YouTube Troubleshooting (API)

This guide will aid you with the most common scenarios when streaming to YouTube using our YouTube API Outputs.

If you are needing help with using the RTMP Connector with a YouTube account, please see this troubleshooting article on RTMP.

Before Troubleshooting, Do This...

As you troubleshoot, make sure you have:

One window/tab open to the Sardius Control Panel
A separate window/tab open to your Youtube channel's Control Room.

Disclaimer: This article is designed specifically for clients using Sardius Stream to deliver their stream to YouTube.

To aid you in your troubleshooting, please select from the following options:

Monitor your stream's health
Verify your event was Set Up to Stream to YouTube
End the YouTube Event
Add the API Output to an active event
Error Messages

Monitor your stream's health

If you are experiencing connection or quality issues with your YouTube stream, we recommend that you first begin at YouTube. The Sardius Control Panel makes it easy to send your stream to YouTube. However, the best place to monitor your YouTube stream is within YouTube's own control room.

To access your live stream's control room on YouTube, make sure that you are:

1. Signed into YouTube with the Channel/Account you are streaming to, and

2. Viewing the live stream as a user on YouTube.

When you are viewing this live stream, you can click on the "Analytics" button to enter the Control Room for that event.

You can also locate your stream's control room by locating the "Go live" function on any YouTube page.

3. In your Control Room, click on the tab that says "Stream Health." YouTube will share health information from the moment you opened the page. It will not show information or warnings that may have been present prior to you accessing the page.

4. As the live stream is broadcast, monitor this page for any important notices or warnings. The preview window will let you know when the connection is lost, or if the bitrate changes for any reason.

Verify Your Event was Set Up to Stream to YouTube

Access your Channel and navigate to the Event Calendar. Above your calendar, you can see the Live Event Manager.

Under the “Streaming outputs” section, you will see all of the outputs that were setup with your current live event. You can hover your cursor over each of the outputs to see the name of the output.

If you see your YouTube API Output, proceed to Verify your API Output below.
If you do NOT see your API Output, proceed to Add your API Output below.

Verify Your API Output is Sending Out a Stream

If your default stream settings or if your Event was previously set up to use your API Connector, you can check if Sardius Stream is currently sending your feed to YouTube by taking a look at the Live Event Manager on your Channel’s Event Calendar.

Locate your YouTube output under the “Streaming outputs” section. When your mouse hovers over the icons, the Output’s name will appear.

The Output is Offline

If the output is offline, there will likely be an error message that will reveal what is happening. To review and address these errors, see Error messages below.

The Output is Live

If the output is Live (online), but YouTube is not seeing the feed, it is possible the connection with YouTube was interrupted.

Click on the Output icon. A modal will pop up, and you can click “Stop stream on output.” This will stop the Output and allow you to restart the stream while the event remains live.

The modal will disappear, and the output will show as offline.

Click on the output again and select “Start stream on output” to try sending YouTube your stream again.

Go to your window that is open to YouTube. Wait a few seconds to see if the preview window detects your stream feed. Once YouTube detects the incoming stream, it will present the stream to your viewers.

End the YouTube Event

In the instance that your Live Event was not supposed to go to YouTube, or you wish to stop streaming this event on YouTube, click on the YouTube icon.

In the modal that appears, click on "End YouTube Event." This will automatically stop and end the live stream on YouTube.

Add an Existing API Output to Your Live Event

In the Live Event Manager, click on the + button beside your streaming outputs.

In the Output setup modal, select the output(s) you wish to add to your live event. When you have selected all of your outputs, click "Add"

Once you have added the new input, the Live Event Manager will automatically establish a connection with YouTube, create a Live Stream there, and start sending their stream.

Error Messages

If your YouTube API Output is unable to connect during a live event, this means that an error was encountered by our system. An explanation for each error, as well as steps to repair, are below.

Error validating access token

The YouTube Channel you are attempting to stream to no longer has permission to connect. This occurs whenever there is a change to the user's YouTube account who set up the YouTube API output. Examples include, but not limited to:

Changing your Google password
Changing your Google/YouTube privacy settings
Changing the user's YouTube permissions level
Removing the user's ability to manage the YouTube Channel

In order to work again, the output will need to be reauthenticated, which is a fancy way of saying, you may need to sign in again.

In order to Reauthenticate, simply navigate to the Outputs area of the Control Panel and select the YouTube output that won't connect. As the new window opens for the Output, click the three stacked dots on the top right and then select Reauthenticate from the drop down.

From there, simply log into your YouTube/Google account like normal. When you go back to your event, you can click the button to start the stream for the Output.

Note: If the output was created by an user who no longer is a part of your organization or manages your YouTube Channel, you will have to create a new YouTube API output.

Cannot reuse running output due to lack of id

Your YouTube API output is unable to start because it is already in use. This is likely due to an improper event shutdown during a previous live stream.

To turn off this running output and clear the error, contact Sardius support.

Error Message: Invalid value at ‘resource.status.privacy_status’

Your YouTube API output is unable to start because the output's privacy status is not set. Navigate to your outputs library and add a privacy status (Public, Private, or Unlisted) to the output.

Then return to your Channel and start the output.

Still Not Working?

If you have completed the above processes, and you have not found a resolution, please contact Sardius Support for further assistance.