In OBS Studio on Windows, paste your YouTube stream key into Settings > Stream > Stream Key. You can find the key in YouTube Studio under Create > Go live > Stream in Live Control Room.
The stream key and stream URL are separate values. OBS uses the key in its Stream Key field; if it asks for a server or URL, enter YouTube’s stream URL in that separate field. This guide follows the manual key-entry route, while noting where account connection can make the controls look different.
Find the stream key in YouTube Studio
Sign in to YouTube Studio for the channel that will broadcast. Select Create and then Go live to open Live Control Room. Choose the Stream tab, where YouTube displays the settings for an encoder-based broadcast, including the stream key and stream URL.
Copy the key using YouTube’s copy control rather than trying to retype it. A key is a long value, and a single missing or changed character can prevent the encoder from connecting. Keep it private while copying: YouTube describes stream keys as working like a password and address for your stream. Anyone who obtains a usable key may be able to send a feed to that stream, so do not put it in a public document, screenshot, chat, or support post.
You may see a default key or another key you have configured for the channel. Use the key associated with the broadcast you intend to start, and take care not to expose it while screen-sharing. YouTube’s guide to managing live stream settings explains how keys are managed and what to do if a key needs to be reset.
If you are preparing a scheduled broadcast, open the specific scheduled stream in Live Control Room and check its stream settings there. YouTube’s encoder streaming instructions describe selecting the stream and sending a feed from encoding software. A scheduled event and the encoder connection are related, but starting the encoder does not necessarily mean the scheduled event is already public; you may need to check the preview and use YouTube’s Go live control when the event is ready.
Before leaving Studio, note which value is labelled Stream key and which is labelled Stream URL. Do not copy one on the assumption that it can substitute for the other. If you need to revisit the field later, keep Studio open in a private window or return to the same stream’s settings rather than saving the key in an exposed note.
Open OBS Studio settings
Open OBS Studio on the Windows computer you plan to use for the broadcast. In the main OBS window, select Settings. If you do not see a button with that label, check the File menu for Settings. The location of the menu or button can vary with window layout, but you are looking for the application settings, not a source’s properties or the audio mixer controls.
In Settings, select Stream from the left-hand list. This page contains the service and connection controls used to send a broadcast to a platform. Make the change here rather than pasting the key into an unrelated field such as a stream title, server output name, or a video source. The key is not part of the video file and is not something to add as an on-screen text source.
If OBS offers a way to connect a Google account, recognise that as a different workflow from manual key entry. OBS’s YouTube setup guide describes account linking as well as a key-based setup. When an account is connected, OBS may present the linked channel’s stream information or a different set of controls; there is no reason to assume every connected-account setup will show the same manual box in the same way.
For manual entry, use the service selection and key field on the Stream settings page. If the page currently indicates a different service or a connected-account method, confirm which workflow you mean to use before entering anything. Do not paste your key into the first field that looks plausible: first identify the actual Stream Key label. OBS’s YouTube setup resource corroborates the key-based settings route, but OBS and YouTube interfaces can change, so rely on the labels currently shown in your installed version.
Paste the key into Settings > Stream
On the OBS Stream page, select YouTube as the service if it is offered as a preset. In the manual setup, choose the YouTube RTMPS option if available, as described in OBS’s YouTube instructions. The important point is that the service must correspond to YouTube before you enter the key intended for YouTube.
Click in the field labelled Stream Key and paste the copied value. Avoid typing extra spaces before or after it. If the field includes a visibility control, you can use it to check that the pasted value appears complete, then hide it again before showing OBS to anyone else. A visible key should be treated as exposed if other people can see your screen.
Select Apply or OK to save the settings, according to the controls shown in your OBS version. Return to the main window and check that you have not changed the wrong profile or service. If you maintain more than one OBS profile or scene collection, remember that connection settings belong to the configuration you are editing; a different profile can make it seem as if the key has disappeared or has not saved.
The Stream Key field is where the key goes; it is not the place for the stream URL. The key identifies and authorises the encoder feed for the stream, while the server URL tells the encoder where to send that feed. The distinction matters even if both values appear together in YouTube Studio. For a broader look at keeping a looping video running from OBS, see how to repeat a video in OBS without restarting the YouTube stream. That is a separate operating question from the initial key entry.
If OBS is already connected through your Google account and you do not see a field, do not paste the key into another setting as a workaround. First establish whether you are using account connection or the manual stream-key route. Changing to manual entry may be appropriate, but the precise controls depend on the version and configuration you have; do not disconnect an account solely because an informal forum post suggested it.
Enter the server URL separately if requested
Some encoder configurations show both a Server or URL field and a Stream Key field. If OBS requests a server or URL, return to the relevant stream in YouTube Studio and copy the value labelled Stream URL into the server/URL field. Leave the key in Stream Key. They are different values for different fields, not interchangeable alternatives.
YouTube’s labels help you check the pairing: the stream URL is the destination for the encoder feed, and the stream key is the credential-like value used to identify and accept that feed. If you put the URL in the key field, OBS may fail to connect as expected. If you put the key in the server field, the encoder will not have the destination value it was asking for. Correct the field assignments rather than repeatedly retrying the same pair.
If OBS’s selected YouTube service provides its own server choice and does not ask you for a URL, you may not need to enter a server manually. Do not add a server value just because it appears in a separate YouTube panel. Use the fields OBS actually presents for the selected service, and use YouTube’s corresponding values only when those fields are requested.
After saving, glance back at the settings to confirm that the service, server (if shown), and key are assigned to their intended places. You do not need to publish the key anywhere to troubleshoot. If you want to understand other ways a pre-recorded file can be sent as a live broadcast, the explanation of Push Video on Demand (PVOD) gives useful context, but it does not change the OBS field assignments described here.
Check the service and connection settings
Before starting the encoder, confirm that the selected service is YouTube and that the key belongs to the channel and stream you intend to use. If your settings include a server field, check that it contains the stream URL rather than the key. Save your changes and return to the main OBS window. Avoid making several unrelated output changes at once: if the connection then fails, it becomes harder to tell which change caused it.
Start streaming from OBS when you are ready to send the feed. Then check the relevant stream in YouTube Live Control Room for a preview or connection status. For a scheduled broadcast, verify that the preview and audio/video look right before using YouTube’s Go live step, if the scheduled stream requires that action. YouTube’s live streaming tips recommend testing and monitoring the broadcast; the practical check is that the intended picture and sound reach Studio, not merely that OBS says it has started.
Check a few ordinary details in the preview: is the right video visible, is the audio present at a sensible level, and does the stream belong to the intended scheduled event? A still preview or absent audio calls for checking the source and audio path in OBS as well as the stream connection. The stream key solves the connection credential part; it does not select your scene, fix a muted source, or confirm that the event is ready to go public.
If YouTube reports a key error or OBS cannot establish the connection, recheck the service and the exact field contents first. Make sure there are no accidental spaces, that the key came from the correct stream, and that the URL has not been pasted into the key box. YouTube’s guidance for troubleshooting live streaming can help distinguish a stream configuration issue from a broader broadcast problem.
If a key may have been exposed or YouTube continues to reject it, obtain or reset a key in Live Control Room and replace the old value in OBS. YouTube notes that channel owners or managers can reset a key, while editor and viewer roles cannot. After resetting, the old key should no longer be treated as usable: update the encoder before trying again. Do not send the key in a message to someone helping you; describe the field labels and error instead.
For an always-on channel, the key field is only one part of a setup that must continue operating after you step away. A Windows PC running OBS depends on the computer remaining available, the network staying connected, and the software continuing to send the feed. If you are planning a dedicated small-computer setup, the mini PC guide for a 24/7 Hindu devotional stream discusses that broader operating choice. It does not remove the need to use the correct YouTube stream key and URL in the encoder you choose.
Troubleshoot a missing stream key field
If you cannot find Stream Key, open Settings > Stream and inspect the selected service and connection method. The documented manual route is the Stream settings page with a YouTube service or YouTube RTMPS selected. If OBS is configured for a connected Google account, the interface may follow that account-based workflow rather than displaying a box for manual key entry. Decide which route you are using before changing settings.
Check that you are in OBS’s application Settings, not a source settings window, and that Stream is selected in the left-hand list. If you are in the right place but the field is still not apparent, review the service selection and any connection method controls shown there. Labels and layout can differ across versions, so do not rely on a screenshot from a different release as proof that your version is missing a function.
A sensible recovery path is to confirm the current OBS version and consult its current help or release notes, then compare the service and connection choices on the Stream page with the key-based YouTube route. If you choose manual configuration, use the YouTube option that corresponds to the guide, then look again for Stream Key. If you intend to keep the account connected, follow the account-based workflow shown in your version rather than forcing manual entry without understanding the change.
Do not treat disconnecting a Google account as a universal fix. A forum reply may describe what worked for one person, but that does not establish a current, general solution for all Windows installations. If the field remains unavailable, use OBS’s current support resources and provide your OBS version, selected service, and the wording of the controls you see. Never include the stream key itself in a screenshot or support request.
If you can see the field but the key does not work, return to Live Control Room, copy the key again, and check the selected stream. If there is any chance it was revealed to someone else, reset it there and update OBS with the new one. A changed key must be entered in the encoder before the next connection attempt. Keep the URL and key in their own fields during recovery; swapping them will not solve a rejected key.
There is also a difference between a missing field and a failed broadcast. If the field is absent, investigate the service and connection method in OBS. If the field is present and the feed fails, check the copied key, URL where applicable, and the status or error shown in Studio. This simple distinction keeps you from changing unrelated video or output settings when the problem is only the connection route.
A final check before going live
Use this short sequence when you are about to start: the right channel and stream are open in Live Control Room; OBS is configured for YouTube using the connection method you intend; the key is in Stream Key; and, if requested, the stream URL is in the server/URL field. Then start the encoder and inspect Studio’s preview before taking the scheduled stream live.
Keep the key private after setup. If another person must operate the channel, use the appropriate YouTube account permissions and explain the controls without sending a reusable key through a public or insecure channel. If you have copied a key into a note while troubleshooting, remove that exposed copy once it is no longer needed. The key is a working credential, not a harmless identifier.
OBS is a useful fit when you want direct control over a Windows scene, sources, and audio while the computer is running. That also means the computer and connection are part of the operating arrangement. If your specific frustration is keeping a file broadcasting without leaving your own computer on, StreamNeo removes that particular operational burden by letting you upload the file and use your YouTube stream key for a cloud-run broadcast; it does not change YouTube’s distinction between the key and stream URL.
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
Where exactly do I paste my YouTube stream key in OBS?
Open Settings > Stream in OBS Studio and paste the copied key into Stream Key. Select the YouTube service for the manual key-entry workflow before saving. Keep the stream URL out of that field.
Is the stream URL the same as the stream key?
No. The stream URL is the destination for the encoder feed and belongs in a server or URL field if OBS requests one. The key belongs in Stream Key and is used to identify and accept the feed.
Why is there no Stream Key box in my OBS settings?
You may be using an account-connected workflow, or a service selection that does not show the manual key field. Check Settings > Stream, review the selected service and connection method, and consult current OBS guidance for your version rather than assuming one fix applies to every installation.
What should I do if YouTube rejects the key?
Confirm you copied it from the correct stream in Live Control Room and pasted it into OBS’s Stream Key field. If it may have been exposed or remains rejected, reset or obtain a new key in Studio and update OBS. Check the URL field separately if your configuration asks for one.