Find the RTMPS URL for the specific stream in YouTube Live Control Room, reveal it in Stream settings, and copy the matching stream key. In FFmpeg, send your input to that secure URL with the key in the format your FFmpeg build accepts. YouTube’s RTMPS connection uses TLS on port 443; the endpoint and key are stream-specific, not universal.
Find your YouTube RTMPS URL and stream key
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and select the stream you want to use, or schedule a stream.
- Open the Stream tab and locate Stream settings.
- In the Stream URL field, use the lock control to reveal the RTMPS URL, then copy it. YouTube may show the ordinary RTMP URL by default; do not use that when configuring an RTMPS connection.
- Copy the stream key associated with that same stream. Treat it as a password: do not publish it, include it in a screenshot, or expose it in logs or shell history.
YouTube requires an encoder that supports RTMPS. Use the URL and key from the same stream configuration. The visible URL and key can change with the selected stream, so do not substitute a URL or key copied from another setup.
Configure FFmpeg to send a video to YouTube
Use the stream URL and key in the expected format
For a prerecorded file, this is a general command pattern:
ffmpeg -re -i INPUT -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv 'RTMPS_URL/STREAM_KEY'Replace INPUT with your input path, RTMPS_URL with the secure URL copied from Live Control Room, and STREAM_KEY with that stream’s key. This is an illustrative pattern, not a guarantee for every FFmpeg package, operating system, input codec, or account. Some encoders accept the URL and key in separate fields; others expect the stream name appended as STREAM_URL/STREAM_NAME. Follow the arrangement supported by your specific FFmpeg build and the YouTube values for the selected stream.
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-re paces a file input in real time; it is a practical choice for prerecorded material, not a YouTube requirement. For live capture, replace INPUT with the actual capture source and confirm that FFmpeg can access it and its codecs.
Check the output profile and FFmpeg build
Choose your resolution and bitrate from YouTube’s current guidance for the intended stream profile. YouTube’s general encoder recommendations include H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 in supported contexts; AAC or MP3 audio; frame rates up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. The suitable bitrate depends on the selected resolution and frame rate, so use the platform’s current table rather than assuming one value fits every stream. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance.
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FFmpeg’s RTMPS support depends on its RTMP implementation and how it was built. In particular, the documented librtmp RTMPS variant requires a build configured with --enable-librtmp. Packaged builds can differ; check the protocol support in your local build and its documentation if FFmpeg rejects an RTMPS URL.
What RTMPS means for the connection
RTMPS is RTMP carried over TLS/SSL. YouTube’s secure ingest connection uses the rtmps scheme and port 443. For a custom or API-managed encoder, connect to the YouTube-supplied host on that port and provide the hostname as SNI during the TLS handshake, as required for TLS server authentication.
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If an application uses the YouTube Live Streaming API instead of copying values in Live Control Room, the LiveStreams resource exposes the primary secure address as cdn.ingestionInfo.rtmpsIngestionAddress and the backup as cdn.ingestionInfo.rtmpsBackupIngestionAddress. The stream name is separate API data. A basic FFmpeg setup should start with the primary address; a backup endpoint is for redundant simultaneous ingest in supported workflows, not a replacement value to append casually.
Troubleshoot FFmpeg RTMPS connection problems
- SSL certificate or TLS error: Confirm you copied the RTMPS URL rather than the default RTMP address, that the scheme is
rtmps, and that the connection uses port443. Verify the FFmpeg build can establish RTMPS/TLS. - Connection timeout: Re-copy the URL from the active stream’s settings, check the secure scheme and port, and confirm RTMPS support in the chosen FFmpeg build. A wrong URL or an encoder without RTMPS support can cause connection failures.
- Authentication or stream mismatch: Make sure the key belongs to the same stream as the URL. If your interface accepts a separate stream-name field, use that interface rather than appending the key twice or in an unsupported format.
- Custom API encoder fails during TLS setup: Connect to the host supplied by YouTube on port 443 and send that hostname as SNI in the TLS handshake.
- Connected, but YouTube reports unhealthy ingest: Check the stream’s health in Live Control Room and compare the output codec, bitrate, frame rate, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s current encoder guidance.
- Key may have been exposed: Treat the stream key as compromised if it appeared in a public post, screenshot, or log. Replace or reset it in YouTube’s stream settings, then update FFmpeg with the new key.
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