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You don’t upload one enormous file to YouTube and leave it playing as a live broadcast. For a 24/7 channel, you send prerecorded video to YouTube through a live encoder or cloud playout service. A regular YouTube video upload is a separate workflow, with a maximum file size of 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.
Choose the right workflow
| What you want | Use this workflow | Important limit or detail |
|---|---|---|
| Publish a finished video people can watch on demand | Upload the file in YouTube Studio | YouTube’s documented maximum is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. Accounts are limited to videos up to 15 minutes by default; verify your account to upload longer videos. |
| Keep a channel broadcasting prerecorded content live around the clock | Send a live feed from an encoder or hosted playout service | The encoder sends the live stream to YouTube. The regular-upload limit is not a universal cap on encoder-fed broadcasts. |
YouTube documents how to connect an encoder, but its cited live-stream guidance does not prescribe one official way to loop or schedule local prerecorded files. You need an encoder or playout system that can feed the video continuously.
Prepare a large file for a regular upload
- Check the file size and duration. The documented ceiling is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. If your file exceeds 256 GB, YouTube recommends compressing it and names H.264 as an option for reducing file size while maintaining quality.
- Verify your account for longer uploads. Without verification, uploads are limited to videos up to 15 minutes. If verification was completed only after a failed long-video attempt, YouTube says you must upload that video again.
- Use an up-to-date browser for files over 20 GB. This is YouTube’s desktop upload guidance for large files.
- Allow time for the upload. Duration varies with file size, format, connection bandwidth, network traffic and video quality; YouTube notes that 4K files take longer to upload than 1080p files.
- Resume an interrupted upload if needed. Within 24 hours, return to youtube.com/upload and select the same file to continue. This resumes a regular upload; it does not restart a live broadcast.
Set up a YouTube live stream from prerecorded video
- Enable live streaming. In YouTube Studio, use Create → Go Live. YouTube says first-time live-streaming access may take up to 24 hours to become available.
- Create a stream in Live Control Room. Set up the live broadcast there, then use the stream URL and stream key provided for the encoder connection.
- Choose an encoder. YouTube supports software encoders running on a computer and standalone hardware encoders. A dedicated hardware device is optional, not a requirement.
- Configure the encoder to send the prerecorded media. Enter YouTube’s stream URL and key, and set up the encoder or playout system to feed the video. Keep the key private; if it is compromised, reset it in YouTube Studio.
- Set video and audio output. YouTube’s guidance lists RTMP or RTMPS delivery; H.264, H.265 (HEVC) and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; and frame rates up to 60 fps. It recommends constant bitrate encoding and a two-second keyframe interval, which should not exceed four seconds. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension to RTMP.
- Choose a bitrate suited to the output. YouTube recommends 14 Mbps for H.264 at 1080p30 and 17 Mbps for H.264 at 1080p60. Its full recommendations vary by resolution, frame rate and codec, so consult the current YouTube live encoder settings for your intended output. These are starting recommendations, not an uptime guarantee; your connection must sustain the settings you choose.
- Test before broadcasting. YouTube recommends testing the stream and checking the connection speed. Wait for the preview in Live Control Room, review stream health, then select Go live if the broadcast is not configured to start automatically. Continue monitoring stream health while it runs.
Plan for an archive and content rights
Do not rely on YouTube to archive a 24/7 stream
YouTube can automatically archive a live stream shorter than 12 hours. A stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all, so keep a local recording if preserving the broadcast matters. A local archive is separate from the live feed and needs enough storage for the recording.
Check that you have rights to the material
Before sending prerecorded video live, confirm you have the rights needed for the video, music and any other included material. Copyright claims or strikes can also affect an account’s ability to upload long videos. YouTube’s upload and live-stream documentation does not establish that a particular video is cleared for broadcast or monetization; review the rights and policies that apply to your content.
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Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (STGX2000400)
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A regular upload is rejected for size or length | The file exceeds YouTube’s 256 GB or 12-hour maximum, or the account is not verified for uploads over 15 minutes. | Check both file size and duration, verify the account for longer uploads, and compress a file over 256 GB. If it is meant to run continuously as a live channel, use an encoder workflow instead of treating it as a regular upload. |
| A large upload stalls or the connection drops | Upload time can be affected by bandwidth, network traffic, file size, format and quality. | Return to youtube.com/upload within 24 hours and select the same file to resume. |
| The encoder is not appearing in Live Control Room | The stream URL or key may be incorrect, the encoder may not be sending, or first-time live access may not yet be enabled. | Check the URL and key in the encoder, confirm it is sending, and allow up to 24 hours for first-time live-streaming access. Reset a key if you suspect it was exposed. |
| The live feed is unstable | The configured bitrate may be more than the upstream connection can sustain, or the encoder settings may not match the intended output. | Check stream health, test the connection, and select settings supported by your available upload bandwidth. Compare the resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate and keyframe interval with YouTube’s current encoder recommendations. |
| The 24/7 stream has no complete YouTube archive | Streams over 12 hours may not be captured by YouTube’s automatic archive. | Record a local archive if you need a dependable copy of the full broadcast. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you don’t want a computer or home connection running continuously, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home. Every slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service costs $9.99 per month.
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UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD-USB 3.0
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
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Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0, 1-Year Rescue
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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