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For a 1080p YouTube Live loop in OBS, use YouTube’s live-ingest recommendation for the codec and frame rate OBS sends: 14 Mbps for 1080p30 H.264, 17 Mbps for 1080p60 H.264, 10 Mbps for 1080p30 AV1 or H.265, and 12 Mbps for 1080p60 AV1 or H.265. Set CBR, a 2-second keyframe interval, and RTMPS. A pre-recorded video still has to be encoded and sent as a live stream; YouTube does not publish a separate lower bitrate recommendation for looping or low-motion footage.
Best 1080p bitrate for an OBS YouTube loop
Choose the row matching the live output codec and frame rate YouTube receives. These are YouTube’s live-ingest recommendations, current on its encoder settings page as accessed in 2026.
| OBS live output | YouTube minimum | YouTube recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p30, H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60, H.264 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p30, AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 4 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60, AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
The recommended figure is a starting target, not a guarantee of an uninterrupted broadcast. Use a bitrate your encoder can sustain and your internet connection can upload steadily. The 60 fps rows call for more bitrate than their 30 fps counterparts; the recommended rate also differs by codec. If uncertain which codec OBS is sending, check the stream output settings before choosing a row rather than assuming a universal 1080p value. See YouTube’s live encoder settings.
Use live-ingest settings, not video-upload settings
A loop made from a local recording is still delivered to YouTube as a live encoded stream. YouTube’s separate video-upload guidance lists 10 Mbps for standard-frame-rate 1080p and 15 Mbps for high-frame-rate 1080p; those figures apply to uploading a video file, not live ingest. Do not substitute them for the live bitrate table above. YouTube does not provide a separate live bitrate recommendation for prerecorded, static, or low-motion content. The upload figures are in YouTube’s recommended upload encoding settings.
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Set the important OBS stream parameters
- Rate control: CBR (constant bitrate), as recommended for YouTube Live.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds. YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds.
- Server connection: RTMPS, YouTube’s recommended secure streaming transport.
- Video output: Set the stream resolution to 1920 Ă— 1080 and choose the frame rate that matches the intended output and source. Then select the bitrate based on the codec and frame-rate table above.
In OBS, the stream bitrate is configured under Settings > Output. Simple output mode adjusts bitrate according to upload speed and service limitations; Advanced output mode provides separate stream and recording controls. For a YouTube loop, configure the stream output—recording quality is a separate setting. Resolution and common FPS are configured under Settings > Video. OBS’s overview guide explains these settings and output modes.
Loop one file or a playlist in OBS
Loop a single local video
- In the scene that will be used for the stream, add a Media Source and select the local video file.
- In the source properties, enable Loop. OBS will replay the file when playback completes.
- Leave Restart playback when source becomes active enabled if you want playback to restart when the source is activated. It is on by default.
- Check Show nothing when playback ends, which is on by default, and confirm the loop is working before going live.
For a single file, OBS’s built-in Media Source is the direct option. See the OBS Media Sources guide for its properties.
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Loop an ordered playlist
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. OBS’s VLC Video source depends on VLC; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add a VLC Video source to the scene, add the files in the order you want them to play, and enable Loop Playlist.
- Check playback and the transition between files before starting the broadcast. Loop Playlist is enabled by default.
Use a playlist source when the stream should cycle through several recordings rather than repeat one file.
Check upload capacity and stream health
The full stream bitrate, including audio, must fit within upload capacity that remains stable during the broadcast. A speed-test peak is not proof that the connection will sustain that rate continuously. Test using representative video motion and audio, then monitor YouTube’s stream health while live. YouTube’s streaming tips cover connection and broadcast checks.
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- If YouTube reports instability or dropped frames, lower the bitrate to a rate the connection can sustain, then test again.
- If the stream is stable but the picture looks poor, verify that the selected row matches the actual output codec and frame rate before changing other settings.
- If OBS struggles to encode, consider whether the encoder choice suits the computer and verify through a representative test. Hardware encoders generally move encoding work to a GPU component, but earlier-generation hardware encoders can deliver lower image quality at the same bitrate than software encoding with the default veryfast preset. Neither a dedicated encoder nor a particular graphics card is inherently required for a loop. See the OBS hardware encoding guide.
Check the source and YouTube live requirements
Confirm the media source plays continuously, the scene shows the intended video, and audio is present if the recording includes it. Before streaming, check that you have the rights needed to broadcast the video and its audio. A loop does not change YouTube’s copyright rules or make content yours. Repeated or reused footage also does not become original work simply by being streamed live; make sure the channel’s content meets YouTube’s applicable monetization and reused-content policies. YouTube’s live encoder settings and stream health guidance do not establish that a particular video is cleared for copyright or monetization.
Troubleshooting an OBS YouTube loop
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| Stream health is poor or frames are dropping | The combined stream bitrate exceeds stable upload capacity, or the connection fluctuates. | Reduce the bitrate to a sustainable rate and test again with representative motion and audio; monitor stream health during the broadcast. |
| The loop stops at the end of one video | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source, or the source is not configured as expected. | Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop; verify playback before going live. |
| A playlist source is unavailable or does not play | VLC may not be installed, or its architecture may not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC, then reopen and test the VLC Video source. |
| Video quality is lower than expected | The selected bitrate row may not match the codec or frame rate being sent, or the encoder may produce different quality at the chosen bitrate. | Check the stream output codec and FPS, use the matching YouTube live target if capacity permits, and test the encoder choice on the actual computer. |
| YouTube does not accept the stream as expected | Transport, keyframe, or output settings may not match YouTube’s guidance. | Confirm RTMPS, CBR, and a 2-second keyframe interval, and review the current YouTube live encoder settings. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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