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YouTube 24/7 streaming limits
Understand the difference between a continuous broadcast and its recording.
Enable live streaming first
Your channel must have live streaming enabled in YouTube Studio. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours.
Keep your own recording
YouTube may not capture a stream longer than 12 hours. A continuous broadcast and a saved video are different outcomes; keep your source recordings.
Check the audience stream
Check video, audio, latency and delivery health in YouTube Studio. Enable auto-start if you want the encoder connection to begin the broadcast automatically.
Know what watch time counts
Unlisted, deleted and non-archived live streams can be excluded from monetization watch hours. Check the current requirements in YouTube Studio.
YouTube’s official archive guidance ↗
Verify current eligibility with YouTube ↗ · Announced February 2027 updates ↗