In OBS, paste the YouTube stream key at Settings > Stream > Stream Key. Select YouTube in the Service menu first, then copy the key for the intended stream from YouTube Studio and paste it into that field.
If by “recorded video” you mean saving a video on your own computer, you do not need a YouTube stream key. The key is used to send a live feed to YouTube; OBS’s local recording controls are separate.
Find the stream key in YouTube Studio
Open YouTube Studio and choose Create > Go Live. In the Live Control Room, open the Stream tab and select the stream you are setting up, or create one. YouTube displays the stream key for that stream there. The names and layout of controls can change, so check YouTube’s current instructions in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder if the labels on your screen differ.
Copy the key using the control beside it, rather than trying to retype it. A key is a credential that identifies where the encoder should send its feed. YouTube describes stream keys as “like your YouTube stream’s password and address” in its live stream settings guidance. Treat it accordingly: do not put it in a public tutorial, screenshot, shared document or chat.
Make sure the stream selected in Studio is the one you intend to use. A key associated with a different event may send OBS’s feed to that event instead. If you are preparing a scheduled broadcast, use the stream entry you plan to take live, not an unrelated previous stream. The key is not a general upload code for a video file.
YouTube may allow a stream key to be reused, but that does not remove the need to check its association and settings. For a one-off event, verify the selected stream before going live. For a recurring programme, document which Studio stream and OBS profile belong together without putting the actual key in a document other people can access.
If your aim is a continuous channel made from pre-recorded material rather than a one-time live session, the key is only one small part of the workflow. The guide to creating an always-on channel with pre-recorded videos covers the broader planning question: what video is sent, how it repeats, and how the channel is kept running.
Open OBS Stream settings
In OBS Studio, open Settings, then choose Stream from the left-hand list. This is the place for the service and stream key used to connect OBS to a live platform. It is not the place where you choose the filename, folder or format for a local recording.
The exact appearance can vary across OBS versions, but the Stream page has the relevant connection fields. OBS’s overview guide describes the Stream section and separately covers recording controls. If you are looking at an Output page or a recording path, you are in a different part of the settings.
Before entering anything, decide which job you are doing. For a live broadcast, OBS needs a destination and a key so it can send the programme feed to YouTube. For a local file, choose recording settings and use Start Recording on the main OBS window; there is no YouTube destination involved. This distinction saves time when a tutorial says “recorded video” but means an archived livestream rather than a file saved directly to a computer.
You can record locally and stream at the same time if you want a copy on your own machine as well as a live broadcast. That is still a live setup, so the stream connection uses the key; the local copy is controlled separately. If you only want the local copy, leave the Stream settings disconnected and use the recording controls.
Select YouTube as the service
On the Stream page, open the Service menu and choose YouTube if it is available. OBS’s service choice tells it which platform connection settings to use. Once YouTube is selected, the relevant server and key fields should be presented for that service.
Some OBS versions or configurations offer a sign-in or account connection route, while others let you enter a stream key directly. Follow the options shown in your own installation and confirm that the destination is YouTube before continuing. The key field remains the answer to the specific question of where to paste a copied key: Settings > Stream > Stream Key.
If the YouTube preset is not available or you are using a custom configuration, YouTube’s Live Control Room provides the server URL and stream key needed by an encoder. YouTube recommends RTMPS for an encrypted connection; its RTMPS setup instructions explain how to obtain the URL and check encoder support. Use the custom server and key fields only when your chosen configuration calls for them, rather than changing settings without a reason.
A service preset is convenient because it reduces manual entry, but it does not select the right scheduled broadcast for you. Check the stream title or event in Studio before copying its key. If you are producing a recurring stream, a short checklist that records the OBS profile, source scene and intended Studio event can prevent a last-minute mismatch. Keep the key itself private in that checklist.
Paste the key into the Stream Key field
Click the Stream Key field in OBS and paste the value copied from YouTube Studio. Check that the pasted text is present, then use Apply or OK to save the settings. Avoid adding spaces or other characters before or after the key. Do not paste it into the recording path, a scene name, a video source or a public description.
If OBS obscures the key after it is entered, that is useful: it reduces the chance of showing it accidentally while sharing your screen. Do not reveal it simply to prove that it is configured. YouTube’s description of a key as a password and address is practical guidance, not just wording: someone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to the associated stream.
If you suspect the key was exposed, return to YouTube Studio’s Go Live area and reset it for that stream, then replace the old value in OBS. YouTube notes that only a channel owner or manager can reset a key. After replacing it, check the intended stream again before sending a feed. Do not keep using a value you believe has been shared publicly.
The key can be stored in an OBS profile for repeated use, which avoids entering it each session, but the convenience comes with a security trade-off. Anyone with access to the relevant configuration or computer may be able to use the connection. Limit access to the machine and profile, and avoid exporting settings into a shared folder without checking what credentials they contain.
Test the connection and start the live feed
With the service and key saved, return to the main OBS window and confirm that the correct scene is active. Start streaming when you are ready to send the feed. OBS should begin connecting; check its status and the Live Control Room preview before treating the broadcast as ready for viewers.
For a scheduled stream, sending a feed from OBS and making the event public are distinct steps. Wait for YouTube’s preview to appear in the Live Control Room, check that the picture and sound are right, then select Go live there when you mean to begin. YouTube’s encoder instructions describe this sequence. If you want a more detailed walkthrough of the scheduling side, see how to schedule a YouTube livestream in Live Control Room.
A preview is a useful test, but it is not a reason to skip checking the basics. Confirm the correct scene, readable video, audio levels, and that the feed is going to the intended event. For a devotional channel, for example, check that the opening frame is not a desktop or an unfinished scene. For a study or ambience stream, check that the sound is present and not clipping. Use the preview as a final check before selecting Go live.
If OBS does not connect, check in order: the service selected, whether the key belongs to the intended stream, whether the key was pasted without extra characters, and whether the network is available. If you are using a custom server, check the URL and whether the encoder configuration supports RTMPS. Changing several fields at once makes it harder to identify the cause, so adjust one item and try again.
If the feed appears under the wrong event, stop and verify the stream-key association in Studio rather than continuing with the wrong destination. YouTube describes the key and stream URL as the information that tells the encoder where to send its feed. For a long-running channel, this matters as much as the scene selection: the right video sent to the wrong event is still the wrong broadcast.
A single OBS test confirms that the current configuration can send a feed; it does not prove that a computer-based stream will continue unattended indefinitely. If the practical challenge is keeping a video loop live without leaving a computer on, the guide to running a 24/7 YouTube stream without leaving your PC on addresses that separate operating choice. A cloud-run workflow can remove the need to keep OBS open on your own computer; StreamNeo is relevant when that specific ongoing computer-running burden is the problem.
Local recording does not require a stream key
For a recording saved only on your computer, use OBS’s Start Recording control. Configure where the file is saved and the recording options in OBS, then stop the recording when you have captured what you need. You do not have to select YouTube, connect to Live Control Room or paste a stream key to make a local file.
The difference is the destination. Streaming sends a live encoder feed to YouTube, where viewers can watch it and the platform may archive it according to its current rules. Local recording writes a file to storage on the computer running OBS. One is a live delivery workflow; the other is capture for later editing, review or upload.
| What you want to do | YouTube stream key? | Where to begin in OBS | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save a video locally for later | No | Recording controls and recording settings | A file on your computer |
| Send an OBS scene live to YouTube | Yes, unless using a connected account flow that supplies the connection | Settings > Stream, then the live controls | A feed sent to YouTube Live |
| Stream live and keep a local copy | Yes for the YouTube feed | Stream settings plus recording controls | A live feed and a local file |
OBS also documents an option to start recording automatically while streaming. That can be useful when you want a local backup, but it does not turn a local recording into a stream or make the stream key part of the recording settings. Check the current OBS interface and storage destination so you know where the copy will be written and whether the disk has room for it.
YouTube says that streams shorter than twelve hours are automatically archived, but platform behaviour and limits can change; check the current encoder guidance before relying on an archive as your only copy. An automatic archive is also not the same thing as a local recording. If you need an editable source file or want a copy independent of the live platform, record locally as well.
For a recorded file that you intend to turn into a live loop, the file itself is a source in the broadcast workflow; it is not a substitute for the stream connection. The related guide on looping a video on YouTube Live explains the broader live-loop approach. Keep the distinction clear: OBS can play a prepared video into a live scene, but local recording alone remains separate and does not need the YouTube key.
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 is the stream key field in OBS?
Open Settings > Stream and look for Stream Key. Select YouTube in the Service menu, then paste the key copied from the matching stream in YouTube Studio.
Do I need a YouTube key to record a video in OBS?
No. A local recording is saved on the computer and uses OBS’s recording controls. A key is for sending a live feed to YouTube, not for saving a file locally.
Can I use the same key for another scheduled stream?
Check the stream and key shown in YouTube Studio rather than assuming a key belongs to every event. The key identifies a destination, so confirm that OBS is configured for the event you intend to send to.
What should I do if I showed the key in a public video?
Reset the key for the affected stream in YouTube Studio and replace the old value in OBS. Keep the replacement private, and test the new connection against the intended stream before going live.