For an H.264 YouTube Live stream, choose a video bitrate from YouTube’s recommendation for your exact resolution and frame rate, then set a two-second keyframe interval. In FFmpeg, a two-second GOP is 60 frames at 30 fps (-g 60) or 120 frames at 60 fps (-g 120). YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and says not to exceed a four-second keyframe interval. These settings are a starting point—not a guarantee that an FFmpeg process or an always-on stream will stay connected indefinitely.
Choose the bitrate for your resolution and frame rate
The figures below are YouTube Help’s current recommended H.264 ingest video bitrates, accessed in 2026. They are recommendations for the signal sent to YouTube, not measurements of viewer playback quality. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats, so the outgoing bitrate is not the bitrate every viewer receives. Use the row matching both your resolution and frame rate.
| Ingest resolution and frame rate | Recommended H.264 video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 360p30 | 4 Mbps |
| 480p30 | 4 Mbps |
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps |
| 2160p30 | 42 Mbps |
| 2160p60 | 50 Mbps |
Do not reuse a 1080p30 setting for 1080p60: the recommended H.264 rates differ. This table is specifically for H.264; YouTube lists different recommendations for AV1 and H.265, so do not apply those figures to a libx264 command.
Make sure your connection can sustain it
The encoder needs a reliable upload connection capable of sustaining the chosen stream, including audio and network overhead. If it cannot reliably support the recommended bitrate, select a lower resolution or frame rate that it can sustain rather than labeling a reduced bitrate as the same-quality configuration. Test the actual source, motion, and audio before relying on the stream.
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Set a two-second keyframe interval in FFmpeg
A keyframe interval is a duration; FFmpeg’s -g option is expressed as a number of frames. Multiply the frame rate by two to get a two-second GOP size. At 30 fps, use 60 frames; at 60 fps, use 120. YouTube recommends keyframes every two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. FFmpeg documents that a minimum keyframe interval is ignored unless it equals the GOP size; setting -keyint_min to the same value as -g requests fixed-interval placement.
| Frame rate | Two-second GOP | FFmpeg values |
|---|---|---|
| 30 fps | 60 frames | -g 60 -keyint_min 60 |
| 60 fps | 120 frames | -g 120 -keyint_min 120 |
For a regular cadence, -sc_threshold 0 disables x264 scene-change keyframe decisions that can add keyframes between scheduled intervals. Treat this as a cadence choice, not a YouTube-mandated option.
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Configure bitrate control rather than relying on -b:v alone
-b:v sets a target bitrate; it does not by itself guarantee CBR. FFmpeg documents default target-bitrate behavior as variable bitrate. Its generic rate-control options -minrate, -maxrate, and -bufsize affect behavior; equal minimum, maximum, and target bitrates select CBR behavior in the generic documentation. Encoder behavior can vary, so check the settings supported by your installed build. A buffer value such as twice the target bitrate is an example, not a YouTube requirement.
For audio, AAC stereo at 128 kbps is a reasonable starting point from YouTube’s advanced recommendations. YouTube lists AAC and MP3 as supported ingest audio codecs. Match the video options to the actual input frame rate and source; add any needed scaling, frame-rate conversion, or audio mapping deliberately.
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Example: H.264 at 1080p30 over RTMPS
This illustrative command uses YouTube’s current 1080p30 H.264 recommendation, a two-second GOP, AAC audio, and RTMPS output. The 28M buffer is an example, not an official YouTube requirement. Replace the input and output placeholders with values for your source and Live Control Room settings. Do not publish or log a real stream key.
ffmpeg -re -i INPUT
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -tune zerolatency
-r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-b:v 14M -minrate 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/STREAM_KEY'-re paces file input in real time; live capture inputs generally have their own timing and usually do not need it. The libx264 wrapper is available only in FFmpeg builds configured with libx264. Check with ffmpeg -encoders if the encoder is unavailable. The command is a starting point, not a drop-in configuration for every input or build.
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For 1080p60
Use the H.264 recommendation for 1080p60 and a 120-frame GOP: set -r 60 -g 120 -keyint_min 120 and use -b:v 17M -minrate 17M -maxrate 17M. Reconsider the buffer for the encoder and stream rather than assuming the 1080p30 example’s buffer is required.
Connect FFmpeg to YouTube safely
- Get the ingest details. In YouTube Live Control Room, obtain the stream URL and stream key from the stream’s settings. YouTube recommends RTMPS for secure ingest.
- Keep the key private. Treat it like a password. Do not put the actual key in public articles, screenshots, repositories, or command logs. Use a protected configuration or environment-specific secret-handling method on your host.
- Substitute the output URL. Replace the example endpoint and key with the values from Live Control Room. Keep the
rtmps://scheme when using the recommended secure ingest option. - Start a representative test. Use content with typical motion and audio, then check stream health and messages in Live Control Room. Fix warnings before depending on the stream.
What makes an FFmpeg stream actually always-on?
Bitrate and GOP settings configure the encoded stream; they do not supervise the process. YouTube’s encoder guidance does not prescribe a universal FFmpeg restart policy or guarantee indefinite operation. For a continuous stream, the host and your operating setup also need to address process restarts, input loss, network interruption, logs, and alerts. Those choices depend on the operating system, init or process supervisor, and source; no single supervisor configuration is a YouTube requirement.
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Test failure and recovery behavior rather than assuming a reconnect setting will cover every problem. A network interruption, unavailable input file, expired or replaced key, or host restart can stop delivery even when the bitrate and keyframe cadence are correct. Monitor Live Control Room stream health and its messages while the stream runs.
Troubleshooting common configuration problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| Stream health reports bitrate instability or dropped frames | The upload connection cannot sustain the selected rate, or the source/host is overloaded. | Test sustained upload capacity and host load. Choose a lower supported resolution or frame rate if necessary; do not assume lowering bitrate alone preserves the same quality. |
| Keyframe or stream compatibility warning | The GOP interval is too long, frame rate changed without adjusting GOP size, or the encoder is making extra scene-change keyframes. | Use a two-second GOP: frame rate × 2 (60 frames at 30 fps; 120 at 60 fps). For fixed cadence with libx264, match -keyint_min to -g and consider -sc_threshold 0. |
| Configured bitrate does not behave like a steady rate | -b:v alone sets a target and does not ensure CBR. |
Review the encoder’s rate-control behavior and configure the supported minimum, maximum, and buffer options; confirm the actual stream health in Live Control Room. |
FFmpeg reports that libx264 is unavailable |
The installed FFmpeg build may not include libx264. | Check ffmpeg -encoders or the build configuration, and use a build with libx264 enabled if you need this example’s encoder. |
| Stream will not connect or stops after a key change | The endpoint or key may be wrong, or the key may have been replaced. | Recheck the current stream URL and key in Live Control Room. Update the protected configuration without exposing the key in logs or public files. |
| Stream stops after an input or host failure | Encoder options do not restart FFmpeg or restore an unavailable input. | Check the process supervisor, input availability, network recovery behavior, logs, and alerting on the host that runs FFmpeg. |
Copyright and channel-policy checks for continuous video
Before looping a recording, confirm you have the rights and permissions needed for the video, music, and other material in it. A technically valid stream configuration does not establish that content is cleared for broadcast or that a channel meets YouTube’s monetization policies. Review YouTube’s applicable copyright and reused-content requirements for your channel and material; a stream key is not permission to rebroadcast someone else’s work. For a practical preflight, use the copyright safety checklist.
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