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To stream a prerecorded video to YouTube Live in 4K at 60 fps with OBS on Windows 11, add the local file as an OBS Media Source, set the video output to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, choose a supported encoder and YouTube-recommended bitrate, then connect OBS to a YouTube stream using its URL and stream key. Test the preview and stream health in YouTube Live Control Room before clicking Go live. Your PC must be able to encode the stream in real time, and your upload connection needs enough headroom; Windows 11 compatibility alone does not guarantee 4K60 performance.
Before you start
You need OBS Studio installed on Windows 11, a local video file, a YouTube channel able to use Live Control Room, and an upload connection that can sustain the selected bitrate. YouTube’s encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS delivery and resolutions and frame rates up to 60 fps. OBS supports Windows 11, but neither platform publishes a single PC specification that guarantees reliable 4K60 encoding. Test your specific machine and scene before relying on them for a broadcast. YouTube encoder settings; OBS system requirements.
- Use a video file stored at a stable local path so it remains available throughout the stream.
- Check that your encoder supports the codec you intend to use.
- For a local file played through OBS, the documented workflow does not require a capture card.
- If the file is lower resolution than 4K, setting OBS output to 4K does not make its picture native 4K; inspect the scene preview.
Set up the video in OBS
Add the file as a Media Source
- Open OBS and create or select a scene.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source.
- Name the source, select Local File, and browse to the prerecorded video.
- Check the preview to confirm the video fits the scene and plays as expected.
OBS Media Source supports local video formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM. For a one-time playback, leave Loop off. For continuous playback, enable Loop. The Restart playback when source becomes active option restarts the file when that source becomes visible in the active scene. OBS also provides Use hardware decoding when available for supported formats; whether it helps depends on the PC and file, so verify behavior in a test. OBS Media Sources.
Set canvas and output resolution and frame rate
In OBS, open Settings > Video. Set the base (canvas) resolution and output (scaled) resolution to 3840×2160, and set the common FPS value to 60. Use these settings only if the source and PC can support the output. A 4K output setting does not restore detail absent from a lower-resolution source. The OBS guide explains the video settings: OBS overview.
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Choose encoder, bitrate, and stream settings
Use a codec supported by your encoder
Open Settings > Output and configure the streaming encoder. Choose a codec offered by your installed OBS build and supported by the selected hardware encoder. YouTube’s 2160p60 recommendations vary by codec:
| Ingest codec | YouTube-listed minimum video bitrate | YouTube-recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.265 / HEVC | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s live-ingest settings for 2160p60, not recommendations for uploading a video file. Availability depends on your OBS build and hardware encoder; do not assume every GPU can encode every codec or sustain 4K60. OBS generally recommends hardware encoding to reduce CPU load, but encoder capability and quality vary by hardware generation. See OBS hardware encoding guidance.
Set rate control and keyframes
YouTube recommends CBR (constant bitrate) and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. Its encoder guidance also lists progressive scan, square pixels, two B-frames, one reference frame, and CABAC among its advanced recommendations. Exact control names and availability can vary with the encoder selected in OBS. Use the YouTube settings as the target, then confirm the resulting stream is stable. YouTube encoder settings.
Set audio
For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio; AAC is required for 5.1 surround sound. For stereo, its listed settings are 128 kbps and a 44.1 kHz sample rate. Confirm that OBS is sending the intended audio source and that it is audible in the preview. YouTube encoder settings.
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Check upload capacity
YouTube recommends keeping the total stream bitrate within available upload bandwidth and leaving 20% headroom. At the recommended video bitrates above, that works out to about 42 Mbps of upload capacity for a 35 Mbps video stream and about 60 Mbps for a 50 Mbps video stream. These are arithmetic estimates applying YouTube’s headroom recommendation to video bitrate; allow for audio and any other upload traffic as well. Test upload speed at the location and time you expect to broadcast, and use a reliable connection. A wired Ethernet connection may help if your Wi-Fi is unstable, but replacing equipment is not automatically necessary. YouTube encoder settings; YouTube streaming tips.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the stream.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service if available, and enter the stream key and server information as required. Prefer RTMPS when offered.
- Keep the stream key private. YouTube uses it to identify the destination and accept the encoder feed; anyone with access to it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
- Click Start Streaming in OBS and wait for the incoming preview in Live Control Room.
- Check the video, sound, frame rate, and stream health. When ready, click Go live in YouTube.
RTMPS encrypts the connection using TLS/SSL. Follow YouTube’s current connection instructions if its Studio interface or OBS service options differ from these labels. YouTube: set up your encoder; YouTube encoder settings.
Test and monitor the broadcast
When practical, test with a private or unlisted stream before the intended broadcast. Use a representative section of the video, including its louder and quieter audio and scenes with motion. Check both the Live Control Room preview and viewer playback, and watch the stream-health messages for warnings or instability. YouTube recommends testing upload speed and monitoring stream health. YouTube streaming tips; YouTube: set up your encoder.
When finished, end the broadcast in YouTube and stop sending from OBS. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. YouTube: set up your encoder.
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Use SDR unless you are deliberately producing HDR
A 4K60 stream does not need to be HDR. For ordinary SDR, YouTube’s general guidance recommends Rec. 709 and 8-bit color. Do not enable HDR settings just because the output is 4K60.
HDR is a separate workflow. YouTube’s instructions specify OBS 30.1 or later, an HDR source, a hardware HEVC encoder, Main 10 profile, P010 color format, and Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG color space. Use those settings only when your source and workflow are actually HDR. YouTube encoder settings; YouTube HDR live streaming.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common problems
YouTube preview is missing
- Confirm OBS is streaming and that the stream URL and key match the selected YouTube event.
- Check that the connection is stable and that YouTube has not reported an ingest or stream-health error.
- If you reset or changed the stream key in YouTube, update it in OBS.
The picture stutters, drops frames, or looks unstable
- Check OBS performance statistics and YouTube stream health to distinguish encoding strain from connection problems.
- If the PC cannot sustain the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate, test a hardware encoder or a lower-load configuration before the event; there is no universal PC specification that guarantees 4K60.
- Check that upload capacity can carry the total bitrate with YouTube’s recommended headroom, and reduce competing upload traffic.
- Verify the source file plays smoothly in OBS and that the scene does not add unnecessary processing.
The stream does not reach 4K60
- Verify both OBS output resolution and frame rate, and check the incoming preview and YouTube’s stream-health information.
- Confirm the source actually contains 4K detail and 60 fps if those properties are required; output settings cannot create source detail.
- Check the chosen encoder and its capabilities. YouTube’s bitrate guidance depends on codec, so verify the codec actually being sent.
The video stops instead of repeating
Reopen the Media Source properties and enable Loop. If the source is hidden and shown through scene changes, check whether Restart playback when source becomes active is enabled, since it restarts playback when the source becomes visible.
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Check the Media Source audio and OBS audio mixer, then confirm the expected audio is present in YouTube’s preview. Verify the format and sample rate against YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS recommendations.
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Copyright, reused content, and live-stream responsibility
Only stream videos and audio you have the rights or permission to use. YouTube may detect copyrighted material during a live stream, and its policies and monetization rules are separate from the technical ability to send a feed. A prerecorded loop is not, by itself, proof that a channel meets YouTube’s monetization or originality requirements. Review YouTube’s current copyright guidance and YouTube channel monetization policies before broadcasting or relying on monetization.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep prerecorded video looping on YouTube without leaving a Windows PC on, StreamNeo runs the stream from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not stream from a camera or to other platforms.
- Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on for the stream.
- Every quality up to 4K 60fps is streamed as uploaded, with no re-encode and one flat price per slot.
- StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
The first-day offer is followed by paid access if you choose to continue. Monthly access is $9.99 per month. For this YouTube-only prerecorded-video workflow, the cloud option avoids keeping OBS and your PC running at home. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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 problemsFrequently Asked Questions
Can OBS loop a video file during a YouTube livestream?
Yes. Add it as a Media Source and enable Loop in the source properties.
Do I need a capture card to stream a local prerecorded video?
No capture card is required by the documented local-file Media Source workflow.
Quick Recap
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