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YouTube dual-format live streaming lets you broadcast one event in landscape (16:9) and portrait (9:16) at the same time. Set it up in YouTube Studio before you start: mobile viewers watching in the Shorts feed can see the vertical version, while other viewers see the horizontal version. You can use YouTube’s built-in Live Control Room workflow or send separate feeds through an encoder.
Before you start: check channel eligibility
YouTube says a channel must be verified and have had no live-streaming restrictions during the previous 90 days to live stream. Its general eligibility guidance also says streamers must be at least 16 years old. If live streaming has not previously been enabled for your channel, do it well before the event: first-time enablement can take time. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility and setup guidance.
Set up dual streaming in YouTube Studio
This is the simplest route if you want YouTube to create both formats in Live Control Room. The important timing constraint is that you cannot add the vertical format after the stream has started.
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go live. Choose an existing stream or schedule one.
- Open the stream’s settings in Live Control Room and make sure Dual stream is enabled. YouTube’s default Live Control Room behavior is to create horizontal 16:9 and vertical 9:16 versions together.
- Choose the vertical layout in the editing canvas: Center crop, Fit to phone width, or Stacked.
- Adjust the zoom and position, then inspect the portrait preview. Make sure faces, text, and the main action remain visible.
- Preview and test the stream before the event. Start only after checking both formats; the vertical version cannot be added once the broadcast is underway.
YouTube says a layout edited through the canvas can still be adjusted while live. That does not remove the need to configure dual streaming before starting. The setup options are documented in YouTube’s Live Control Room instructions.
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Choose a vertical composition that fits the event
The portrait frame is narrow, so a layout that works in landscape may cut off a speaker, graphic, or key action. The right choice depends on what needs to remain visible; treat the preview as a composition check rather than assuming one option will suit every source.
- Center crop: A practical choice when the main subject stays near the middle of the landscape picture. Check that important material near the sides is not lost.
- Fit to phone width: Can preserve more of a wide frame, but may leave unused space in the portrait presentation. Preview your actual graphics and footage to see how it looks.
- Stacked: May suit content where two visual regions can be arranged vertically. Check that neither region becomes too small to follow on a phone.
These are composition considerations based on the available layout choices, not guaranteed results for every source. Test with the actual speaker positions, overlays, and movement expected during the event.
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Use an encoder for separate horizontal and vertical feeds
If your production setup sends the formats separately, configure the vertical feed in Live Control Room and send it to its own stream key. YouTube’s encoder settings recommend RTMPS for secure transport.
- In Live Control Room, open the Stream tab.
- On the vertical preview, open the Auto menu and choose Encoder.
- Choose RTMP(S) and select a second stream key for the vertical feed.
- In your encoder, confirm that the horizontal and vertical outputs are each being sent to the corresponding stream key. Check the previews in Live Control Room.
- Start the stream from YouTube Studio after verifying the feeds and event setup.
A stream key is a credential that tells the encoder where to send a feed and lets YouTube accept it. Keep keys private; reset a key if it is compromised. Find the dual-stream steps in YouTube’s live-streaming help and the transport recommendation in YouTube’s encoder settings guide.
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What viewers see
YouTube uses one shared stream URL and sends one go-live notification. Viewers watching from the Shorts feed on mobile see the vertical version; viewers elsewhere see the horizontal version. Both formats use the same live chat. The vertical version can be discovered by people browsing the Shorts feed, including viewers who are not subscribers.
The formats do not have identical features. YouTube’s comparison identifies Shorts discovery and scrolling alongside other live streams as vertical-feed capabilities. Horizontal live retains clickable links in chat and the channel description, live pre-roll and mid-roll ads, 4K bitrate broadcast support, Premieres, and Live Redirect. Memberships and gifted memberships are available in both formats. Access to fan-funding and advertising features depends on eligibility, so do not assume every channel can use every feature. Details are in YouTube’s dual-stream feature comparison.
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Preflight and monitor the broadcast
Test well ahead of the event, especially if you are using an encoder. YouTube recommends checking the Live Control Room preview, confirming the event is accessible on channel or watch pages and on mobile, and monitoring audio, video quality, and stream-health messages. Use test audio and movement comparable to the real event so the preview reveals likely problems. YouTube recommends professional-grade hardware encoders for higher-production events but does not name a mandatory encoder model for dual-format streaming.
- Check both previews before going live and confirm the portrait crop keeps the important content in frame.
- Verify the event from a phone and from the channel or watch page, not only from the production computer.
- Listen for audio problems and watch stream-health messages during the broadcast.
- For an encoder workflow, confirm each output is routed to its intended key.
For more production guidance, see YouTube’s live streaming tips and encoder settings guidance.
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Review combined and vertical-specific analytics
Live Control Room combines metrics for both formats during and after the broadcast. Metrics for the vertical stream alone become available 24 hours after the stream ends. Use the combined view for live monitoring, then return after that delay to assess vertical-specific performance. See YouTube’s live-stream metrics guidance.
Troubleshooting common dual-stream problems
- The vertical preview is missing: Check that Dual stream is enabled before starting. The vertical format cannot be added after the broadcast has begun.
- The portrait view cuts off a person or graphic: Revisit the vertical canvas, adjust zoom and position, or try another layout. Test with the actual scene before publishing.
- The wrong content appears in one format: With an encoder setup, verify that each output goes to the corresponding horizontal or vertical stream key and inspect both Live Control Room previews.
- YouTube does not accept the encoder feed: Confirm the selected key and RTMP(S) configuration. If a key may have been exposed, reset it and update the encoder with the replacement.
- You cannot start a live stream: Check channel verification and whether the channel has a live-streaming restriction. If this is the channel’s first live stream, enable it in advance rather than waiting until event time.
- You cannot find vertical-only results immediately afterward: YouTube makes those metrics available 24 hours after the stream ends; combined metrics are available during and after the broadcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the vertical layout while the stream is live?
YouTube says a layout edited through the canvas can still be adjusted while live.
Quick Recap
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