Stream Not Working
Advanced troubleshooting guide for stream failures and broadcast issues.
If your YouCast stream is not working as expected — whether it won't start, stops unexpectedly, or the YouTube broadcast appears offline — this guide will help you systematically diagnose and resolve the issue.
Step 1: Check Stream Status in YouCast
Open your YouCast dashboard and navigate to Streams. Check the status badge on the stream in question. Refer to the status table below to understand what each state means and what action to take:
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | Stream is initializing | Wait up to 60 seconds. If still Starting after 2 min, stop and restart. |
| Live | Stream is broadcasting normally | Check YouTube channel directly if viewers report issues. |
| Restarting | Auto-restart in progress | Wait 60–120 seconds for auto-recovery. |
| Error | Stream failed after retries | Check History tab for error details. Fix issue and restart. |
| Idle | Stream is stopped | Click Start to begin streaming. |
Step 2: Check the Stream History Log
On the stream detail page, click the "History" tab. Review the log entries for error messages. Common error codes and their meanings:
| Error Code | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| YOUTUBE_AUTH_EXPIRED | YouTube OAuth token has expired | Reconnect your YouTube channel in the Channels section |
| YOUTUBE_QUOTA_EXCEEDED | YouTube API daily quota reached | Wait until the quota resets (midnight Pacific Time) |
| VIDEO_NOT_FOUND | A video in the playlist could not be read | Check the video's status in the library; re-upload if needed |
| ENCODER_TIMEOUT | The cloud encoder failed to initialize | Retry starting the stream; contact support if persistent |
| STREAM_DISCONNECTED | Connection to YouTube RTMP lost | Auto-restart should handle this; if not, restart manually |
Step 3: Verify YouTube Channel Status
Sometimes the issue is on YouTube's side rather than YouCast. Check the following in YouTube Studio:
- Is live streaming enabled for your channel? (Studio → Settings → Channel → Feature eligibility)
- Does your channel have any active strikes or restrictions?
- Check the YouTube Status Dashboard (googlewatchusstatus.appspot.com) for any ongoing outages
- Ensure you haven't exceeded YouTube's concurrent stream limits for your channel
Step 4: Test with a New Stream
If a specific stream configuration appears problematic, try creating a brand new stream with a single short test video and the same YouTube channel. If the test stream works, the issue may be with the original stream's configuration, playlist, or a specific video file.
Step 5: Contact Support
If you have followed the steps above and the stream is still not working, contact our support team with the following information:
- Your YouCast account email
- The stream ID (visible in the stream detail URL)
- The exact error message from the History log
- The date and time the issue occurred
- Any changes you made to the stream or account before the issue started
Pro plan support
Pro plan users receive priority support with guaranteed response within 4 business hours. Basic plan users receive responses within 24 business hours. Reach us at support@youcast.cloud or via Telegram at t.me/youcastcloud.