Live streaming limits, platform by platform.
Twitch ends a broadcast at 48 hours, Facebook lives at 8 hours and Instagram lives at 4. YouTube saves a replay only for streams shorter than 12 hours. Below: how long each platform lets you stream, which settings it accepts, and what happens to the replay, for single events, multistreaming and 24/7 channels.
Start here
Stream length and replay rules
A broadcast ending, a replay failing to save and a recording expiring are three different things. Read the limit together with the next step, especially for an always-on channel.
| Platform | Live duration | Replay / archive | What to plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Long-running streamsThe 12-hour threshold is about archiving, not a live cut-off. | Under 12 hoursCan be archived automatically. Over 12 hours may not be captured at all. | Split broadcasts when you need a replay.Details & sources |
| Twitch | 48 hoursMaximum length of one broadcast. Another connection starts a new session. | 7, 14 or 60 daysDepends on channel status and subscription. Enable past broadcast storage. | Allow for a reconnect on continuous channels.Details & sources |
| Kick | No cap stated in setup docsThis is not a guarantee of an uninterrupted or unlimited session. | 7 or 30 daysNon-verified: 7 days. Verified: 30 days. Eligible pinned VODs are an exception. | Save a copy before the replay expires.Details & sources |
Check Live ProducerUpstream pauses a Facebook multistream output at 7 hours 55 minutes. | 30 daysNew live videos are removed after 30 days. Download or transfer what you need. | Plan separate sessions and a recording export.Details & sources | |
Check Live ProducerUpstream pauses an Instagram multistream output at 3 hours 55 minutes. | Check archive settingsDo not rely on an automatic, permanent public replay. | Prepare each session and its stream key.Details & sources | |
| TikTok | No universal cap verifiedLIVE access, region and account-specific tools govern the session. | 30-day creator replayAvailable to view or download in LIVE recordings. Not a permanent public VOD. | Confirm external streaming access in your account.Details & sources |
4 hoursMaximum broadcast length. The event must be scheduled ahead. | Recorded eventRemains as a previously recorded live video. Organizers can download it. | Check eligibility and schedule the event first.Details & sources | |
| Mixcloud | No stated duration capMixcloud refreshes the connection after 8 hours. Reconnect support matters. | Audio onlySessions between 15 minutes and 12 hours can produce an audio archive. | Record video separately if you need it later.Details & sources |
| Rumble | No cap stated in setup docsConfirm long-session requirements in your broadcaster account. | Check replay visibilityRumble offers a hide-replay setting when you create the broadcast. | Use the configuration for the correct event.Details & sources |
About the Meta rows: the Facebook and Instagram timers above describe Upstream's multistream output buffers. Confirm the platform's current session and account limits in your signed-in Live Producer. Those access-dependent specs could not be independently refreshed in this review.
The details that change your setup
A closer look at each platform
Choose the platform you are planning for. Each section separates the broadcast session, the replay and the account checks that can affect your event.
YouTube
You can run an always-on YouTube channel, but the live feed and the video people watch afterwards have different rules. Plan the replay before you start a long stream.
- Archive threshold. YouTube says it can automatically archive streams shorter than 12 hours. A broadcast longer than that may not be captured at all. Ending below the threshold improves your chances of getting the archive; it does not replace a separate recording.
- Concurrent broadcasts. YouTube allows 10 active streams per channel and 3 per stream key. Both limits apply. A new key does not remove the channel-wide limit, and separate Upstream streams still need enough concurrent capacity on your Upstream plan.
- Access. Your channel must be verified and have no live streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. YouTube requires creators to be at least 16 to go live, with separate rules for younger participants accompanied by an adult. Mobile app requirements differ from encoder streaming.
Twitch
A 24/7 Twitch channel consists of successive broadcasts. The channel can keep operating, but a single broadcast has a fixed maximum length.
- Broadcast length. Twitch documents a 48-hour maximum that cannot be increased. Reconnecting can begin another broadcast. It can also create a new VOD, reset the visible session timer or briefly interrupt playback, so do not promise viewers one uninterrupted multi-day session.
- Past broadcast storage. Twitch Turbo documents 7 days for non-monetized channels, 14 days for Affiliates and 60 days for Turbo subscribers. Other eligible account benefits can also extend storage. Check your Video Producer settings and save important recordings before their expiry.
- Encoding baseline. Twitch lists 6,000 kbps for standard 1080p60 H.264 broadcasting, CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval. Enhanced Broadcasting is a separate workflow with its own availability and settings; do not apply its advertised capabilities to every RTMP output.
Kick
Kick supports long-running channels, but its published setup guide is more specific about encoder settings than maximum session length. Replay retention also depends on your channel status.
- Standard ingest. Kick documents up to 1920 × 1080, 60 fps and 8,000 kbps video. Use H.264, CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval. A higher-quality source file does not let you exceed the destination settings.
- Replay retention. Non-verified channels keep replays for 7 days, with a maximum of 16 available replays. Verified channels keep them for 30 days, with a maximum of 30. The replay-count limit matters if you broadcast many short sessions.
- Pinned VODs. Kick documents permanent pinning for Partner and Verified channels, with up to 5 pinned VODs. Pin while the recording still exists. This feature is an exception for eligible accounts, not the normal retention policy for every creator.
Treat a Facebook broadcast as a scheduled session with a planned end. A long-running feed on another platform does not make the Facebook output stay live indefinitely.
- Session planning. The Upstream Facebook multistream output uses a 7-hour-55-minute stop buffer for an 8-hour session. Check the current duration and encoder settings displayed in your signed-in Live Producer before an event; Meta can apply different access and account requirements.
- Replays expire. Meta changed storage for new Facebook live videos in February 2025. They are available to replay, download or share for 30 days, then removed. Leaving the video on your Page is not a permanent archive. Download it, transfer it to storage or publish selected moments as reels.
- Next session. A persistent stream key makes repeated setup easier, but it does not extend the current broadcast. Prepare a new broadcast and check that the platform is ready to receive it. Upstream does not automatically cycle paused Facebook multistream outputs into a new Facebook event.
Instagram Live Producer access and the session controls available to your account matter as much as the encoder. Check them before committing to an event length.
- Upstream delivery window. Upstream pauses an Instagram multistream destination at 3 hours 55 minutes, using a buffer for a 4-hour session. Confirm the current account limit in Instagram. This output is not automatically restarted for a fresh Instagram session.
- Session credentials. Prepare the live session in Instagram Live Producer, copy its current server URL and stream key, and verify the incoming preview. A key from a previous session may not be usable for the next one. Complete the platform-side start and end controls as required.
- Vertical composition. Preview the exact frame on a phone. Keep captions, lower thirds and faces away from interface overlays. Check the platform's current aspect ratio, resolution and bitrate guidance rather than copying settings from a landscape YouTube output.
TikTok
Being able to go LIVE in the TikTok app does not mean your account has an external encoder URL and stream key. Verify that access first.
- Eligibility. TikTok requires creators to be at least 18 to go LIVE. Its help documentation also describes a follower requirement that can vary by region. Check your account's LIVE tools for the current threshold and for access to an external streaming workflow.
- Length and content. We do not treat the absence of a universal published duration cap as permission to run any feed forever. TikTok can stop or restrict a LIVE under its content rules. Review the rules for your format, particularly if your broadcast uses recorded content.
- Creator replay. TikTok documents a 30-day window to view and download LIVE replays. Find the recording in TikTok Studio's LIVE recordings and export it within that period. A creator-side download window is different from publishing a replay for viewers.
LinkedIn Live is designed around events. Access, scheduling and the broadcast itself have separate setup steps, even when you use a custom RTMP encoder.
- Length. LinkedIn documents a 4-hour maximum. It recommends at least 10 minutes to give viewers time to join. Leave room for your opening, closing and any overrun within the event schedule.
- Schedule first. LinkedIn's current overview says spontaneous lives are no longer available from 22 June 2026. Schedule the event before going live, even if you create it only minutes ahead. An approved broadcaster can use a custom RTMP workflow.
- Replay and format. LinkedIn records live events and lets organizers download the recording. Its FAQ discourages pre-recorded broadcasts in order to preserve audience trust. Choose a live event format and check your Page or profile's broadcaster eligibility before setup.
Mixcloud
Mixcloud separates the live video experience from the audio show you publish afterwards. A long live session and a saved show are not the same thing.
- Long sessions. Mixcloud states that live duration has no limit, but its system refreshes the stream after 8 hours. It recommends software configured to reconnect. Test that behavior before running a long show.
- Archive window. Mixcloud saves audio for live sessions between 15 minutes and 12 hours. It does not create an on-demand video replay. Stop within the window if you want its audio recording, and check your drafts after processing.
- Your own copy. Record separately when you need video, an editable master or a session outside the archive window. Mixcloud's content guidelines advise against pre-recorded shows or sets on Live, and its music and video rights rules still apply.
Rumble
Rumble provides an RTMP URL and stream key for the live event you create. Use those event credentials, then confirm the replay behavior you want.
- Event setup. The official guide supports starting immediately or scheduling up to 24 hours ahead. After you create the broadcast, open its streamer configuration for the RTMP URL and key. Scheduling availability is different from a maximum stream duration.
- Replay visibility. The setup flow includes an option to hide the live replay. Confirm that choice for the event. Keep your own recording when delivery of an archive is part of your promise to viewers or a client.
- Account checks. The setup guide we reviewed does not establish a universal duration cap or a fixed replay-retention period. Check your account and current Rumble help before a continuous channel; do not confuse Creator Program monetization requirements with basic broadcast eligibility.
Bitrate & quality
Match the output to the destination
A recommended bitrate is different from a hard maximum. Codec and frame rate matter too. The values below describe video bitrate; leave room for audio and network overhead when sizing your connection.
| Destination | Video bitrate | Settings and context |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 1080p30: 10 MbpsH.264 recommendation, not a universal ingest cap. | 1080p60: 12 Mbps. 4K60: 35 Mbps H.264 recommended. Other codecs have different ranges. Read the specification |
| Twitch | 1080p60: 6 MbpsStandard H.264 guideline. | CBR, 2-second keyframes. Use a separate guide for Enhanced Broadcasting. Read the specification |
| Kick | Up to 8 MbpsPublished video bitrate maximum. | Up to 1080p60, H.264, CBR and 2-second keyframes. Read the specification |
| Facebook / Instagram | Use Live Producer settingsAccount and workflow dependent. | Check the signed-in platform guidance and preview before selecting your output quality. Read the specification |
| Other RTMP destinations | Check that destinationRTMP support does not define its bitrate limit. | Confirm codec, video bitrate, audio bitrate, frame rate, aspect ratio and keyframe interval. Read the specification |
For one output sent everywhere
Use settings that every destination receiving that output accepts. H.264 with AAC, CBR and 2-second keyframes is a useful starting point for many RTMP workflows, but you still need to confirm resolution and bitrate. Different destination needs can call for separate outputs. The integration guides show where these settings live in OBS, vMix, an ATEM Mini and other encoders.
For your local upload connection
Add video, audio and headroom. A 6 Mbps video feed with 128 kbps audio is already above 6 Mbps before network overhead. A 50% planning margin puts it near 9.2 Mbps. Test sustained upload, not the highest speed-test result. Use the bandwidth calculator.
The stream you send to Upstream has its own limits: one RTMP feed per stream, up to 1080p at 30 fps, in H.264 with AAC audio. A 60 fps feed is converted to 30, whatever the platforms accept. The custom RTMP guide covers connecting any encoder.
Platform rules and your streaming plan
How Upstream handles the limits
Upstream produces and delivers your stream. Each platform still decides which connections it accepts, how long a broadcast lasts and whether it keeps the recording.
48 hTwitch reconnect timer
Twitch reconnects automatically
Upstream checks Twitch delivery against a 48-hour timer and reconnects it when the threshold is reached. A Twitch multistream destination uses an output reconnect; a primary Twitch stream needs a stream reload. Expect a new session and allow for a playback interruption. Streaming Twitch alongside another platform? See Twitch and Kick at the same time.
7 h 55 mFacebook output
3 h 55 mInstagram output
Facebook and Instagram outputs pause
For multistream destinations, Facebook stops at 7 hours 55 minutes and Instagram at 3 hours 55 minutes. Other destinations and the parent stream remain running, but applying the output change can involve a reconnect. Prepare the next platform broadcast separately. The YouTube and Facebook guide shows how to run both from one stream.
Under 12 hPlanned end for a YouTube replay
Schedule with the archive in mind
If a YouTube replay matters, use a planned end below 12 hours rather than one multi-day broadcast. Upstream scheduling can end at a time or after a duration. Leave a buffer, check that the new session is ready and keep a separate recording. See scheduling options.
24 hFree streaming hours each month
Paid hours do not change platform rules
The free plan includes 24 streaming hours per month and one concurrent stream. Paid plans remove the monthly hour limit; platform caps and account eligibility remain. One stream sent to several platforms is different from multiple independent streams. Compare Upstream plans.
Preflight
Check these before you go live
Work through the exact event you plan to run. A short test is most useful when it uses the same credentials, picture, sound and destinations as the real broadcast.
Confirm access in every destination
Open the platform's live dashboard. Check that the channel or Page can stream, the event exists where needed, and the stream URL and key belong to that event. Account eligibility and encoder access are separate checks.
Set a deliberate start and end
Count the intro, main programme, intermission and closing. Leave time for an overrun. For long channels, decide where a reconnect or a new broadcast should happen and how viewers will find the next session.
Agree on the recording you need
Decide whether you need a public replay, a downloadable master, clips or all three. Turn on recording before the event and test an exported file. Put replay expiry dates on your calendar if the destination removes old broadcasts.
Test the output, not just the source
Watch the incoming preview on every destination. Check motion, text legibility, audio sync, orientation and the stream-health messages. A sharp uploaded file can still look poor after incompatible output settings or platform compression.
Have a recovery path
Keep current credentials and a prepared backup source available. Know how to stop one destination, begin the next platform session and tell viewers about an interruption. Assign someone to monitor the actual platform playback during the event.
Common questions
The practical questions behind the numbers
How long can you stream on Twitch?
One Twitch broadcast lasts up to 48 hours. Twitch ends it at that point, and Upstream reconnects the Twitch output so a long-running channel continues as a new broadcast.
Is there a time limit on Facebook Live?
Yes. Facebook lives end at 8 hours. Upstream stops its Facebook output at 7 hours 55 minutes so the broadcast ends cleanly while other destinations keep going.
How long can you live stream on Instagram?
Up to 4 hours. Upstream stops its Instagram output at 3 hours 55 minutes. Each Instagram live also needs a new stream key from Instagram Live Producer.
Does Upstream keep a 60 fps feed at 60 fps?
No. Upstream takes in up to 1080p at 30 fps and converts a 60 fps feed to 30, even when a destination accepts 60. Set your encoder to 1080p30.
Is YouTube limited to a 12-hour live stream?
The 12-hour threshold is an archive rule, not the same as a maximum live duration. YouTube can automatically archive broadcasts shorter than 12 hours; longer streams may not be captured. If you need the replay, plan shorter sessions and keep a separate recording.
Can I keep a Twitch channel live 24/7?
Yes, by running successive broadcasts within Twitch's 48-hour session limit. Upstream automatically reconnects Twitch delivery around that threshold. Allow for an interruption and a new broadcast or VOD. This does not remove Twitch's platform rules.
Will Facebook or Instagram stop my other destinations?
For Upstream multistream destinations, Facebook delivery is paused at 7 hours 55 minutes and Instagram at 3 hours 55 minutes. The parent stream and other destinations stay running, though updating outputs can cause a reconnect. Prepare the next platform session separately. This behavior describes multistream outputs, not every possible primary-stream setup.
Does a paid Upstream plan remove platform limits?
It removes Upstream's monthly streaming-hour limit. It does not change a platform's maximum broadcast length, ingest settings, account eligibility, copyright rules or replay retention. Each destination still accepts and stores the stream according to its own rules.
Can one bitrate work for every destination?
Sometimes. Match the settings accepted by every destination receiving that output: codec, bitrate, resolution, frame rate and keyframe interval. A preset that fits Twitch and Kick may be below YouTube's recommendation for the same resolution. Test the picture rather than assuming the largest number is best.
Does cloud multistreaming multiply my upload bandwidth?
If your encoder sends one feed to Upstream, your connection carries that one feed while the cloud sends destination copies. If you send several independent feeds from your computer, their upload requirements add together. Uploaded playlists stream from the cloud after the upload completes.
Is a replay guaranteed when the stream ends?
No. Duration, archive settings, disconnects, processing, content restrictions and platform retention can all affect a replay. Use a separate recording for an event you must deliver later. Check that recording before deleting your source files.
How many YouTube streams can I run at once?
YouTube documents 10 active streams per channel and 3 per stream key, applied together. Your Upstream plan's concurrent stream capacity also applies. One stream sent to several destinations is different from several independently produced streams.
Why does my stream end before the listed duration?
A duration cap is only one possible cause. Check the destination's stream health, credentials, account restrictions, encoder connection, playlist end condition and scheduled end. On the free Upstream plan, your monthly hours also apply. Note whether one destination or the whole stream ended before troubleshooting.
Can I use a recorded playlist on every platform?
The technical ability to send video does not settle the platform's content rules. LinkedIn discourages pre-recorded Live broadcasts, and Mixcloud advises against recorded shows or sets on Live. TikTok may also restrict a LIVE format. Check the destination's current rules and label recorded programming clearly for viewers.
Sources and review notes
Reviewed 30 September 2026. Platform facts link to the platform's own documentation beside the relevant claim. Upstream delivery behavior was checked separately against the current product. A rule not stated in the documents we reviewed is marked as unverified, rather than presented as unlimited.
Facebook Live specifications and Instagram Live Producer guidance can require sign-in or account access. We could not independently refresh those specifications in this review, so the guide identifies Upstream's output timers and directs you to the account screen for current platform limits. Replay rules, eligibility and supported settings can change. Recheck the source before an event whose timing or recording is critical.
For setup and troubleshooting, use the Upstream helpdesk. For broader workflow questions, read the live streaming FAQ.
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