How to Stream to VK Video Live: RTMP URL and Key
VK Video Live is where VK's live streams now run, including community broadcasts. Here's how to find the server URL and stream key in its Studio, which settings to use, and how to keep a community stream running around the clock.
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To stream to VK Video Live, open the Studio section for your channel, go to its broadcasts tab, and copy the server URL and stream key into OBS or a cloud streamer. In the VK Video Live mobile app, the same values sit in your profile's broadcast section. Community broadcasts now run through VK Video Live too.
VK's streaming products have been reorganized in recent years, so older tutorials often describe menus that no longer exist. Below: the names sorted out, the key, settings, and a 24/7 community setup.
Key takeaways
- VK Play Live became VK Video Live in late 2024, and VK community broadcasts now launch there.
- Find the server URL and stream key in your channel's Studio, under broadcasts.
- Standard H.264 and AAC at 720p or 1080p suit most channels.
- A 24/7 community stream needs content you own and a long, varied playlist.
VK Video Live, VK Video and VKontakte: what's what
Three names get mixed up in tutorials:
- VKontakte (VK) is the social network, with personal pages and communities.
- VK Video is VK's video platform, with its own apps and site, where channels publish videos and recordings.
- VK Video Live is the live streaming service. It started as VK Play Live, and in late 2024 VK integrated it into VK Video under the new name, with its own site and a live catalog shown across VK Video apps.
VK also announced that live broadcasts in VKontakte communities would launch through VK Video Live, with recordings kept in the community and on its VK Video channel. So whether you stream as yourself or for a community, the settings you need live in VK Video Live. You sign in with a VK ID, and some features can vary by country.
Where to find your VK Video Live server URL and stream key
VK's help pages describe two places to find the values. Labels vary by language and app version:
On desktop
- Sign in to VK Video Live and open the Studio section for the channel you'll stream to.
- In the left-hand menu, open the broadcasts tab.
- Copy the server URL and stream key, each into its own field in your encoder.
In the mobile app
- Open the VK Video Live app and go to your Profile.
- Open the broadcast section and copy the URL and key.
Streaming for a community? Work in that community's channel, with admin rights on your account. VK's help center is clear that the key shouldn't be shared. If it leaks, look for the reset option in the same settings and update your encoder; our guide to stream keys on every platform covers resets elsewhere.
Encoder settings that suit VK Video Live
VK Video Live accepts a standard RTMP feed from OBS, PRISM Live Studio and similar tools, and VK has promoted support for streams up to 4K. For most channels, a steady 1080p or 720p stream is still the better choice:
- Video: H.264, using software x264 or a hardware encoder such as NVENC, at constant bitrate.
- Resolution and frame rate: 1280×720 or 1920×1080, 30 fps for talk, music and ambient content, 60 fps for games.
- Bitrate: roughly 3,000–4,000 kbps for 720p30, 4,500–6,000 kbps for 1080p30, 6,000–9,000 kbps for 1080p60.
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds.
- Audio: AAC at 44.1 or 48 kHz, 160 kbps or more for music.
VK's help center lists its own bitrate ranges per resolution, so compare before a big stream. For recorded playlists, keep every file at the same resolution and frame rate so the feed doesn't shift between videos.
Running a 24/7 community stream on VK
An always-on broadcast gives a VK community a reason to visit between posts. Recorded formats that suit it include music and ambient channels, an archive of talks or lessons, gaming replays you hold rights to, and product or travel showcases. A few rules keep it healthy:
- Own the rights. Stream only videos and music you created or licensed. VK responds to copyright complaints, which can get videos or broadcasts removed.
- Label reruns honestly. Put "replay" or "24/7" in the title so nobody expects a host in chat.
- Make the loop long. Several hours of varied material keeps returning viewers from seeing the same clip twice; see how to build a looping playlist.
- Pin and post. Pin a community post linking to the broadcast, and refresh it when you add material.
Streaming to VK Video Live around the clock with StreamHouse
A 24/7 community stream from a home PC means that PC can never sleep, update or lose power. StreamHouse runs it in the cloud instead:
- Upload your videos to the media library and build a playlist.
- Add a VK Live destination and paste the server URL and stream key from your channel's Studio.
- Choose a horizontal 16:9 output at 720p or 1080p.
- Press Start. The playlist loops automatically, and your computer can be off.
Uploads are prepared to one consistent encode profile, which keeps bitrate and timestamps steady across files. You can add, remove or reorder videos while live, and changes apply from the next video without taking the stream down. If VK or the network hiccups, StreamHouse reconnects automatically. Want the same loop on YouTube or Twitch? Add them to the same stream without using another stream slot.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the stream key in VK Video Live?
On desktop, open the Studio section of your VK Video Live channel and go to the broadcasts tab, where the server URL and stream key are listed. In the mobile app, look in your profile's broadcast section. Exact labels can vary by interface language and app version.
Is VK Play Live the same as VK Video Live?
Yes, in practice. VK integrated its VK Play Live streaming service into VK Video in late 2024 and renamed it VK Video Live. Older guides that mention VK Play Live describe the same service, although menus and names may have changed since they were written.
Can I stream to a VK community instead of my personal page?
Yes. VK said community broadcasts would launch through VK Video Live, with recordings saved to the community and its VK Video channel. You need admin rights for the community, and you should copy the key from that community's channel rather than your personal one.
Can I use OBS to stream to VK Video Live?
Yes. In OBS, open Settings, go to Stream, choose a custom service, then paste the server URL into the Server field and the stream key into the Stream Key field. VK's help center also describes setting up PRISM Live Studio the same way.
