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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor most live streams, start with H.264/AVC—but first check that your platform accepts it on the ingest route you plan to use. HEVC/H.265 and AV1 can be more efficient, yet only help when the platform, protocol, and encoder all support them. On YouTube, the accepted codec depends on whether you send the stream via RTMP/RTMPS, HLS, or DASH.
What a video codec does—and what it does not
A codec compresses and decompresses video. It affects compatibility, image quality at a given bitrate, the bandwidth required, and how much work encoding places on your computer or hardware encoder.
A codec is not a streaming protocol. RTMP/RTMPS, HLS, and DASH are ways to deliver a stream to a service; each route can accept different codecs. A codec appearing in a platform’s general encoder settings does not prove it works on every ingest protocol that platform offers.
Which codec should you use?
H.264/AVC: the compatibility-first choice
Choose H.264 when you are unsure what a destination accepts, need a broadly playable output, or are using a typical RTMP/RTMPS workflow. OBS describes H.264 as its default and broadly compatible, and Google’s YouTube protocol comparison lists H.264 for RTMP, RTMPS, HLS, and DASH. That is not a guarantee that every service or workflow has identical requirements, so check the destination’s current guide.
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HEVC/H.265: when the destination supports it
Consider HEVC when your platform and ingest route explicitly accept it, particularly if you need YouTube HDR or want to use a route that supports HEVC. OBS says HEVC can provide better quality at the same bitrate or file size than H.264, but notes that it is less widely used in web streaming and has more restrictive licensing. Google lists HEVC for YouTube HLS ingest; YouTube’s live encoder settings also include HEVC.
AV1: efficient, but verify the whole path
AV1 may offer improved compression, but confirm both ingest support and real-time encoding capability before choosing it. OBS says software AV1 encoding can demand a high-end CPU. Its 2023 guide identifies hardware AV1 encoding on AMD RX 7000-series, NVIDIA RTX 40-series, and Intel Arc GPUs; check current GPU, driver, and encoder support before buying or configuring hardware.
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YouTube’s general live encoder settings list AV1, but Google’s protocol comparison does not list AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS, HLS, or DASH. Do not infer a specific ingest path from the general settings alone. YouTube’s help page also says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
VP9: a protocol-specific YouTube option
Google’s comparison lists VP9 for YouTube DASH ingest. The reviewed guidance does not establish VP9 as the best general-purpose creator encoder, so treat it as a route-specific option rather than a default recommendation.
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YouTube codec support depends on ingest protocol
Google’s protocol comparison, updated September 14, 2026, distinguishes supported codecs by route. Its separate live encoder settings page lists encoder options and settings; read the two together rather than assuming every option on the settings page works on every protocol.
| YouTube ingest protocol | Codecs listed by Google | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP / RTMPS | H.264 | For third-party RTMP/RTMPS ingest, the comparison lists H.264. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transmission. |
| HLS | H.264, HEVC | HEVC is listed for this route; HLS is encrypted and generally has higher latency than RTMP. |
| DASH | H.264, VP9 | VP9 is listed for this route; DASH is encrypted and generally has higher latency than RTMP. |
HLS and DASH are segment-based, which Google says typically gives them greater latency than RTMP. The comparison says newer codec support can provide better compression than H.264, allowing higher quality at a given bitrate or similar quality at a lower bitrate. That does not make the codecs interchangeable: route support still determines what you can send.
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YouTube live encoder settings to check
YouTube Help’s live encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1; supports up to 60 fps; recommends constant bitrate (CBR); and recommends a two-second keyframe interval. Do not exceed four seconds. It lists AAC or MP3 audio and recommends RTMPS for encrypted transmission. For YouTube HDR, the page specifies HEVC and says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
YouTube’s recommended video bitrates
The following are YouTube Help recommendations, not universal codec requirements. The page groups AV1 and H.265 together in one bitrate column; these values do not establish that one codec performs better than the other.
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| Resolution and frame rate | AV1 / H.265 | H.264 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 4K at 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube Help recommendations on the page accessed in 2026. Match the row to your resolution, frame rate, and codec column, then test whether your upload connection can sustain the stream reliably.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose and test a codec
- Identify the destination and ingest route. Open the platform’s current encoder guide and find requirements for the exact protocol you will use—not just a general list of codecs.
- Select a codec that route accepts. For YouTube third-party RTMP/RTMPS, Google’s protocol table lists H.264; for HLS it lists H.264 and HEVC; for DASH it lists H.264 and VP9.
- Check encoding capacity. Confirm that your software or hardware encoder can encode the chosen codec at your intended resolution and frame rate in real time. AV1 software encoding may require a high-end CPU, according to OBS.
- Set resolution, frame rate, and bitrate together. Use the platform’s recommendation for that codec and video mode. For YouTube, begin with CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, and do not exceed four seconds.
- Account for HDR. If YouTube HDR is required, use the documented HEVC path; YouTube says AV1 is not supported for HDR.
- Run a representative test and monitor stream health. YouTube advises running an upload speed test and testing with representative movement and audio before going live. Watch the service’s stream-health indicators during the test.
For multistreaming, use a codec accepted by every destination on its particular ingest route, or configure distinct outputs if your workflow supports them. There is no single all-platform recipe established by the cited guidance.
Common codec and ingest problems
- The platform rejects the stream: The codec may be unsupported on the selected protocol. Check the destination’s requirements for that exact ingest route; for YouTube, use Google’s protocol comparison rather than relying only on the general encoder-settings list.
- The stream stutters or drops frames while encoding: Encoding may exceed the CPU or hardware encoder’s capacity. Try a supported hardware encoder, reduce resolution or frame rate, or use a codec your system can encode reliably.
- The stream health is poor despite choosing a supported codec: The upload connection may not sustain the selected bitrate. Run an upload speed test, check stream health, and lower the bitrate or video mode if the connection cannot hold steady.
- HDR does not work as expected on YouTube: YouTube’s live encoder guidance specifies HEVC for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. Verify the complete HDR configuration against the current platform guidance.
- Latency is higher than expected: Google says HLS and DASH typically have greater latency than RTMP because they are segment-based. Check whether the ingest route, not just the codec, fits your latency needs.
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