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To schedule a pre-recorded video as a YouTube live event with Restream, enable YouTube live streaming, prepare a compatible video file, then create a Pre-recorded livestream in Restream and select YouTube as the destination. Restream is designed to start the event automatically at the scheduled time; you generally do not need to stay at your computer. If you already created the event on YouTube, connect that event instead and check its auto-start and auto-stop settings.
Before you schedule: YouTube and video requirements
Enable YouTube live streaming
Your YouTube channel must have live streaming enabled, and you need to connect the channel owner’s account to Restream. Restream says first-time YouTube streamers must complete phone verification and wait 24 hours for activation. Start this process well before the event date. See Restream’s YouTube connection instructions.
Prepare a compatible file
Restream’s required prerecorded-file specifications are MP4, MOV, M4V, or MKV container; H.264 video; AAC audio; and a keyframe value of 2. If your file uses another format, convert it before uploading. Restream recommends 1080p, 30 or 60 FPS, and constant bitrate (CBR); variable-bitrate files may need re-encoding. Its file guidance also recommends adding 15–20 seconds of nonessential padding at the beginning and end, giving destination platforms time to process the stream without cutting into important content. These are Restream’s file-upload requirements and recommendations, not a guarantee that every destination accepts every resolution. See Restream’s video requirements.
Keep the file within your account’s limits
Restream’s prerecorded-event guide says the feature is available to all users, while storage and file-size limits depend on the add-on tier. The plan table published in its guide lists these library allowances and playback options; confirm current entitlements in your account before buying an add-on or scheduling a file close to a limit.
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- 【Package Content & Note】 1x HD Audio Capture Card , 1x USB 3.0 to USB C Adapter (A-side 3.0, B-side 2.0), 1x user manual. Please note that you need to restart the OBS Studio software after the audio setup is complete, otherwise it will result in no sound output. When using an adapter, if the device is recognized as USB 2.0, try using the other side with the USB-C port. Simply flip the capture card and reconnect it to be recognized as USB 3.0
| Restream add-on tier | Video library storage | Maximum resolution | Looping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | 2 hours | 1080p | Not listed |
| Marathon | 4 hours | 1080p | Up to 10 times |
| Media | 12 hours | 4K | Up to 10 times |
These are the limits in Restream’s published prerecorded-event help page, accessed October 3, 2026; product limits can change. See Restream’s prerecorded-event guide.
Schedule a prerecorded YouTube event in Restream
- Connect YouTube. In Restream, authorize the YouTube channel whose owner account you control. Make sure YouTube live streaming is enabled before proceeding.
- Open the prerecorded workflow. From the Restream home screen, choose Pre-recorded livestream, then choose Video.
- Choose your file. Select a video already in Uploads or Recordings, or upload a file from your computer or mobile device. If it does not meet the required format or encoding specifications, convert or re-encode it first.
- Enter event details. Add the title, description, date, and time. You can also add a thumbnail; Restream recommends 1280 × 720 pixels. Free users’ event thumbnails display Restream branding.
- Choose YouTube and event settings. Toggle on the connected YouTube channel. In its settings, choose an available privacy option—public, private, or unlisted—and set category or latency if desired. YouTube titles are limited to 100 characters and descriptions to 5,000 characters through Restream’s integration. Restream’s YouTube page lists H.264, 240p–2160p, up to 60 FPS, CBR, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval among YouTube streaming specifications; those general live-streaming specs are separate from the prerecorded-file checklist above.
- Optionally create an advance event post. Select the announcement option during event creation if you want an advance post. Restream says this option is available for YouTube, Facebook profiles and pages, LinkedIn, and X, and must be selected while creating the event; the stream appears on other destinations only once live.
- Create and verify the event. Create the event, then check its card in Restream for the selected video, YouTube destination, and scheduled date and time. You can open the live event in Restream to monitor the stream and chat. At the scheduled time, the prerecorded event is intended to start automatically. See Restream’s scheduling guide and YouTube connection guide.
If you already created the YouTube event
Use Restream’s existing-event workflow rather than creating a duplicate. Select the intended YouTube event in the Restream integration and verify that it is the correct date and event before starting. If YouTube’s auto-start setting is off, start the stream from Restream and then manually click Go Live on YouTube. If auto-stop is off, end the event on YouTube as well. These manual actions are exceptions to the normal scheduled prerecorded-event flow. See Restream’s instructions for connecting an existing YouTube event.
Rank #2
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Troubleshooting common scheduling problems
- YouTube is missing or will not connect: Confirm that live streaming has been enabled, the first-time activation wait is complete, and you authorized the channel owner’s account rather than another account.
- The upload is rejected or playback may fail: Check the container (MP4, MOV, M4V, or MKV), H.264 video, AAC audio, and keyframe value 2. If the file is variable bitrate or uses a different format, convert or re-encode it.
- The video is cut off at the start or end: Add the 15–20 seconds of nonessential beginning and ending padding Restream recommends for destination processing.
- The scheduled event does not appear to go live: Check the event card, selected YouTube channel, and scheduled time zone/date. For an existing YouTube event, check whether auto-start is disabled; if it is, start the stream in Restream and click Go Live on YouTube.
- The event stays live after the video: For an existing YouTube event, check auto-stop. If it is disabled, end the event on YouTube manually.
- You cannot add the desired thumbnail or advance post: Use a 1280 × 720 thumbnail; note that free users’ thumbnails show Restream branding. The advance announcement choice is made during event creation, so it cannot be added afterward through that workflow.
- Your video exceeds the available storage or resolution: Check your account’s current add-on limits and file size allowance. The published storage/resolution table is subject to change.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a YouTube channel live around the clock using uploaded videos, StreamNeo is an alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. The stream runs at the quality you uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, for one flat price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for uploaded videos and YouTube streaming, not going live from a camera. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free first day.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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Rank #3
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