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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For a straightforward RTMP server on Windows, Linux, or macOS, use MediaMTX: download the release for your operating system and CPU architecture, extract it, and run it. Then point OBS at rtmp://localhost/mystream to test a local stream. If you need a containerized deployment, MediaMTX also documents a Docker setup; NGINX with an RTMP module is another option for an NGINX-based stack.
Choose an RTMP server for your setup
MediaMTX is the simplest shared route across the three desktop platforms in this guide. Its documentation describes it as a portable, dependency-free executable compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS, with RTMP among its supported protocols. See the MediaMTX introduction and installation guide for current downloads and instructions.
| Option | Platforms and deployment | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| MediaMTX standalone | Documented for Linux, Windows, and macOS; run the extracted executable. | A local test or a simple server process. |
| MediaMTX Docker | Documented container deployment; the example maps RTMP on TCP port 1935 and includes ports for other protocols. | A container-based or more managed deployment. MediaMTX recommends Docker for production environments. |
| NGINX RTMP module | NGINX documentation surfaced for this guide covers the NGINX Plus RTMP dynamic module. | Teams that specifically want an NGINX-based stack. The available documentation does not establish a performance or latency advantage over MediaMTX. |
The standalone MediaMTX setup below is enough to receive a stream from OBS on the same computer. You do not need paid hosting for a local test.
Install and run MediaMTX without Docker
- Open the official MediaMTX installation page and choose the release artifact matching your operating system and CPU architecture. Release names and available builds can change, so use the current page rather than an old download link.
- Extract the downloaded archive. Keep the included configuration file with the executable if you plan to adjust settings later; for a first local test, leave the default configuration in place.
- Start the server. On Windows, double-click
mediamtx.exe. On Linux or macOS, open a terminal in the extracted directory and run./mediamtx. - Leave the server process running while you test. Its default configuration is intended to get you started; consult the current configuration file and documentation before changing listener ports or other settings.
MediaMTX’s Docker example maps TCP port 1935 for RTMP and also exposes ports used by its other supported protocols. If you use Docker, expose only the protocol ports you need and follow the current official Docker instructions for the exact command and options. The example’s environment variables include settings for particular transports and WebRTC address handling; they are not all necessary for an RTMP-only test.
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Publish a test stream from OBS
Once MediaMTX is running, use OBS Studio to publish to its local RTMP listener. The OBS labels below follow MediaMTX’s documented workflow; menu wording may vary between OBS versions.
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream.
- Set the service to Custom….
- Enter
rtmp://localhost/mystreamin the Server field. - Leave the Stream key field empty, then save the settings.
- Select Start Streaming in OBS. MediaMTX makes the published stream available at the path
/mystream.
These steps are for a client publishing from the same computer as the server. For a device elsewhere on your local network, replace localhost with the server computer’s reachable LAN address; that address must be reachable from the client. See MediaMTX’s OBS publishing instructions.
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Deploy in Docker or use an NGINX-based stack
When Docker makes sense
Choose Docker if you want the server isolated in a container or are preparing a more managed deployment. MediaMTX documents this route and recommends it for production environments. Its example includes mappings for several protocols, but an RTMP-only use case needs the RTMP port mapping, not every port in the example. Use the current installation documentation to check the command, image details, and any options relevant to your chosen transports.
When to choose NGINX RTMP
NGINX is a reasonable alternative if your existing setup specifically depends on NGINX. The current NGINX reference identified here documents the RTMP dynamic module for NGINX Plus; it should not be treated as a general, current installer guide for every NGINX edition or operating system. An older OBS community guide also describes an NGINX RTMP setup, but its platform-install references are dated. Start with the NGINX RTMP module documentation for the supported NGINX Plus path.
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The available documentation does not provide a controlled comparison of MediaMTX and NGINX performance or latency, so choose based on deployment fit rather than an assumed speed advantage.
Secure access beyond the local computer
A server used only by OBS on the same machine has a smaller exposure than one reachable by other devices or by the public internet. Before allowing remote clients, deliberately configure the host firewall and any router or cloud firewall, limit permitted source addresses where practical, and do not publish credentials. These are deployment precautions, not a universal firewall recipe.
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RTMPS encryption
MediaMTX documents RTMPS configuration using a TLS certificate and key. If you enable encrypted RTMP, configure those credentials according to the current RTMP feature documentation. That page notes that most major players do not support RTMPS, so verify that your intended publisher and reader support it before relying on it.
Authentication
MediaMTX documents RTMP authentication using username and password query parameters, as well as token query parameters. Check its authentication documentation for the current syntax. Treat any credential-bearing URL as a secret: avoid sharing it in public chat, screenshots, or logs accessible to others.
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Troubleshoot a failed local test
- The server will not start: confirm that you downloaded the artifact for the correct operating system and CPU architecture, extracted it, and launched the executable for that platform. Check the terminal or process output for the specific error.
- OBS cannot connect: make sure MediaMTX is still running, the OBS server field is exactly
rtmp://localhost/mystreamfor a same-computer test, and the stream key is empty as in the documented workflow. - A second device cannot publish:
localhostrefers to the device running OBS, not the server on another computer. Use the server’s LAN-reachable address instead and verify that local network and firewall rules allow the connection. - The RTMP listener is unavailable: check the current MediaMTX configuration and whether another process or firewall rule is preventing access to the configured listener. Port 1935 is the RTMP mapping shown in MediaMTX’s Docker example; do not assume a changed configuration still uses it.
- RTMPS clients fail while plain RTMP works: verify the TLS certificate and key configuration, then check whether the client supports RTMPS. MediaMTX’s RTMP documentation warns that most major players do not.
Or let it run in the cloud
A local RTMP server is for receiving or relaying a live feed from OBS or another RTMP client. If your goal is instead to keep uploaded videos running as a 24/7 YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a different, cloud-based option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed, and it streams to YouTube only.
- Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
- Each slot streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot rather than quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, then start your free first day.
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