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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIn OBS, go to Settings → Output and lower Video Bitrate in the streaming controls. Choose a rate that fits both YouTube’s recommendation for your resolution, frame rate and codec and the upload bandwidth your connection can reliably sustain. Use CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, then test a representative stream and watch YouTube’s stream health.
Where to lower the bitrate in OBS
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Open OBS and select Settings.
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Select Output. In Simple mode, find Video Bitrate in the streaming output controls. In Advanced mode, open the Streaming section.
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Enter a lower bitrate, then select Apply and OK. OBS interface labels can vary slightly by version.
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Run a test stream and check OBS’s dropped-frame counter and YouTube’s stream-health messages.
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OBS identifies Settings → Output → Video Bitrate as the setting to lower when troubleshooting dropped frames and intermittent disconnections. OBS’s connection troubleshooting guide is dated September 30, 2024; the steps above describe the documented setting, not a guarantee that bitrate is the cause of every connection problem.
What bitrate should you use for YouTube Live?
There is no single best value. YouTube’s current encoder guidance gives different recommended video bitrates by ingestion resolution, frame rate and codec. The figures below are recommendations, not guarantees of stable streaming. YouTube’s official page does not state a publication year, and the values may change, so check its live encoder settings when configuring a stream.
| Ingestion resolution and frame rate | AV1 or H.265/HEVC recommended video bitrate | H.264 recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K), 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K), 30 fps | 30 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 1440p, 60 fps | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 1440p, 30 fps | 15 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p, 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p, 30 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 480p, 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p, 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
These are the recommended video rates in YouTube Help; the page does not state a publication year. YouTube also publishes minimums. For example, at 1080p60 the minimums are 4 Mbps for AV1/H.265 and 6 Mbps for H.264, compared with recommended rates of 12 and 17 Mbps, respectively. Do not treat a minimum as a quality target or as a promise that a stream will remain stable.
Match the recommendation to your OBS output
Use the row that corresponds to the resolution and frame rate OBS sends to YouTube, and the column for the codec used for ingestion. A higher recommended rate does not help if your connection cannot sustain it. If the connection is variable, choosing a lower output mode or bitrate may be more reliable than targeting the highest resolution.
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Leave enough upload bandwidth for the stream
YouTube advises leaving 20% of available upload bandwidth unused. The stream’s total bitrate must fit the upload capacity actually available to it, not merely the speed advertised for the internet connection. Other people, devices or applications on a shared home or office network can use some of that capacity. See YouTube’s live streaming tips.
For connection-related dropped frames, OBS’s troubleshooting guide suggests using 75% of total upload speed as a starting point while diagnosing the problem. That is troubleshooting guidance, not a universal formula: YouTube’s headroom advice, the applicable encoder recommendation and the connection’s stability still matter. Measure upload speed under conditions representative of the stream, account for other network use, then test. If results fluctuate, lower the bitrate and test again.
Set the companion encoder options
Bitrate is only one part of the stream configuration. YouTube’s current encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 video, and frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends RTMPS, CBR and a two-second keyframe interval; the keyframe interval must not exceed four seconds. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings for the current requirements and compatibility details.
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Rate control: CBR (constant bitrate), as YouTube recommends.
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Keyframes: set the interval to two seconds; do not exceed four seconds.
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Video codec and frame rate: use a supported codec and a frame rate no higher than 60 fps. Select the matching YouTube bitrate recommendation for the codec, resolution and frame rate you send.
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Audio: YouTube lists AAC or MP3 at 128 Kbps for stereo. For 5.1 surround it specifies AAC at 384 Kbps. These audio figures are separate from the video bitrate.
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Stream destination: YouTube supports RTMP and RTMPS and recommends the encrypted RTMPS option.
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Test before the stream matters
YouTube recommends testing with audio and movement similar to what the planned event will contain. A static screen does not represent a documentary clip, interview or moving footage particularly well. Test the configured stream, review YouTube’s stream-health messages and check OBS for dropped frames.
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Use the intended resolution, frame rate, codec and audio configuration.
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Run representative video and audio through the encoder long enough to reveal connection fluctuations.
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Check OBS’s dropped-frame counter and connection indicator, and review YouTube’s stream-health status.
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If frames are dropping, lower Settings → Output → Video Bitrate, then test again.
Why OBS may still drop frames
OBS says rising dropped frames or a yellow or red connection indicator can mean the connection is unstable or cannot sustain the configured bitrate. Lowering the rate can help when the connection cannot keep up, but bitrate is not the only possible cause.
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Unstable or congested connection: reduce the bitrate and retest; check whether other activity is competing for upload bandwidth.
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Insufficient upload capacity: choose a lower bitrate that fits the stable capacity available to the stream, with headroom.
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Other connection factors: OBS also identifies ingest-server choice, security software, VPNs and network conditions as possible contributors. Changing bitrate alone may not resolve these issues.
OBS offers dynamic bitrate under Settings → Advanced → Network as a fallback. It can lower quality by reducing the rate when conditions worsen; OBS cautions that this does not fix the underlying connection problem. For a persistent issue, diagnose the network rather than relying on dynamic bitrate as a cure. Refer to OBS’s troubleshooting steps.
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