To remove black bars from an OBS loop stream, first check whether they are already in the video file. Then make OBS’s canvas and output the same aspect ratio as your intended stream, and choose a proportional fit or crop for the video source. If the bars appear only on YouTube, compare the actual stream playback with the OBS preview and a local recording before changing settings.
1. Check where the black bars come from
There are three likely places to look: the video itself, the way the source is positioned in OBS, or the shape of the encoded stream and YouTube player. Check in this order so you do not change the scene to compensate for bars already baked into the file.
Inspect the video file
Open the original video outside OBS and note its pixel dimensions and aspect ratio. Check whether the black areas are visible there. If they are, the bars are part of the video’s pixels; changing the OBS canvas alone will not remove them. You will need to crop or edit the video, or crop it in OBS.
Compare OBS preview and YouTube playback
If the original file is clean and the OBS preview looks right, compare a local recording of the OBS output, if available, with YouTube playback. This helps distinguish a source or scene issue from a mismatch in the stream output or how the player presents it. YouTube detects the encoder’s resolution and frame rate automatically by default and transcodes live streams for playback across devices, so the player’s display is not a substitute for checking the encoded picture.
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2. Match the OBS canvas and output aspect ratios
For a standard widescreen 16:9 stream, common matching dimensions are 1920×1080 and 1280×720. In OBS, open Settings → Video and compare Base (Canvas) Resolution with Output (Scaled) Resolution. Set both to dimensions with the aspect ratio you intend to stream.
Check the complete dimensions rather than relying on a familiar width. For example, 1920×1080 and 1280×720 are both 16:9; 1080×720 is not. An OBS forum discussion from 2017 described a user whose canvas was 1920×1080 while the output was set to 1080×720, and a reply suggested 1280×720 as the 16:9 alternative. That is a historical example of a mismatch, not proof that it explains every case of bars on YouTube.
YouTube’s video resolution and aspect-ratio guidance lists recommended resolutions for 16:9 video and explains that the player adapts to the video’s shape and the viewer’s device. Avoid adding black padding directly to the video when you can present the image cleanly instead.
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3. Choose how the video fills the OBS frame
Select the video or media source in the OBS preview, then choose a transform based on what matters most: keeping every part of the image, filling the frame, or preserving the picture’s geometry. OBS’s Aspect Ratio Guide explains the trade-offs. Menu labels may vary by OBS version.
| Choice | What it does | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fit proportionally | Shows the whole image without changing its shape. | Can leave unused space if the source and frame have different aspect ratios. |
| Crop or fill | Fills the frame while keeping the image’s proportions. | Removes some content at the edges; check that important details remain visible. |
| Stretch | Fills the frame while retaining the entire source image. | Changes the image’s geometry, making people and objects look wider or narrower. |
| Designed background | Places the full image over a background or other scene content. | Uses composition around the image instead of forcing it to fill the frame. |
Fit when the entire image matters
Use a proportional fit when you must retain every edge. If the aspect ratios differ, empty space may remain; fill that space with a background or other scene content rather than distorting the video.
Crop when filling the frame matters more
Crop the edges or enlarge the source beyond the canvas until the frame is covered. OBS documents cropping by holding Alt while dragging a source edge. Check the result in the preview so titles, faces, and other important details are not cut off.
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Avoid stretching to solve bars
Holding Shift while dragging a source edge can stretch it in OBS, but this distorts the picture. Use it only if that distortion is acceptable; proportional fit or crop generally gives a more natural result.
When the source and target aspect ratios differ, no transform can show every source pixel, cover every part of the frame, and preserve the original geometry all at once. Choose between unused space, cropped edges, or distortion.
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- Review the source: confirm its dimensions and whether the bars are embedded in the file.
- Review the OBS frame: in Settings → Video, check Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution.
- Review the source transform: select the video in the preview and confirm it is fitted proportionally, cropped to fill, or deliberately placed over a background.
- Compare the output: check the OBS preview, a local recording if available, and the YouTube playback. Look for bars inside the picture itself as well as blank space around the player.
YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance says resolution and frame rate are detected automatically by default and that streams are transcoded for playback. The player can adapt its framing to different devices; that behavior is separate from black pixels already present in the encoded picture.
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5. Troubleshoot by symptom
Bars are visible in the original file
Likely cause: the black areas are encoded into the video. Fix: crop or edit the video, or crop the source in OBS. If cropping would remove important content, keep the full image and use a designed background.
Bars appear in the OBS preview
Likely cause: the source and canvas have different aspect ratios, or the source does not fill the canvas. Fix: inspect the canvas dimensions and source transform. Fit proportionally to preserve the whole image, or crop to fill.
The OBS preview looks fine, but YouTube playback has bars
Likely cause: a difference in output dimensions or in how the encoded stream is presented. Fix: compare a local recording with YouTube playback and check the OBS output resolution as well as the canvas. Confirm whether the black bars are part of the picture or just space around it in the player. A 2017 OBS forum report describes this symptom, but the example does not establish a universal YouTube-side cause.
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