How to Start a 24/7 Endless Stream on YouTube and Shorts: Step-by-Step Instructions

A 24/7 YouTube stream — an endless broadcast that runs around the clock — can help your channel gain more views, subscribers, and boost earnings. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly how to create the stream on your YouTube channel, where to find your stream key, and how to keep it running — it's simpler than you think!

Part 1: Create a YouTube Stream

Step 1: Open YouTube Studio

• Click your avatar in the upper-right corner of YouTube.
• In the menu that appears, select YouTube Studio — this is where you manage all your videos and streams.

Step 2: Start Creating a Stream

• In the left menu, find and click Create (the camera icon with a "+" sign).
• Select Live Broadcast — this opens the stream setup panel.

Go to the stream management menu (Schedule Broadcast). It is the third icon from the bottom in the left control menu. From there, schedule a stream and choose to either create a new one or repeat the settings of an existing stream.

Note: The first time you do this, you must create a new stream — you won't have an existing one to copy yet.

Step 3: Configure Your Stream Settings

Open the stream editing menu and fill in the following details:

• Stream Title: Enter a compelling title — something that makes viewers want to tune in.
• Stream Description: Add a description explaining what your stream is about.

• Privacy Settings: Choose who can see the stream — Public, Unlisted, or Private. While setting everything up, keep it private. You can make it public once you're ready to go live. Viewers won't see the stream until you click Go Live.

• Stream Thumbnail: Upload an eye-catching cover image, just like you would for a regular video.
• Tags: Add relevant tags — streams appear in search results too!
• Primary Language: Specify the main language of your stream. This helps YouTube's algorithm and translation services identify the right audience.
• Save your stream settings when done.

Secret feature that drives more views: Add translations and subtitles to your stream. You can add them yourself via the subtitles menu, generate free subtitles for long videos, or use the Creator Tools service to translate your stream's title and description in one click, and its subtitles once the stream has ended.

Getting Your YouTube Live Stream Key and Stream URL

For streaming software, you'll need two pieces of information:

• Stream URL: In the stream info panel at the bottom, find Server URL — this is the address you paste into your streaming program.
• Stream Key: Just below the URL, you'll see Broadcast Key. Click Show, then copy it. This key tells YouTube to route the video to your channel.

Auto Start and Stop, and How to Reduce Viewer Drop-off

To reduce viewer churn, find the setting labeled "Enable DVR" (or "Enable Video Recorder" in Russian) and turn it off. This prevents viewers from rewinding the stream — they won't see that the content is looped, and are less likely to leave.

Auto Start and Stop

Once you paste the stream key and URL into your streaming service and launch it, YouTube will establish a connection and the Go Live / Start Broadcast button will become active. You can also enable:

• Auto-start — the stream begins as soon as the video feed connects to your channel.
• Auto-stop — the stream ends automatically when the video feed stops.

Simply activate both settings as shown in the screenshot above.

Running Multiple Endless Streams Simultaneously

Each stream requires its own key. Here's how to run several endless streams on one channel at the same time:

1. Create multiple streams in YouTube Studio.
2. In each stream's menu, click the stream key field (highlighted in the screenshot).
3. In the dropdown, select Create a new key.

4. Send each key to your streaming service.
5. Switch between profiles and start broadcasts for each stream.

All streams will run on the same channel simultaneously, each with its own settings and content.

Saving and Editing Your Stream

Saving as a Video

Once your stream ends, YouTube automatically saves it as a video on your channel — available for anyone who missed the live broadcast. Find it in the Content section of YouTube Studio.

Editing the Saved Video

1. Go to YouTube Studio → Content.
2. Find your saved stream and click the pencil icon (Edit).
3. Update the title, description, tags, or trim the video using YouTube's built-in editor — useful for cutting out dead air or repeated segments.

Important: YouTube only saves streams that are less than 12 hours long. If you want your stream saved as a video, keep it under 12 hours — for example, set it to 11:55.

That's everything you need to know: how to launch a stream, where to find your URL and stream key, how to run multiple broadcasts on one channel, and how to save and edit them afterward. If you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to reach out — we're always happy to help!

FAQ

How do 24/7 YouTube streams work?

A streaming program or service keeps sending video, usually pre-recorded videos on a loop, to your stream URL with your stream key. With auto-start and auto-stop on, YouTube starts the broadcast when the feed connects and ends it when the feed stops.

Will YouTube save a 24/7 stream as a video?

No. YouTube only saves streams shorter than 12 hours. If you want a recording on your channel, keep the broadcast under 12 hours, for example 11:55.

Do I need OBS to run a 24/7 stream?

You need a program or service that accepts a server URL and a stream key. OBS works, but then your computer has to stay on for the whole stream. A cloud streaming service sends the video to YouTube's RTMP server from its own servers, so your computer can be off.