Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo set a constant bitrate in OBS, open Settings → Output, find the streaming encoder controls, and set Rate Control to CBR. YouTube recommends CBR for live streaming, along with a 2-second keyframe interval. CBR sets the encoder’s target; it cannot make an unstable internet connection deliver that rate steadily.
Enable constant bitrate in OBS
- In OBS, open Settings → Output. If Output Mode is set to Simple, switch to Advanced if needed to expose the streaming encoder controls.
- Under the streaming encoder settings, set Rate Control to CBR. The exact controls and labels can vary by encoder and OBS version.
- Set the video bitrate to a suitable target for your codec, resolution, and frame rate. Use YouTube’s recommendations below as a starting point, and do not choose a target your upload connection cannot sustain.
- Set Keyframe Interval to 2 seconds. YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds.
- Where available, use RTMPS, YouTube’s recommended encrypted version of RTMP. Confirm that your OBS stream destination and YouTube ingest settings are configured for the same protocol.
- Apply the changes, then test before an important broadcast. Include movement and audio similar to your actual stream, and check OBS connection statistics and YouTube’s stream-health messages.
YouTube’s official encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, with streams up to 60 fps. It also recommends square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, and one reference frame. HDR and AV1/HDR have additional qualifications, so check YouTube’s encoder settings page if you are configuring an HDR stream.
Choose a bitrate that fits your stream
The figures below are YouTube’s recommended H.264 video bitrates, not guarantees of what a particular network can sustain. YouTube publishes separate recommendations for AV1 and H.265/HEVC; consult its full settings table when using either codec.
| H.264 output | YouTube minimum | YouTube recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
Choose for the codec, resolution, and frame rate you actually send. Leave headroom for other upload traffic and test under realistic conditions; a speed-test result by itself does not prove that the connection will hold a live stream steadily.
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Why the bitrate can still fluctuate
“Bitrate” may refer to the target configured in OBS, the rate OBS reports sending, or the rate YouTube receives. They are related but not identical readings. CBR tells the encoder to target a constant rate; network congestion or an unstable connection can still interrupt delivery, so the receiving side may not show a perfectly steady rate.
YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers. Consistent keyframe timing helps viewers transition smoothly between quality options, but transcoding does not correct an unstable feed from your encoder.
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Troubleshoot a stream that does not hold its target
- Confirm the encoder setting: Reopen Settings → Output and check that the streaming encoder—not a recording encoder—is set to CBR, with the intended video bitrate and keyframe interval.
- Check OBS connection status and dropped frames: If OBS reports connection trouble or dropped frames, the configured target may exceed what the connection can deliver consistently. OBS recommends reducing video bitrate when appropriate.
- Read YouTube stream health: Check the messages in YouTube Live Control Room during a representative test. They can help distinguish an ingest problem from a setting that merely looks variable in OBS.
- Look for competing or deprioritized network traffic: OBS notes that unstable connectivity and some network software that deprioritizes OBS can cause connection trouble. Treat these as possible causes to investigate, not proof that CBR is malfunctioning.
- Reduce the target and retest: If the connection cannot sustain the selected rate, lower the video bitrate and run another test with similar motion and audio. Keep the keyframe interval at 2 seconds.
- Check the stream configuration as a whole: Verify that the selected codec, resolution, frame rate, and ingest protocol match the capabilities and settings you intend to use. For HDR or AV1/HDR, verify the extra YouTube qualifications rather than assuming standard SDR settings apply.
The cause of a particular fluctuation cannot be identified from the configured bitrate alone. Diagnosis depends on the OBS log, encoder, network conditions, and YouTube’s stream-health messages.
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