OBS Studio Setup for 24/7 YouTube Streaming - Complete Guide
Step-by-step tutorial to configure OBS Studio for stable, high-quality 24/7 live streaming to YouTube. Perfect for lofi, ambient, and automated content.
Why Use OBS for 24/7 Streaming?
OBS Studio is the most popular free streaming software, offering professional features without cost. For 24/7 streaming, it provides:
- Hardware encoding support (NVENC/VCE) for efficiency
- Video looping and playlist capabilities
- Scene switching and overlays
- Full control over quality settings
Step-by-Step OBS Configuration
Download and Install OBS Studio
Get the latest version for your operating system
- Visit obsproject.com and download OBS Studio (free and open source)
- Install with default settings
- Launch OBS Studio and skip the auto-configuration wizard (we'll do manual setup)
Configure Output Settings
Set optimal encoding for 24/7 streaming
- Go to Settings → Output
- Set Output Mode to "Advanced"
- Encoder: x264 (CPU) or NVENC (NVIDIA GPU) / AMD VCE (AMD GPU)
- Rate Control: CBR (Constant Bitrate)
- Bitrate: 4500 kbps for 1080p, 2500 kbps for 720p
- Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
- CPU Preset: "veryfast" for x264, "Quality" for NVENC
Set Video Resolution
Balance quality and performance
- Go to Settings → Video
- Base (Canvas) Resolution: Your screen resolution (e.g., 1920x1080)
- Output (Scaled) Resolution: 1920x1080 or 1280x720
- Downscale Filter: Lanczos (best quality)
- FPS: 30 (adequate for most content, uses less bandwidth than 60fps)
Configure Audio
Set up crystal clear audio
- Go to Settings → Audio
- Sample Rate: 48kHz
- Channels: Stereo
- Desktop Audio Device: Select your audio source (system sounds)
- Mic/Auxiliary Audio: Disable if not needed for 24/7 content
Add Your Stream Key
Connect OBS to YouTube
- Go to Settings → Stream
- Service: Select "YouTube - RTMPS"
- Paste your Stream Key from YouTube Studio
- Click "Apply" then "OK"
Create Your Scene
Add video sources for looping
- In Sources panel, click "+" and select "Media Source"
- Name it (e.g., "Video Loop") and click OK
- Browse and select your video file
- Check "Loop" and "Restart playback when source becomes active"
- Uncheck "Show nothing when playback ends"
- Add multiple videos to playlist if desired
Test and Go Live
Verify everything works before 24/7 run
- Click "Start Streaming" button
- Open YouTube Studio to verify stream is live
- Check video and audio quality
- Monitor CPU/GPU usage (should be under 50%)
- Let it run for 1-2 hours to test stability
Recommended Settings Summary
| Setting | 1080p Quality | 720p Balanced | Low Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
| FPS | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Bitrate | 4500 kbps | 2500 kbps | 2000 kbps |
| Encoder | NVENC (GPU) | NVENC (GPU) | x264 veryfast |
| CPU Usage | 10-20% | 10-15% | 30-40% |
| Upload Needed | 7+ Mbps | 4+ Mbps | 3+ Mbps |
Common Issues & Solutions
Stream keeps disconnecting
Causes: Unstable internet, wrong bitrate, or ISP throttling
- Lower bitrate to 2500 kbps or less
- Use ethernet cable instead of WiFi
- Check "Dynamically change bitrate" in Settings → Advanced
- Contact ISP about upload speed consistency
High CPU usage (80%+)
Causes: x264 encoder preset too slow, or weak CPU
- Switch to GPU encoding (NVENC/VCE) if available
- Change x264 preset to "ultrafast"
- Lower resolution to 720p
- Close unnecessary background programs
Video stuttering or dropping frames
Causes: Insufficient upload speed or CPU overload
- Check upload speed (need 1.5x your bitrate minimum)
- Lower bitrate and resolution
- Use "Performance Mode" in Windows power settings
- Update graphics drivers
No audio in stream
Causes: Wrong audio device selected or muted
- Check Desktop Audio Device in Settings → Audio
- Ensure audio mixer shows green bars when sound plays
- Restart OBS if audio device changed
- Check Windows sound settings for correct output device
Advanced Tips for 24/7 Stability
- Use VLC Video Source Plugin
Better than built-in Media Source for playlists. Download from OBS forums. Supports M3U playlists and has better memory management.
- Enable Auto-Reconnect
Settings → Advanced → Stream Delay → Enable "Automatically reconnect". Set retry delay to 2 seconds.
- Monitor with StreamLabs or Bot
Set up alerts to notify you if stream goes offline. Many creators use Discord bots or uptime monitoring services.
- Optimize Windows Power Settings
Disable sleep mode, screen timeout, and automatic updates. Use "High Performance" power plan.
- Regular Maintenance
Restart OBS every 7 days to clear memory leaks. Schedule during low-traffic hours (3-5 AM local time).
Skip the Technical Hassle
Setting up and maintaining OBS 24/7 takes time and technical knowledge. TheLoops Dashboard handles everything automatically - just upload your videos and go live in 2 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
For 24/7 streaming, NVENC (NVIDIA GPU) is highly recommended. It produces similar quality to x264 but uses far less power and generates less heat, which is critical for continuous operation. If you don't have NVIDIA GPU, use x264 with "veryfast" preset.
CPU: Intel i5-6th gen / AMD Ryzen 5 or better. GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050 or better (for NVENC). RAM: 8GB minimum. Upload speed: 6+ Mbps. SSD recommended for video storage.
A mid-range PC streaming 24/7 uses ~150-250W, costing $20-40/month (at $0.12/kWh). Gaming PCs use more. Cloud solutions like TheLoops Dashboard eliminate this cost entirely.
OBS doesn't have built-in auto-restart. You need third-party tools like "Restarter" (Windows) or systemd (Linux) to monitor and restart OBS if it crashes. Alternatively, use a managed solution like TheLoops Dashboard with built-in auto-recovery.
It works, but has downsides: electricity costs ($20-50/month), hardware wear, noise, and risk of crashes/power outages. Many creators use cloud-based solutions or dedicated streaming PCs instead.