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To stream 4K at 60 fps to YouTube with OBS, use a YouTube stream key, set OBS to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, and configure an available H.264 encoder for CBR with a 2-second keyframe interval. YouTube’s surfaced regional help pages disagree on the recommended H.264 bitrate for 2160p60, so check the current guidance for your region and test your upload before broadcasting.
Before you configure OBS
Your video source, encoder, and internet connection all need to sustain the stream you intend to send. A 4K60 output is only useful if the source actually provides that resolution and frame rate and your system can encode it without dropped frames.
- Confirm that your source can provide 3840×2160 at 60 fps.
- Check that your connection can reliably sustain the selected video bitrate plus audio and network overhead. Use a speed test as an initial check, then verify with a preflight stream.
- Choose an H.264 encoder available on your computer. OBS configurations and encoder performance vary by system and workload; test your chosen encoder rather than assuming one type is best for every PC.
Create a YouTube stream key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room.
- Create a live stream or select the stream you plan to use.
- In the stream settings, create or select a stream key and copy it. Treat the key like a password: do not publish or share it.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube as the service and choose the stream-key option if prompted, then paste the key into the stream key field and apply the settings.
YouTube detects resolution and frame rate automatically by default. Its help guidance says a custom stream key can be configured for manual resolution selection. Use the stream-key workflow for this 4K setup: the particular OBS direct YouTube setup path described in an OBS resource does not support 4K. YouTube supports RTMP and RTMPS; choose RTMPS when it is available in the OBS server options. YouTube’s live encoder settings and OBS’s YouTube setup resource provide further detail.
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Set OBS video to 4K at 60 fps
- Open Settings > Video.
- Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to 3840×2160 if your scene and source are built for 4K.
- Set Output (Scaled) Resolution to 3840×2160. If your system cannot sustain this output, reduce the resolution rather than sending an unstable 4K signal.
- Set Common FPS Values to 60.
These settings define the requested output; they do not increase the quality of lower-resolution source material. If you use scaling, verify the result in a test stream.
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Configure H.264 output and bitrate
- Open Settings > Output and select the Streaming tab. If you use Advanced output mode, make sure you are editing the streaming encoder rather than the recording encoder.
- Choose an available H.264 encoder.
- Set Rate Control to CBR.
- Set Keyframe Interval to 2 seconds.
- Set the video bitrate using the current YouTube help recommendation for your region, then confirm that your upload connection can maintain it during a realistic test.
YouTube’s official regional help results surfaced different 2160p60 H.264 recommendations: one lists 14 Mbps minimum and 50 Mbps recommended; another lists 35 Mbps recommended. Do not treat these as one universal recommendation or add them together. Check the live YouTube encoder settings page for your region before choosing a bitrate. Whichever recommendation you follow, test the actual stream and monitor its health; an advertised connection speed alone does not establish that the bitrate will remain stable.
YouTube supports up to 60 fps, recommends CBR, and recommends a 2-second keyframe interval; its listed maximum keyframe interval is 4 seconds. OBS’s x264 guide notes that encoder setups depend on the use case. Encoder choice and performance therefore need to be checked on your own system.
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Set SDR color and audio
SDR video
For SDR, YouTube recommends progressive scan, square pixels, Rec. 709 color, 8-bit depth, CABAC, two B-frames, and one reference frame. Set the corresponding options in OBS if your selected encoder exposes them. Encoder controls can differ, so do not assume every setting appears under the same label on every system.
Stereo audio
For stereo, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps. If you are intentionally sending 5.1 audio instead, YouTube lists 48 kHz and 384 Kbps; RTMP/RTMPS 5.1 is supported only with AAC. Keep the stereo and 5.1 configurations distinct.
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Test the stream before going live
- Start a test stream with audio and motion similar to the real broadcast. YouTube’s guidance is direct: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
- Watch YouTube Live Control Room’s stream health and status messages while OBS is sending.
- Check OBS for dropped frames or encoder overload, and listen for audio problems. If the stream is unstable, investigate connection capacity and system load, then adjust the bitrate or output settings and test again.
- Only begin the intended broadcast after the test is stable at the settings you plan to use.
At 4K/2160p, YouTube’s low-latency option is unavailable; streams are set to normal latency. Plan for that delay if you expect to interact with viewers in real time. YouTube’s stream health guidance explains the monitoring step.
Troubleshoot common 4K60 problems
YouTube does not show a 4K60 signal
- Confirm that OBS’s output resolution is 3840×2160 and its frame rate is 60 fps.
- Confirm the source itself supports 4K60; OBS cannot create detail or frames the source does not contain.
- Use the stream-key workflow, not the particular OBS direct setup path that does not support 4K.
- Check whether YouTube is detecting the stream automatically or whether your custom key is configured for manual resolution selection.
Stream health reports connection trouble
- Check the current regional bitrate recommendation and compare it with sustained upload capacity, not just a peak speed-test result.
- Run another preflight test with realistic audio and motion. Lower the bitrate or resolution if the connection cannot sustain the target reliably.
Frames drop or the encoder struggles
- Check OBS’s performance indicators and system load during an actual test.
- Try another available H.264 encoder if your system provides one, then test again. The best choice depends on your hardware, software, and workload.
- If 4K60 remains unstable, reduce the output demands to a level the system can maintain.
Audio is missing or configured incorrectly
- Verify that OBS is sending the intended audio source and that the stream’s audio settings match the intended format.
- Use the stereo settings for stereo. For 5.1 over RTMP/RTMPS, use AAC and the separate 5.1 settings above.
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