You can send a vertical video feed from a VPS to YouTube Live through a third-party encoder using RTMP or RTMPS. The harder part is keeping a playlist of prerecorded files playing continuously: YouTube documents its live ingest and setup, but the sources here do not establish a validated, gapless VPS playlist recipe. Treat the encoder, file sequencing, and process recovery as separate pieces to configure and test—not as a guaranteed YouTube feature.
What this setup does—and what it does not guarantee
The VPS runs encoder software that sends video to YouTube using the server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. YouTube supports vertical live viewing and documents third-party encoder workflows, including dual horizontal and vertical output. That platform support does not certify a particular way to rotate prerecorded files on a VPS or ensure a broadcast will stay live indefinitely.
Keep two kinds of playlist distinct. Your source playlist is the collection of prerecorded videos the encoder plays in sequence. YouTube’s HLS ingest playlist, by contrast, is a media playlist describing encoded segments sent to YouTube; it is not a turnkey source-file rotation feature. YouTube’s documented dual-output third-party encoder path uses RTMP(S). See YouTube’s HLS ingest guidance and live-stream setup guidance.
Choose how to create the vertical output
Live Control Room dual-stream handling
YouTube says streams started from Live Control Room can go live in horizontal and vertical formats by default. The vertical output is a center crop unless you select a different layout. This can be convenient, but a center crop may cut off subjects or text placed near the horizontal frame’s edges. Review the vertical preview before starting.
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#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Third-party encoder with a vertical stream key
YouTube also documents a third-party encoder workflow: select RTMP(S) in the relevant Live Control Room controls, use the separate stream key for the vertical output, and send the intended content to that key. Configure vertical output before starting; YouTube says it cannot be added after the stream has begun. If you also send a horizontal version, verify which output and key receive each composition. The exact controls can change, so follow the current options displayed in Live Control Room.
| Choice | Composition | Output and setup |
|---|---|---|
| Live Control Room dual-stream handling | Vertical is a center crop unless another layout is selected. | YouTube describes horizontal and vertical streams going live by default in this workflow. |
| Third-party encoder | You choose and send the intended vertical content; check the encoder’s composition and preview. | Choose RTMP(S), use the separate vertical stream key, and configure before the broadcast starts. |
Vertical streams may appear in the YouTube app’s vertical live experience and while viewers browse Shorts, but availability is not universal: YouTube says the vertical live feed is not currently available on tablets, and scheduled streams and Premieres do not appear in that feed. See YouTube’s viewer help for vertical live streams.
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Prepare YouTube Live and connect the VPS encoder
- Create or schedule the broadcast. Open YouTube Live Control Room and set up the live stream. If you want vertical output, configure it now rather than after the stream starts. For a third-party encoder dual-output setup, select RTMP(S) and identify the vertical stream key.
- Copy the ingest details privately. In the stream or encoder settings, get the YouTube Live server URL and stream key. YouTube’s encoder instructions use these values to connect the encoder; the LiveStreams API describes the incoming feed’s ingestion address and stream name. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it in a screenshot, sample command, or log. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions and the LiveStreams API documentation.
- Configure the encoder on the VPS. Enter the server URL and key in the encoder’s configuration. Use placeholders in any shared configuration, such as
<YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL>and<PRIVATE_STREAM_KEY>; never paste a real key into a public example. YouTube’s RTMPS guidance specifies port 443 and correct hostname/SNI setup, so preserve the endpoint hostname and use the secure endpoint supplied for your stream. See YouTube’s RTMPS delivery guidance. - Start the encoder and wait for preview. For a scheduled stream, YouTube’s documented flow includes waiting until the encoder feed appears in Live Control Room, then clicking Go live. A connected process alone does not confirm that the intended portrait video and audio are reaching viewers.
- Test the actual sequence before relying on it. Play through file changes and inspect the preview. Confirm portrait framing, audio at the beginning and end of each file, transition behavior, reconnect behavior, and what happens if the encoder or VPS restarts. The sources here do not specify a particular file-concatenation command, audio-boundary handling, restart supervisor, VPS size, or bandwidth requirement, so do not treat an unverified configuration as a guaranteed continuous playlist.
Make a prerecorded playlist continuous in practice
FFmpeg is a general-purpose media converter with command and filter documentation, as well as HLS muxer options. Those references do not by themselves validate a command for rotating your particular files into a continuous YouTube broadcast. File formats, codecs, frame dimensions, frame rates, audio streams, and duration differences can all affect sequencing. Consult the FFmpeg documentation and full FFmpeg options for the behavior of the tools you choose; verify the complete output on your own VPS before using it unattended.
- Portrait layout: confirm the resulting feed has the intended vertical framing and that important content is not cropped. Do not assume that sending a vertical file automatically means every viewing surface presents it identically.
- File transitions: test the change from every file to the next, including video and audio continuity. A list of filenames is not evidence that the encoder will switch cleanly.
- Long-run behavior: monitor CPU use, outbound network use, and whether the encoder continues to produce a valid feed over a representative run. No VPS resource size or provider capacity is established here.
- Recovery: decide what should happen after a process failure, network interruption, or VPS restart, then test that recovery. YouTube recommends testing backup-encoder failover when one is used, but that is not the same as certifying an automatic playlist restart.
Check the broadcast before leaving it unattended
YouTube’s live-streaming tips recommend preparing the encoder in advance, starting it ahead of the event, checking the Live Control Room preview, testing backup-encoder failover when applicable, checking that local archive files are growing, confirming viewers can access the event from channel or watch pages and mobile devices, and monitoring audio and video quality. Apply the relevant checks to a VPS run before relying on it; these checks reduce avoidable surprises but do not promise indefinite uptime. See YouTube’s live-streaming tips.
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- Verify the correct broadcast and vertical composition in the preview before going live.
- Check access from the channel or watch page and from a supported mobile device.
- Listen for missing or clipped audio across file boundaries, not only during a file’s middle.
- If using backup encoder failover or an archive, confirm the backup behavior and archive growth rather than assuming they are working.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely area to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube shows no encoder preview | Ingest URL, stream key, selected output, or network connection. | Confirm the server URL and key match the intended stream, ensure the vertical output is sent to its separate key when using third-party dual output, and check the VPS connection. Keep the key private while correcting it. |
| The vertical stream is missing after going live | Vertical output was not configured before start, or the wrong key/output was used. | Configure the vertical format and key in Live Control Room before starting the next broadcast; YouTube says vertical format cannot be added after the stream has begun. |
| The portrait image cuts off content | Center crop or incorrect source composition. | Inspect the vertical preview and choose a different layout where available, or prepare content composed for portrait framing. |
| Video pauses, audio drops, or files do not transition cleanly | Source-file differences, sequencing configuration, encoder load, or connection stability. | Test the affected file boundary and sustained run on the VPS. Validate video and audio together; the platform documentation does not prescribe a source-playlist rotation recipe. |
| RTMPS connection fails | Incorrect secure endpoint, port, or hostname/SNI handling. | Use the RTMPS endpoint details YouTube provides, including the correct host and port 443, and verify that the encoder preserves the hostname required for SNI authentication. |
| The stream drops after a VPS or encoder restart | Process supervision and restart behavior are VPS/encoder implementation details. | Test restart and reconnection behavior deliberately, and verify that the feed returns in Live Control Room. YouTube’s failover advice does not establish that a particular VPS process manager will recover automatically. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps prerecorded videos playing while your own computer is off, StreamNeo is an alternative to operating an encoder on a VPS: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera, and it streams to YouTube only.
- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs in the cloud.
- Any quality up to 4K 60fps, as uploaded, at one flat price per slot with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. The same product is available for shorter or longer billing periods; see StreamNeo pricing for current options. Learn more at StreamNeo; UPI and cards are available in India, and card checkout is available worldwide. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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Best Value
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Rank #4
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
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