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What you need before going live
YouTube’s current Live HDR instructions support H.265/HEVC. HDR depends on the whole signal chain: an HDR source, an encoder capable of producing the required HEVC HDR output, an appropriate YouTube ingest protocol, and a compatible playback device for verification. Consult YouTube’s Live HDR instructions for platform-specific setup details.
- For gaming: use a game that outputs HDR and enable its HDR mode. YouTube’s guidance includes an HDR-capable monitor or TV in the gaming setup.
- For camera video: confirm in the camera documentation that it records or outputs HDR using PQ or HLG. Do not assume that a camera’s “HDR” marketing mode produces a compatible live signal.
- For encoding: use a hardware HEVC encoder that supports 10-bit HDR output. YouTube’s OBS instructions specify OBS 30.1 or later.
- For monitoring: use an HDR-capable display and playback device when checking the result. Viewers without HDR support receive SDR.
General YouTube live eligibility also applies: YouTube says a channel must be verified, have no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and the streamer must be at least 16. These are live-streaming conditions, not HDR-specific requirements; see YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
How to stream HDR with OBS
- Prepare and verify the source. For a game, enable HDR in the game and confirm the display is HDR-capable. For a camera, check its manual for PQ or HLG HDR output.
- Use a compatible OBS and encoder. YouTube specifies OBS 30.1 or later and a hardware HEVC encoder. Software or hardware options that do not support the required HEVC HDR output are not a substitute.
- Choose YouTube ingest in OBS. Open Settings → Stream. Select YouTube RTMPS for the RTMP workflow or YouTube HLS if your encoder and setup use HLS. YouTube documents both for Live HDR.
- Set HEVC Main 10. Open Settings → Output → Encoder, choose the compatible hardware HEVC encoder, and set its profile to Main 10.
- Set HDR color handling. In Settings → Advanced, enable HDR, choose P010 (4:2:0) as the color format, and select Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG to match the actual source. YouTube recommends HLG in its OBS directions, but the selected transfer function must still match the source.
- Configure YouTube Live Control Room. Leave Turn on manual resolution unchecked. If using HLS, set the stream key protocol to HLS. Keep the stream key private; anyone with access to it could broadcast to your channel.
- Start the broadcast and verify playback. Check the stream on a supported HDR device and look for HDR in the playback quality menu. Do not use the Live Control Room preview as proof of HDR color.
For ordinary resolution and bitrate settings, consult YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance and match settings to your encoder, resolution, frame rate, and connection. The HDR requirements above do not establish a single bitrate for every stream.
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- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
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RTMP(S) or HLS: which should you use?
Use the ingest option your encoder supports correctly. YouTube generally recommends RTMPS and says H.265 over RTMP(S) is an HDR option. HLS is another documented HDR path and can be useful when an encoder does not support the required RTMP capabilities. HLS sends video in segments, so it has higher latency than continuous delivery; that may matter for live interaction. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance and its HLS setup guidance.
Additional requirements for hardware HLS
If configuring a hardware HLS encoder, YouTube specifies these transport and signal requirements in its Live HDR guidance:
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- HEVC video with 10-bit depth.
- BT.2020 color primaries; PQ (ST 2084) or HLG transfer characteristics; and BT.2020 non-constant-luminance matrix coefficients. Each value must match the source.
- MPEG-TS segments lasting 1–4 seconds.
- A rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments; byte ranges are unsupported.
- HTTPS POST/PUT requests. Encryption beyond HTTPS is unsupported.
- An HLS-protocol stream key, with manual resolution left unchecked in Live Control Room.
Encoder interfaces may use other labels for the same signal values, such as SMPTE ST 2084 for PQ, ARIB-STD-B67 for HLG, or BT2020NC for the matrix. Check the manual for your exact encoder model; a vendor example is not a guarantee that every model uses the same controls.
How to tell whether the live stream is really HDR
- Open the live stream on an HDR-capable device with HDR playback enabled.
- Open the player’s playback quality menu and check for the HDR label.
- If the label is absent, compare the source, encoder output, and playback support rather than judging by the Live Control Room preview.
YouTube says supported viewers receive HDR automatically and other viewers receive SDR. So an HDR stream can look different to different viewers without the broadcast being misconfigured.
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Common HDR streaming problems and fixes
- No HDR label in playback: Confirm the source is genuinely HDR, the encoder is outputting HEVC with 10-bit HDR settings, and the playback device and display support HDR. Test actual playback, not only the preview.
- Washed-out, distorted, or incorrect color: Check that the transfer function, color primaries, and matrix coefficients match the source. Do not add HDR metadata to SDR material or select PQ/HLG signaling that the source does not use. YouTube warns in its separate HDR upload guidance that incorrect HDR metadata can badly distort footage; the same need for accurate signaling applies to a live chain.
- The preview looks like SDR: This is expected: YouTube says the Live Control Room preview does not display HDR colors. Verify on a compatible playback device instead.
- Some viewers see SDR: YouTube serves SDR to viewers whose devices do not support HDR. Check on an HDR-capable device before changing encoder settings.
- The HLS encoder rejects the stream: Check the HLS stream-key protocol, MPEG-TS segment duration of 1–4 seconds, absence of byte ranges, playlist limit of five outstanding segments, and HTTPS POST/PUT transport.
Live HDR is not the same as uploading an HDR video
YouTube’s upload instructions describe file uploads, not the codec rule for Live HDR. For uploaded HDR videos, YouTube lists VP9 Profile 2, AV1, and HEVC as upload formats/codecs and requires appropriate HDR metadata, including the transfer function, Rec. 2020 primaries, and Rec. 2020 non-constant-luminance matrix. It also says it creates SDR versions for non-HDR viewers. Do not infer from those upload codecs that they are supported for Live HDR: YouTube’s live guidance says HDR streaming currently uses HEVC. See the separate upload guidance and Live HDR guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If you already have an HDR recording and want it to loop as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload the video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded video; it does not broadcast a camera feed. Nothing has to stay on at home. Your upload streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; there are no quality tiers. StreamNeo can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free first day.
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