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# How to stream to YouTube with OBS: account link or stream key
- URL: https://obsguides.com/stream-to-youtube-with-obs/
- Published: 2026-11-09T13:19:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-09T13:19:09.000Z
- Description: Link your YouTube account or use a stream key, select the intended broadcast, and check the complete OBS-to-YouTube path on a Private event with Auto-start off.
- Author: Ryan Parker
- Tags: Streaming and overlays

To stream to YouTube with OBS, enable live streaming on your channel, select **YouTube - RTMPS** in **Settings > Stream**, then connect your account or enter the stream key for the intended broadcast. For a first run, use a **Private scheduled broadcast with Auto-start off**. Send the scene from OBS, check YouTube's incoming preview, then deliberately make that private rehearsal live.

I recommend linking the account because it puts broadcast creation and selection inside OBS. Use the key route if you prefer to manage the event in YouTube Studio. The control names below follow OBS 33.0.1 in English; if your build doesn't offer account linking, follow the stream-key route.

## Enable live streaming and check the scene

In YouTube Studio, choose **Create > Go live** and complete the channel's live-streaming setup. [YouTube's live-streaming requirements](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com) are a verified channel, no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and a minimum age of 16\. [First-time activation can take up to 24 hours](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2907883?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com), so resolve an unavailable channel ahead of the show.

Select the scene you intend to send and inspect its OBS preview. Check that the microphone and intended program sound reach the Audio Mixer, then make a short local recording and listen to the saved file. The [OBS quick-start procedure covers sources, audio and recording](https://obsproject.com/kb/quick-start-guide?ref=obsguides.com). On a Mac, missing picture or sound can require [OBS Studio > Review App Permissions](https://obsproject.com/kb/macos-permissions-guide?ref=obsguides.com) before the source can work. A good local recording establishes the local picture and mix; the later rehearsal checks their delivery through YouTube.

Keep YouTube's key controls and OBS stream settings off any captured display or window. Prepare the scene elements you need from the [streaming and overlays guides](https://obsguides.com/tag/streaming/) before the rehearsal, so it represents the show you plan to send.

## Choose YouTube - RTMPS

Open **Settings > Stream** and set **Service** to **YouTube - RTMPS**. YouTube [recommends this encrypted ingest preset](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10364924?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com). With the built-in service, you don't need to assemble a custom server URL.

OBS also lists **YouTube - HLS**. Choose it for a deliberate HLS workflow: YouTube says [HLS has higher latency and doesn't offer Ultra low-latency](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10349430?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com). For this first SDR stream, keep RTMPS. YouTube's [RTMP/RTMPS guidance supports H.264, HEVC and AV1](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853702?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com); using HEVC alone isn't a reason to assume HLS is required.

Sending the same show to Twitch at the same time needs a separate output: see how to [multistream to YouTube and Twitch](https://obsguides.com/obs-multistream-plugin/) with a plugin.

[![OBS Settings, Stream page: Service YouTube - RTMPS, Primary YouTube ingest server, Connect Account (recommended) and Use Stream Key (advanced)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1f/f4/1ff41619-63d0-4562-aeda-c43118aa7da0/content/images/2026/11/03-obs-studio-ui-stream-to-youtube-with-obs-0-6ece8aee9111.webp)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1f/f4/1ff41619-63d0-4562-aeda-c43118aa7da0/content/images/2026/11/03-obs-studio-ui-stream-to-youtube-with-obs-0-6ece8aee9111.webp?ref=obsguides.com)

Connect Account (recommended) lets you create and select broadcasts inside OBS; Use Stream Key (advanced) fits events you run from YouTube Studio.

## Link the account and prepare a Private broadcast

1. Choose **Connect Account (recommended)**. Complete Google's authorization in the browser for the intended channel. Return to OBS, then choose **Apply** and **OK**.
2. Choose **Manage Broadcast**. For a new rehearsal, open **Create New Broadcast**, enter a title, set **Privacy** to **Private**, and answer the made-for-kids question accurately.

[![OBS YouTube Broadcast Setup, Create New Broadcast tab: title Stream rehearsal, Privacy Private, Category Gaming, not made for kids selected](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1f/f4/1ff41619-63d0-4562-aeda-c43118aa7da0/content/images/2026/11/03-obs-studio-ui-stream-to-youtube-with-obs-1-aeb15d2f4a0a.webp)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1f/f4/1ff41619-63d0-4562-aeda-c43118aa7da0/content/images/2026/11/03-obs-studio-ui-stream-to-youtube-with-obs-1-aeb15d2f4a0a.webp?ref=obsguides.com)

Set Privacy to Private and answer the made-for-kids question before you create or select the rehearsal broadcast.

In **Additional settings**, check **Schedule for later** and choose the rehearsal time. Confirm **Enable Auto-start** and **Enable Auto-stop** are both unchecked, then choose **Schedule and select broadcast**. These scheduled-broadcast controls select the event without immediately starting the encoder. A new unscheduled broadcast uses automatic start and stop, so it is a different route from this manual rehearsal.

[![OBS YouTube Broadcast Setup: Schedule for later checked, Enable Auto-start and Enable Auto-stop unchecked, Schedule and select broadcast button](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1f/f4/1ff41619-63d0-4562-aeda-c43118aa7da0/content/images/2026/11/03-obs-studio-ui-stream-to-youtube-with-obs-2-46b494d5de6f.webp)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1f/f4/1ff41619-63d0-4562-aeda-c43118aa7da0/content/images/2026/11/03-obs-studio-ui-stream-to-youtube-with-obs-2-46b494d5de6f.webp?ref=obsguides.com)

Checking Schedule for later reveals Enable Auto-start and Enable Auto-stop; leave both unchecked, then choose Schedule and select broadcast.

For an event already prepared in Studio, open **Select Existing Broadcast**, choose the intended event and select **Select broadcast**. Check that event's title, privacy and automatic start/stop choices in Live Control Room. Avoid **Select broadcast and start streaming** while you are still preparing. Keep Live Control Room available for the incoming preview, stream health and settings beyond the OBS dialog.

## Use a stream key to manage the event in YouTube Studio

1. In YouTube Studio, choose **Create > Go live > Manage > Schedule stream**. Create a **Private** rehearsal event, answer the audience question accurately and open its Live Control Room.
2. Turn **Auto-start** and **Auto-stop** off for this manual rehearsal. Check both even when reusing settings.
3. In OBS, keep **YouTube - RTMPS** selected and choose **Use Stream Key (advanced)**. Copy the key selected for this event in YouTube and paste it into **Stream Key** in OBS. Choose **Apply** and **OK**.

YouTube's [encoder connection procedure uses the selected stream key](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2907883?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com). Pasting it supplies the output credential; it doesn't authorize the account integration. Keep the key masked and out of shared images. If it is exposed, a channel owner or manager should use [Reset beside the hidden key in Live Control Room](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9854503?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com), then replace the old key in OBS.

## Fit the output to the available upload

For this first SDR stream, choose an **H.264** encoder available on your computer; the [encoder guide](https://obsguides.com/obs-encoder-settings/) covers which one to pick. In **Settings > Video**, set **Output (Scaled) Resolution** and **Common FPS Values**. In **Settings > Output**, Simple mode exposes the streaming video bitrate, audio bitrate and encoder choices.

The [YouTube encoder table separates minimum and recommended H.264 bitrates](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853702?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com). These are video-ingest rates. Allow additional upload capacity for audio and other traffic before choosing one.

| Output              | H.264 minimum | H.264 recommended |
| ------------------- | ------------- | ----------------- |
| 1280 × 720, 30 fps  | 3,000 kbps    | 8,000 kbps        |
| 1920 × 1080, 30 fps | 5,000 kbps    | 14,000 kbps       |
| 1920 × 1080, 60 fps | 6,000 kbps    | 17,000 kbps       |

Compare the chosen rate with your upload budget from the [streaming settings](https://obsguides.com/setup-obs-for-streaming/) guide. If the connection can't sustain it, lower the output resolution or frame rate and rehearse that choice. Set **Video Bitrate** in kbps and **Audio Bitrate** to **128 kbps for stereo AAC**.

YouTube specifies **CBR** and recommends a **2-second keyframe interval**. OBS Simple Output applies the service's encoder requirements. In Advanced Output mode, check the streaming encoder's rate control and keyframe interval yourself, and choose the audio track containing the intended mix. Leave unrelated encoder controls at their existing settings until a specific limit gives you a reason to change them.

## Check the complete path on the Private event

Before **Start Streaming**, reopen the intended event and confirm **Private** visibility with **Auto-start off**. An event with Auto-start enabled can become live as soon as OBS sends data. Keep Auto-stop off as planned so you end the event deliberately.

1. Choose **Start Streaming** in OBS. In the intended event's Live Control Room, wait for the incoming preview and inspect stream health. If no picture arrives, confirm OBS is sending to this event or its selected key before changing capture settings.
2. YouTube can also create a [vertical stream from a center crop of your picture](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com). Check the vertical preview on the **Stream** tab; if you only want the horizontal output, choose **Vertical stream off** from its **Vertical canvas** or **Encoder** menu before you go live. YouTube can't add the vertical format once the stream has started.
3. When the incoming picture is right, choose **Go live** in YouTube Studio, or **Go Live** in linked OBS controls. Making this rehearsal live doesn't change its Private visibility.
4. Open the private watch page outside the captured display or window, signed into an account allowed to view it. Speak and move as you would during the show, then check that picture, voice and intended program audio arrive together. Keep playback muted or routed away from captured audio while sending, so it isn't fed back into OBS.
5. Choose **End Stream** in YouTube Studio, then **Stop Streaming** in OBS. Verify that YouTube shows the event as ended and OBS has stopped sending.

With the account linked, **Docks > YouTube Live Control Room** opens your channel's Live Control Room inside OBS. The broadcast's live chat appears in a separate **Chat** dock, and [OBS 31.0 added first-party YouTube chat features](https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/releases/tag/31.0.0?ref=obsguides.com). On a Private rehearsal an empty chat says nothing about delivery, so judge it from the incoming preview and the permitted watch page instead.

[Anyone with an Unlisted link can share it](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com), so use Private when rehearsal material needs restricted access. For the public show, create or select its intended broadcast and review visibility, title, audience declaration, key and automatic start/stop choices again. [Reuse settings copies the key and automatic start/stop settings](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9854503?hl=en&ref=obsguides.com).

If reception works but network-frame loss rises in OBS, follow the [dropped-frames checks](https://obsguides.com/obs-dropped-frames/) before increasing quality. Keep the settings that delivered the intended picture and sound during the rehearsal.