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# How To Schedule A YouTube Live Stream

You can schedule a YouTube Live Stream START and END times on Upstream and set recurring daily or weekly streams. To access Scheduling options, go to the Stream Edit page, and choose the background or audio playlist tab (depending on your stream setup) - the scheduling options are in the sidebar, all the way down.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/pre-recorded-live-stream-sched_glar3q.jpg)

### Schedule a Live Stream in Advance

There are two ways to schedule streams on Upstream: YouTube Connect and Manual. Manual setup requires additional setup on studio.youtube.com, while with YouTube Connect you can schedule your stream from Upstream only.

###### YouTube Connect
If you are using [YouTube Connect](https://help.upstream.so/en/article/how-to-start-a-permanent-247-youtube-live-stream-using-youtube-connect-1xuvijx/)**, the process is much simpler:**
1. Choose your schedule type in the sidebar of your playlist
2. Set Start and End times
3. **Save** your settings.

###### Manual
**Users who are running Manual Streams** ([copy pasting RTMP stream keys & starting streams via YouTube Studio](https://help.upstream.so/en/article/how-to-start-a-permanent-247-youtube-live-stream-manual-rtmp-1tzuej4/)) will have to additionally set up a receiving stream in YouTube Studio, after setting everything up on Upstream first.

| After setting the schedule you do not need to start your stream. Your Stream will start at your chosen time, automatically.

|| The prerequisite of this guide is that you already have a stream set up on [upstream.so](https://studio.upstream.so/login).

### Advanced Live Stream Scheduling Options
Besides Start and End times, there are more advanced scheduling options available, depending on your strategy. Some common scheduling strategies are:

* **One-off Scheduled Streams:** Set a start and end time, or only set a start time and let it loop 24/7.
* **Automated Daily Recurring Streams:** Start and stop your streams every day, usually with new set of thumbnail, title and content.
* **Streams that end just under 12 hours** (11:55 - gets saved as VOD on YouTube). This setting has a dedicated button in the Scheduling Options.
* **Streams that end when the playlist finishes:** (audio or video playlist): This way you play your content only once, and the stream stops when that happens.
* **Back-to-back Cycles:** Set the duration of the stream, and pauses in between.

### Upstream Live Streaming Schedule Types

You can achieve any of the strategies above, and more, with the scheduling controls in the sidebar of your playlist:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/live-stream-scheduling-and-aut_stpxht.jpg)

###### No Schedule - manual control
With this option, scheduling is turned off. You have to start and stop your stream 

###### One-time Schedule
Set a schedule for a one-time, non-recurring stream. Choose start and end times, save, and you can close your browser. Your stream will start and end on time.

|| 🔁 If your Playback Mode (above the schedule) is set to "Play Once and End", you will not be able to set up an END time. Choose "Loop Continuously" to be able to schedule an end time.

###### Recurring Schedule
Set a recurring daily, weekly or monthly stream.

###### Back-to-back Stream Cycles
Simple timer-based setup. Set the duration for each stream cycle and the length of the pauses between the cycles.

###### Schedule End Advanced Options
These options appear in One-time and Recurring Schedule types:
* Set custom stream duration- Allows you to customise the whole duration of the stream
* Set to just under 12 hours - Automatically makes the Livestream archivable by YouTube, by making it under 12 hours)
* Set end time to total video duration - Calculates the video playlist duration and sets the end time accordingly
* Set end time to total audio duration- Calculates the audio playlist duration and sets the end time accordingly

### Creating a pre-stream event on YouTube
You can get and share your Live Stream URL / link before the stream starts.

###### YouTube Connect Streams
Choose the "Create YouTube Live Now" YouTube event creation settings (available only for **One-time** schedule)

###### Manual RTMP Streams
When you schedule a live stream in YouTube Studio, you will get the url.

### Schedule a YouTube Live Stream (Step-by-step)

###### Step 1: Set up Schedule in the Upstream Playlist tab sidebar:

1. Choose your stream schedule type: One-time, Recurring, Back-to-back,
2. Choose start time: Your stream will start on this date and time,
3. Choose end times: Optionally, set end time and date, or choose a custom duration

###### Step 2: Save Changes
🟢 After saving your progress, you can turn off your Upstream tab, browser and computer. The stream will start at your selected time.
🟡 If you are using the  **Manual Streaming Method** (with RTMP stream keys), you still have additional steps:

| If you are using YouTube Connect, you are all set now!

||| **Important:** Do NOT manually start the livestream on [upstream.so](https://studio.upstream.so/login); it will start automatically at the scheduled time! Simply set your schedule and save your progress. 

###### Step 3 (only for manual streams): Set Up a Recieving Stream in YouTube Studio (Manual / RTMP Key)

1. Open [YouTube Live Studio](https://studio.youtube.com/),
2. Click on **+Create**
3. click on **Go live**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/click-on-create-and-go-live-to_zy874h.jpg)

###### Step 4 - click on Schedule Stream in the Manage Tab

1. Click on the "Manage" tab within YouTube Live Studio.
2. Click on Schedule Stream

This gives your stream additional features, like being able to stream from Streaming Software (like [Upstream](https://upstream.so)) or through

![If a wizard appears, choose "Later" and "Schedule Stream"](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/7_1sjx3mn.jpg)
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/1-2_1lz1zfo.png)
||| ⚠️ It is crucial to use the Manage Tab / Schedule Stream, as this will enable additional options like Auto Start, which is required to start the stream automatically when Upstream starts sending the stream.

###### Step 5 - Provide All the Required Livestream Information

Complete all the necessary details for your livestream, including a title, description, and other info. This information helps your live stream get discovered.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/10_kd6mky.jpg)

###### Step 6 - Enable Auto-start (and Auto-stop, for non 24-7 streams)

Enable **Auto-start**.  Additionally, enable **Auto-stop** if you scheduled a Stop time on Upstream.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/3/d/1/5/3d1572e4e8c19800/make-sure-auto-start-is-enable_i9o3id.jpg)

|| Note: Scheduling an END time is optional; if not selected, the livestream will run 24/7 after starting up.

And that's it! Your Stream is now scheduled, and will start right on time, every time!

### Stream Scheduling Checklist
If you want to be calm knowing everything is set up correctly, go through this live stream scheduling checklist:
* content is loaded into the playlist
* playlist behavior is set up correctly (looping, etc)
* Schedule start and end date and time is correct

###### Additional checklist items for manual streams (with RTMP key)
* The correct streaming key is selected in YouTube Studio
* Auto Start is ON

||| ⚠️ If AUTO START and AUTO STOP options are not visible, your stream is not set up correctly. You need to set up another stream via the Manage tab, clicking the Schedule Stream button as described above in step 4.

To ease your mind, we recommend running a few test streams, in private or unlisted visibility, so you can get familiar with the scheduling workflow before your real stream.

| Pro-tip: Just make sure you saved your shedule settings on Upstream (and for Manual streams, make sure auto start is enabled on YouTube)

Follow these steps carefully to successfully schedule a YouTube Live Stream with [upstream.so](https://studio.upstream.so/login), ensuring uninterrupted broadcasting of your content.