after changing Owncast credentials | The encoder still has the old key | Copy the current key from Owncast’s Stream Keys settings into the encoder configured for Owncast. |
| Stream is unstable or the Owncast server struggles | Output demands exceed the available connection or server capacity | Reduce resolution or bitrate and check the encoder’s network upload and Owncast server resources. |
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