Restream’s listed Upload & Stream tiers provide either a 4-hour or 12-hour video library, while a playlist can run for up to 24 hours and contain up to 40 entries. Those figures describe different limits: library capacity is not playlist duration.
YouTube has separate rules for livestream archives and individual uploaded videos. A stream running beyond 12 hours may not be captured as an archive, while a verified individual upload is limited to 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever comes first. Neither YouTube limit changes Restream’s playlist allowance.
Restream library tiers and resolutions
Restream’s playlist guidance, dated 25 July 2026, lists two Upload & Stream add-on tiers: Marathon and Media. Marathon includes a 4-hour video library at up to 1080p; Media includes a 12-hour video library at up to 4K. These are the figures for the library feature, not a statement that a playlist must finish within four or twelve hours.
| Restream tier | Listed video-library capacity | Listed maximum resolution | What the figure describes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 4 hours | Up to 1080p | Video-library allowance for playlist use |
| Media | 12 hours | Up to 4K | Video-library allowance for playlist use |
The table is useful when comparing source material you want available in the library: how much video you can keep there and the resolution supported by the tier. It does not answer how long the playlist can run. Restream lists a separate playlist runtime of up to 24 hours, regardless of whether the tier’s library allowance is 4 or 12 hours. Check Restream’s playlist limits and tier details before choosing, since feature availability and plan descriptions can change.
The resolution figure is a ceiling, not a promise that every file, account, or stream will be delivered at that resolution. A 4K source does not make a 4K output inevitable: the configuration, source, account settings and destination still matter. If your channel relies on a consistent look, test the actual files and broadcast before scheduling a long run.
Also confirm that the Upload & Stream add-on is available and active for the account you intend to use. A tier label by itself does not establish that a feature has been added to an account. When assessing options, note both the library hours and the resolution, then separately verify playlist runtime and entry count.
Playlist runtime and entry maximum
Restream allows a playlist to run for up to 24 hours and to contain up to 40 video entries, according to its July 2026 playlist guidance. The 24-hour figure is the combined scheduled runtime; 40 is the maximum number of entries. A playlist can reach one limit before the other, depending on how long its clips are.
For example, a programme built from a few long devotional recordings could approach the runtime ceiling without approaching 40 entries. A station using short announcements between music blocks could reach 40 entries while remaining well below 24 hours. Repeated clips count as entries too, so duplicating a short item to fill a schedule uses the entry allowance each time it is listed.
Plan the playlist using the duration of each item, not just the number of files. Add the runtimes together, and leave room for any opening or closing material that is part of the scheduled sequence. Then count every entry, including repeats. A schedule that looks short in a file manager can still hit the entry cap if it is divided into many small segments.
These limits also affect how you prepare updates. If you want to add a festival announcement, a local notice or a new episode, consider whether to replace an existing entry rather than simply append another one. If an item is duplicated to bridge a gap, include each copy in your count. A playlist can be valid by duration and still exceed its entry maximum.
A YouTube playlist on your channel page is a different object from a Restream playlist used to schedule a broadcast. The former is for viewers browsing videos; the latter determines the sequence sent into a live stream. If you are organising a viewer-facing channel page, this guide to pinning a YouTube playlist to your homepage covers that separate task.
Library capacity is not playlist duration
The easiest way to avoid confusion is to imagine three separate measurements: the video library is the pool of material available, the playlist is the scheduled sequence, and the broadcast is what YouTube receives. Restream’s listed 4-hour and 12-hour figures apply to the first measurement. Its up-to-24-hour figure applies to the second.
A 4-hour library allowance does not mean the playlist itself is limited to four hours. Nor does a 12-hour library mean that a playlist can only run for twelve hours. The playlist may run up to the separately stated 24-hour maximum, subject to the service’s rules and the available material. The figures have different scopes, so substituting one for another produces a wrong planning answer.
Capacity and runtime can also behave differently in day-to-day preparation. A library is about the material held for future use; a playlist is about the length and ordering of material scheduled for a particular run. If the library holds less total video than you need for a long playlist, repeated entries may be part of a schedule, but each repeat still counts toward the 40-entry cap. The rules do not turn a 4-hour library allowance into 24 hours of unique source material.
For a channel that cycles a small collection of chants, songs or ambience clips, write down whether the schedule depends on unique recordings or repeats. For a news loop, separate the recurring clips from time-sensitive segments and check the ordering before launch. That simple inventory helps you see whether the constraint is stored material, total scheduled duration, or number of entries.
If your underlying aim is to keep a channel on continuously, a playlist’s daily runtime is not necessarily the only operational question. This guide to creating a 24/7 foggy-forest ambience stream is relevant to thinking about the broader continuous-broadcast workflow. Whatever method you use, test the hand-off and schedule rather than assuming a playlist’s runtime answers every continuity question.
YouTube livestream archive limit
YouTube’s archive guidance is separate from Restream’s playlist and library limits. YouTube says livestreams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, while streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. Treat this as an archive reliability boundary, not a guarantee that every stream shorter than 12 hours will always be saved, or that a longer stream will produce a complete recording. See YouTube Help on finding and managing livestream archives.
Restream says its service does not limit stream duration, but that statement does not override YouTube’s archive behaviour. A live broadcast continuing past 12 hours and a complete archive being available afterwards are different outcomes. In practical terms, a 24-hour Restream playlist may be within Restream’s playlist runtime limit and still be too long to rely on YouTube to preserve as one complete archive.
YouTube’s DVR behaviour is another distinct consideration. On long streams, rewind may be limited or unavailable. Disabling DVR prevents viewers from seeking backwards while the stream is live; YouTube says they can still watch a recording of the whole stream once it becomes available. That availability remains subject to the archive caveat, so DVR settings are not a substitute for an independent recording.
If an event, puja, interview or local bulletin matters after the live window, make a backup plan before going live. YouTube recommends keeping a local archive backup, and Restream describes its cloud storage as not a replacement for a hard drive. Download or retain a separate copy where the content is important, and check that the copy is playable before relying on it. See YouTube’s livestream troubleshooting and archive guidance for current platform details.
YouTube individual video upload limit
The 256 GB or 12-hour limit, whichever is less, applies to an individual uploaded video on YouTube for a verified account. It does not define the length of a Restream playlist, and it is not the same as the archive rule for a livestream. YouTube documents the upload limit in its video upload size and length guidance.
This distinction matters when preparing source files. A 13-hour source file would exceed the stated duration limit for an individual YouTube upload even if its file size were below 256 GB. Conversely, a file under 12 hours may still exceed the size ceiling. Duration and file size are two checks on the individual upload, with whichever is reached first setting the limit.
A file that you place in a streaming workflow is not automatically governed by YouTube’s individual-upload rule in the same way as a video you upload to YouTube as a standalone video. The relevant limits depend on the action: uploading a video, storing an item in a service library, scheduling a playlist, or streaming live. Keep a note of the role each file plays, especially if your archive, source material and live schedule use similar versions of the same recording.
For practical preparation, inspect the source duration and file size before attempting a direct YouTube upload. If you need a long programme as an uploaded video, divide it into sensible parts rather than assuming a live playlist rule applies. If you need it in a live sequence, check the relevant library and playlist limits instead. Avoid using the words “upload limit” as shorthand for all video length rules.
Choose a setup based on the right constraint
Start with the content you intend to broadcast and identify the restriction that could actually stop the plan. Is the concern how much source video the Restream library holds, the length or number of playlist entries, the archive YouTube keeps after a live session, or the size and duration of an individual upload? Each question has a different answer and may point to a different adjustment.
| If your concern is… | Check this limit | A practical response |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping more source video in Restream’s playlist library | The tier’s 4-hour or 12-hour library allowance and listed resolution | Compare the documented tier scope with your unique source material |
| Scheduling a long sequence | Up to 24 hours total and up to 40 entries | Add runtimes and count repeats before scheduling |
| Preserving a long live session | YouTube’s under-12-hour archive guidance | Keep an independent local copy when the archive matters |
| Uploading a standalone source video to YouTube | 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less, for verified accounts | Check both duration and file size |
| Keeping a channel live continuously | Continuity method and hand-offs, as well as playlist duration | Test the full workflow and monitor the broadcast |
For an always-on channel, do not plan on the assumption that one 24-hour schedule equals one dependable 24-hour YouTube archive. If you need an archive for records or later viewing, use a method that produces a separate copy and verify it. If the goal is only to keep the live channel playing, focus on the broadcast’s continuity and the material available for the next cycle.
The chosen resolution also has a practical cost. Higher-resolution source files can take more space locally and may require more bandwidth to prepare or transfer. A channel of still images and gentle music may not need the same source resolution as a product demonstration with readable detail. This guide to reducing data use on a 24/7 Indian music stream can help you think through bitrate and data demands without confusing them with Restream’s library-hour allowance.
If a laptop at the venue must remain on to keep a stream going, that is a separate operational constraint from storage and playlist limits. StreamNeo removes that specific burden for a YouTube-only broadcast by letting you upload a video and have the live stream continue with your own computer switched off; it is relevant when the local machine is the fragile part of the overnight plan. It does not change YouTube’s archive or upload rules, so retain a separate copy if the recording matters.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
How long can Restream playlists be?
Restream’s playlist guidance lists a maximum total runtime of 24 hours and a maximum of 40 entries. The 4-hour and 12-hour figures describe listed video-library capacity on different tiers, not the playlist runtime.
How much video can I store in Restream?
Restream’s playlist article dated 25 July 2026 lists a 4-hour library at up to 1080p for Marathon and a 12-hour library at up to 4K for Media. Check the current account and plan details before relying on those figures, as service terms can change.
Will YouTube save a 12-hour livestream?
YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, while streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. Do not treat 12 hours as a promise that a particular archive will be complete; keep a separate copy when you need the recording.
What is the maximum length of a YouTube video upload?
For verified accounts, YouTube’s stated limit is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. This concerns one uploaded video, not a Restream playlist’s combined runtime or YouTube’s livestream archive behaviour.