To stream an MP4 to YouTube Live with FFmpeg, choose one output resolution and frame rate, encode the file in real time, and send it to the stream URL and key for your YouTube event. YouTube then transcodes that live feed into multiple playback formats for viewers, so you normally do not need a separate FFmpeg stream for each viewing resolution.
What “different resolutions” means for a YouTube live stream
FFmpeg controls the resolution of the feed you send to YouTube—the ingest resolution. YouTube creates multiple output formats from that feed so viewers can watch at resolutions suited to their devices and connections. For the usual live-streaming setup, send one well-configured feed rather than building a separate ingest stream for every playback size. YouTube describes this automatic transcoding in its live encoder settings and resolutions guidance.
If you mean broadcasting separate events or distinct streams, that is a different setup. This guide covers one MP4 sent as one YouTube Live feed.
Choose an ingest resolution, frame rate, and bitrate
Choose a resolution the source video, encoding computer, and internet connection can sustain. Scaling a low-resolution MP4 up does not restore detail that is not in the source. YouTube’s current H.264 recommendations are listed below; the support page does not display a publication date and was accessed October 3, 2026. Treat these as encoder targets, not a guarantee of a particular result.
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| Ingest resolution and frame rate | YouTube-recommended H.264 video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 21 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 34 Mbps |
The recommendations vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate. Keep the total output within the connection’s sustained upload capacity; YouTube’s streaming tips recommend about 20% upload headroom. A speed test is only a snapshot, so check the actual connection during a representative test. If the computer cannot encode reliably or the upload is unstable, reduce the resolution, frame rate, or bitrate and test again.
Frame shape and source limits
Keep the output aspect ratio consistent with the source, or choose deliberately whether to pad or crop it. The scale setting in the example preserves the source ratio, so a non-16:9 MP4 will not automatically become 16:9. Avoid accidental stretching. Choose the frame rate based on the source and the motion you need to preserve.
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Codec, keyframes, and audio
YouTube recommends RTMP or RTMPS ingestion, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, constant-bitrate encoding, and a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds). It recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport. AAC or MP3 audio is supported over RTMP/RTMPS; 5.1 surround sound is supported only with AAC. The command below is a conventional H.264/AAC SDR example, not an HDR configuration. For HDR, YouTube recommends H.265 and says AV1 is not supported for HDR; check its current guidance before configuring an HDR stream.
Prepare the MP4 and YouTube event
- Set up the event: In YouTube Studio, open Go Live, create or select an event, and copy the stream URL and stream key from its Live Control Room. Confirm the event is ready to receive an encoder feed. Interface labels can change, so use the values shown for the current event rather than copying an endpoint from an unrelated example.
- Inspect the file: Check the MP4’s dimensions, frame rate, aspect ratio, and whether it contains an audio stream. Make sure the output settings suit the source and the computer that will encode it.
- Choose one output: Select the ingest resolution and frame rate, then match the bitrate to YouTube’s current recommendation for that codec and setting. Leave upload headroom.
- Protect the key: Treat the stream key like a password. Do not put a real key in a public article, screenshot, or source repository. Reset it if it is exposed or compromised.
Stream the MP4 with FFmpeg
This adaptable command is illustrative, not a tested command. Replace the input path, stream URL, and encoding values as appropriate. It targets 1080p/30 fps H.264 with AAC audio and loops the MP4; confirm your FFmpeg build supports libx264 and the protocols it needs.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a?
-vf "scale=1920:-2"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 28M -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_STREAM_URL"Set the input, resolution, and destination
-rereads the file at its native rate for a live-style feed; it is important when sending a file as a live stream rather than uploading it as a normal video.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. Remove it if the stream should end when the file finishes.-i "input.mp4"is the source file. Replace it with the actual file path.-vf "scale=1920:-2"sets the width to 1920 pixels and calculates an even height that preserves the source aspect ratio. For a lower output resolution, choose an appropriate width. This does not guarantee 16:9 if the source is not 16:9."$YOUTUBE_STREAM_URL"represents the destination URL and key information supplied for the configured YouTube event. Use the current event’s values; keep the key secret.
Match bitrate and keyframe duration
-b:v 14Msets the example video bitrate to 14 Mbps, YouTube’s currently displayed H.264 recommendation for 1080p/30 fps. Use the recommendation that matches your chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate instead of treating 14 Mbps as universal.-maxrate 14M -bufsize 28Mset the example rate-control ceiling and buffer. These values are part of this illustrative pattern, not a guarantee that the network or encoder can sustain it.-g 60requests a 60-frame GOP, or two seconds at 30 fps. Keep the keyframe interval about two seconds at other frame rates too—for example, 120 frames at 60 fps.-c:v libx264selects H.264 encoding, while-preset veryfasttrades some compression efficiency for lower encoding load. If the computer cannot encode in real time, lower the output demands and retest.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a widely compatible pixel format for this SDR example.
Map and encode audio
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? selects the first video stream and an optional audio stream. The question mark means FFmpeg can proceed if the file has no audio; it does not create sound. The example encodes any mapped audio as AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz. Confirm the source has the audio you intend to broadcast and that it is audible in YouTube’s preview.
Start, test, and monitor the stream
- Start FFmpeg with the event’s current stream URL and key.
- Check the Live Control Room preview for the intended picture, aspect ratio, and audio before starting the public broadcast.
- Test representative motion and listen for audio problems. Watch YouTube’s stream-health messages and monitor the broadcast while it runs.
- If health is unstable, check the actual sustained upload capacity and encoding load; reduce the output resolution, frame rate, or bitrate as needed, then test again.
YouTube specifically advises testing before a live stream. A command that starts successfully is not proof that the connection, audio, or picture will remain healthy throughout an event.
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Common problems and fixes
- Dropped frames or unstable stream health: The output may exceed the stable upload capacity, or the computer may be struggling to encode. Leave more upload headroom or lower resolution, frame rate, or bitrate; test under realistic conditions.
- Stretched, cropped, or unexpected frame shape: Check the MP4’s display aspect ratio. The example scale filter preserves that ratio; choose a deliberate pad or crop strategy if you specifically need a different frame shape.
- No sound in the preview: Confirm the MP4 contains an audio stream and that it is the intended track. The optional audio map allows a file without audio, but cannot generate sound.
- FFmpeg reports an unknown encoder or protocol: FFmpeg builds differ. Check whether your installed build includes
libx264and the required protocol support; option availability depends on the build. - YouTube does not receive the feed: Recheck the stream URL and key in the current event’s settings. Reset the key if it was exposed, then use the replacement securely.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Before streaming, make sure you have the rights to broadcast the MP4’s video, music, and other included material. An MP4 being locally available does not establish permission to stream it. Review YouTube’s current copyright and monetization policies for your content and channel; this FFmpeg workflow does not determine whether material is authorized or eligible for monetization.
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