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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live at 4K and 60 fps, create a YouTube live event, add the video as a repeating media source in OBS, and stream it with an NVIDIA NVENC encoder. Set the output to 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps, use constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval, and choose a codec and bitrate that YouTube accepts. Test the event before making it public: a short test can confirm your setup, but it cannot guarantee a long-running stream will stay uninterrupted.
Before you start
You need a prerecorded video, a computer with an NVIDIA GPU and an NVENC option available in your installed OBS version, a stable upload connection, and a YouTube channel that can go live. OBS is free software listed by YouTube. You do not need a capture card for a prerecorded video file.
- Confirm that the source video, GPU, OBS installation, and internet connection can sustain 4K at 60 fps. If any part cannot, use a lower output resolution or frame rate rather than forcing 4K60.
- Keep the source file accessible to the computer for the full broadcast. A local OBS stream depends on the computer, the video file, and the internet connection remaining available.
- If this is the channel’s first live stream, enable live streaming in YouTube Studio ahead of time. YouTube says initial activation may take up to 24 hours.
1. Create a YouTube live event and get its connection details
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create or schedule a live stream and set its title, audience, privacy, and other event details.
- In the event’s stream settings, copy the stream URL and stream key. The URL tells OBS where to send the feed; the key identifies the feed to YouTube.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password, and do not show it in screenshots or a published walkthrough. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before relying on it.
YouTube’s current live encoder settings support RTMP/RTMPS. Use RTMPS when it is available in the event and OBS configuration.
2. Make a repeating video scene in OBS
- Open OBS and create or select the scene you want to use for the broadcast.
- Add the prerecorded file as a media source. OBS’s exact menu and control labels can vary by version, so check the controls in your installed release rather than relying on labels from a different version.
- Enable the media source’s repeat or loop behavior so it starts again when it reaches the end. If the source has a restart option, use it only if you want the video to restart when the scene becomes active.
- Fit the video to the canvas while preserving its aspect ratio. Do not stretch a widescreen source into a different shape; black bars or unused canvas are preferable to distorted video.
- Check the preview and audio. If the video has no audio, make sure the scene does not accidentally include an unwanted microphone or desktop-audio feed.
A loop repeats the same recording; it does not turn it into a camera broadcast. Check that the transition from the final frame back to the first frame is acceptable, and that audio does not produce an abrupt cut or gap on each repeat.
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3. Set the video canvas and output to 4K60
In OBS’s video settings, set both the base (canvas) resolution and output resolution to 3840 × 2160, and set the output frame rate to 60 fps. OBS setting names may differ between releases. YouTube’s 4K60 target is 2160p at 60 frames per second.
- Use square pixels and progressive scan.
- For ordinary SDR video, use Rec. 709 color and 8-bit output. Keep HDR out of the setup unless the source and full encoding path are deliberately configured for it.
- If OBS cannot render or encode reliably at this setting, reduce the output to a supported resolution or frame rate and test again. A nominal 4K60 selection is not proof that the computer can sustain it.
4. Configure NVENC and YouTube’s ingest settings
In OBS’s streaming output settings, select an NVIDIA NVENC encoder that is actually available in your OBS build and on your GPU. The available encoder modes and controls depend on the GPU and OBS version; do not assume every system offers the same choices. OBS’s Advanced NVENC Options article, dated August 21, 2024, describes additional controls introduced in OBS 31.0, including target-quality rate control, Ultra High Quality tuning, and Adaptive Quantization, with feature-specific GPU and codec constraints. Those options are not a universal preset for every stream.
Choose a codec and bitrate
YouTube’s current live encoder settings page, accessed in 2026, recommends these 2160p60 video bitrates. These are encoder recommendations, not a guaranteed viewer bitrate, and your upload connection must have enough capacity to carry the stream steadily.
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| Codec | YouTube’s recommended bitrate at 2160p60 | YouTube’s listed minimum at 2160p60 | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps | Use when you want the broadest compatibility across encoder and destination workflows. |
| H.265/HEVC or AV1 | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Use only if the codec is exposed by your NVENC/OBS setup and supported by your YouTube workflow. |
Set rate control to CBR and the keyframe interval to two seconds. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says it should not exceed four seconds. Do not interpret the lower recommended bitrate for HEVC or AV1 as a guarantee that those codecs will always look better or work on every system.
Keep SDR settings straightforward
For SDR, YouTube lists Rec. 709, 8-bit, square pixels, and progressive scan. Its recommended advanced frame settings include two B-frames and one reference frame. Use those values if the selected OBS encoder exposes them and the GPU supports them; avoid changing advanced controls without a specific compatibility or quality reason.
For HDR, YouTube recommends H.265/HEVC and 10-bit, and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. An HDR stream requires a compatible source and end-to-end settings; do not simply select 10-bit on an SDR project and assume the result is HDR.
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5. Set audio and connect OBS to YouTube
YouTube accepts AAC or MP3 audio. Its live settings page lists 128 Kbps for stereo audio, with 44.1 kHz for stereo and 48 kHz for 5.1-channel audio. Match OBS and the source to the audio you actually intend to send; stereo is the simpler choice for a typical prerecorded video.
- In OBS’s stream settings, choose the service or custom-server option that matches your YouTube event.
- Enter the stream URL and stream key copied from Live Control Room. Do not paste the key into a public document, message, or screenshot.
- Verify the selected NVENC encoder, codec, bitrate, CBR rate control, and two-second keyframe interval before connecting.
- Start the OBS stream and check Live Control Room to confirm YouTube is receiving the feed. Starting the encoder feed does not necessarily mean the public event is live; use the event controls in YouTube Studio to start the broadcast when you are ready.
6. Test before going public
Run a private or unlisted test with representative motion and audio. YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health and messages during the event.
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- Confirm the media source restarts at the end and the transition is acceptable.
- Confirm audio remains present and synchronized through a loop transition.
- Check that YouTube detects 2160p60 and that the stream health indicators and messages do not show a problem.
- Watch OBS’s rendering and encoding indicators while the scene is active. If frames are being missed or the stream is unstable, lower the output demands or bitrate and retest.
For a live event, keep Live Control Room and OBS available to monitor. YouTube says 2160p streams cannot use its low-latency option and are set to normal latency. A successful short test does not establish that a local computer and connection will run continuously for days.
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Copyright, reused content, and continuous loops
Only stream material you have the rights to use, including music, images, and video clips. A live stream can be interrupted or restricted if it includes content that violates copyright rules. Repeating a recording also does not by itself establish eligibility for YouTube monetization: consider whether the channel and content meet YouTube’s applicable monetization policies rather than assuming that a continuous broadcast qualifies.
For viewers, YouTube documents DVR controls that let them pause and resume a live stream. A loop’s repeated content can still be noticeable to viewers, so make the broadcast purpose and recurring format clear and monitor the event rather than assuming a looping source needs no oversight.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not receive the feed | Incorrect stream URL or key, an inactive event, or an encoder connection problem. | Check the event’s URL and key in Live Control Room, confirm they are entered in OBS, and verify that the event is prepared to receive a stream. Keep the key private. |
| YouTube reports poor or unstable stream health | Upload capacity or consistency is insufficient for the selected bitrate, or the computer cannot sustain the encoding workload. | Check OBS encoding/rendering indicators and the YouTube health messages. Reduce bitrate, resolution, or frame rate, then repeat the test. The listed bitrate is a recommendation, not a substitute for sufficient sustained upload capacity. |
| The stream is not detected as 2160p60 | OBS output resolution or frame rate is lower than intended, or the source/output configuration is not reaching YouTube as expected. | Confirm OBS canvas and output are 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps, then allow the ingest to settle and check Live Control Room again. |
| Video is stretched or has bars | The source aspect ratio does not match the canvas, or the source was scaled incorrectly. | Fit the media to the canvas without changing its aspect ratio. Bars may be correct when the source and canvas shapes differ. |
| The clip stops instead of repeating | The media source’s loop/repeat option is not enabled, or the wrong source is active. | Inspect the media source controls for the installed OBS version, enable its repeat behavior, and test through the end of the file. |
| Audio cuts or falls out of sync at the loop point | The recording itself has a discontinuity at its end, or multiple audio sources are active. | Listen through a complete repeat, inspect the source’s end and start, and disable unintended microphone or desktop audio. |
| NVENC option or a particular codec is missing | The GPU, driver, OBS build, or selected encoder path does not expose that option. | Select an encoder mode available on the installed system. If needed, update OBS or the graphics driver using the relevant official release guidance, or choose a supported codec; do not assume an unavailable mode can be enabled by changing a preset. |
Cost and operating choices
OBS is listed by YouTube as open-source software available at no charge. This local method uses your existing compatible computer and depends on your local hardware, power, storage, and internet connection while the stream runs. YouTube also lists Gyre as a cloud service for continuous prerecorded streams, including 4K at 30 or 60 fps; compare any service’s current program details, operating model, and cost directly before choosing it.
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Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for looping uploaded recordings, not a camera broadcast. Upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; the video streams as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. The same product is included on every plan; only the billing length changes. Visit StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stream 4K60 with H.264?
Yes. YouTube’s current live encoder settings page recommends 50 Mbps for H.264 at 2160p60; your encoder, GPU, and sustained upload connection still need to support the configuration.
Does 4K YouTube Live support low latency?
No. YouTube says 2160p streams are set to normal latency and cannot use the low-latency option.
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