Free tool, no sign upRTMP server URL and stream key lookup
Pick a platform to get its RTMP or RTMPS server URL, where to find your stream key, and the settings it recommends. Values come from each platform's own docs (for YouTube's addresses, the list built into OBS Studio, since YouTube shows them only inside YouTube Studio).
YouTube server URL
- RTMP
rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2 - RTMPS
rtmps://a.rtmps.youtube.com:443/live2 - Backup RTMP
rtmp://b.rtmp.youtube.com/live2?backup=1
These are the addresses OBS Studio uses for YouTube. YouTube shows the exact Stream URL for your key in Live Control Room, and clicking the lock icon in that field shows the RTMPS version, which YouTube recommends.
Where to find the stream key
- Open YouTube Studio on a computer and click Create, then Go live. This opens the Live Control Room.
- Click the Stream tab.
- Under Stream settings, copy the Stream key. The Stream URL sits right next to it.
- The first time a channel turns on live streaming, YouTube can take up to 24 hours to enable it.
Recommended settings
- Video codec
- H.264, H.265 (HEVC) or AV1
- Resolution
- Up to 4K (2160p), up to 60 fps
- Bitrate
- 1080p30: 14 Mbps recommended (H.264), 10 Mbps (HEVC or AV1)
- Rate control
- CBR
- Keyframe
- 2 seconds, never more than 4
- Audio
- AAC or MP3, 128 Kbps stereo
Source: YouTube Help: create a live stream with an encoder , YouTube Help: encoder settings , OBS Studio YouTube service . Checked November 9, 2026. Platforms change these, so if one stops working, check the source.
| Platform | Server URL | Stream key |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2 | YouTube Studio, Create, Go live, Stream tab |
| Twitch | rtmp://ingest.global-contribute.live-video.net/app | Creator Dashboard, Settings, Stream |
| rtmps://rtmp-api.facebook.com/rtmp/ | Live Producer, Stream setup tab | |
| Shown each time in Live Producer | instagram.com, Create, Live (limited access) | |
| Kick | Shown in your Kick dashboard | Creator dashboard, Channel, Stream URL and Key |
| X | Shown per source in Live Studio | Live Studio, New Livestream, Source |
| Per event, in LinkedIn Live Studio | Live Studio, Stream settings, Get URL | |
| Rumble | Shown per stream on Rumble | rumble.com/live, Go Live, streamer configuration |
| Vimeo | Per event, in Vimeo | Event, Go Live, Use an external encoder |
How RTMP works, in plain words
RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) is the format most streaming software uses to send live video to a platform. Your encoder, such as OBS, compresses the video and audio and pushes it as one steady stream over the internet to the platform's ingest server. The platform then converts it into the formats viewers actually watch, at several qualities, and sends it out to them.
Two things tell the platform where the video goes and whose it is. The server URL (the ingest address) says which server receives it. The stream key says which channel or broadcast it belongs to. Your software joins them together, so the full address is the server URL followed by a slash and the key.
How to stream with RTMP, step by step
The steps are the same in OBS and almost every other encoder:
- ·Find the server URL and stream key on your platform (see the lookup above for where each one lives).
- ·In your streaming software open the stream settings. In OBS that is Settings, then Stream. Pick the platform or choose Custom.
- ·Paste the server URL into Server and the key into Stream Key. Use the RTMPS address if your software supports it.
- ·Set your bitrate, resolution and keyframe interval to match what the platform recommends. The free streaming bitrate calculator helps here.
- ·Click Start Streaming. On YouTube you may also need to click Go live in the Live Control Room, depending on your settings.
Common RTMP mistakes
Most failed connections come down to one of these:
- ·The key was reset or regenerated, and the software still has the old one.
- ·The key pasted into the Server box, or the full URL with key pasted into the Key box.
- ·A stray space at the start or end of the key.
- ·A keyframe interval over the platform maximum (2 seconds is the safe choice almost everywhere).
- ·A bitrate higher than your real upload speed can carry, which shows up as dropped frames and buffering.
Skip the RTMP setup for 24/7 streams
If you want a stream that never stops, the hard part isn't the URL, it's keeping a computer and connection running forever. Loopcast connects to your YouTube channel, creates the broadcast and handles the RTMP connection from the cloud, so a playlist of your videos stays live 24/7 with your computer off. That keeps your channel live around the clock, which helps grow subscribers and views and sends viewers to your other socials. More background in RTMP explained and where to find your YouTube stream key, or check your settings with the streaming bitrate calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTMP server URL for YouTube?
YouTube's primary ingest URL is rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2 and the secure RTMPS one is rtmps://a.rtmps.youtube.com:443/live2. Both appear in YouTube Studio under Go live, Stream, Stream settings, right next to your stream key.
What is the difference between RTMP and RTMPS?
RTMPS is RTMP inside an encrypted TLS connection, the same kind of encryption HTTPS uses. The video and your stream key are protected on the way to the platform. Use RTMPS whenever the platform and your software support it.
Is the stream key the same as my password?
No, but treat it like one. Anyone with your stream key can broadcast to your channel. Never post it or show it on screen, and reset it in the platform settings if it leaks.
Why does my stream connect but never show as live?
Usually the key is old (it was reset), the URL and key were pasted into the wrong fields, or the encoder settings are outside what the platform accepts, like a very long keyframe interval. Check the URL, paste a fresh key, and compare your settings with the table on this page.
Can I stream to several platforms at once with RTMP?
Yes, but each platform needs its own RTMP connection, so your upload has to carry every copy, or you use a multistreaming service (such as Restream) that takes one stream from you and sends it on. Each destination still uses its own URL and key.
Want it running 24/7 without your computer on?
Loopcast keeps a playlist of your videos live on YouTube around the clock from the cloud. No OBS, no stream keys to paste, no PC left on. Try Loopcast free.
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