Church livestream not working? A recovery card for your media team
A printable recovery card for when a church livestream fails: nine steps that branch by what you see, from the first checks and the phone path to the backup recording, the words to tell viewers and what to do after the service, with a Who to call box and variants for a solo volunteer, a Mass and several campuses.
Free printable PDF
When the stream dies: a recovery card
What is inside
- Nine steps that branch by what you see: first checks, no picture or sound, offline, dropped frames, a copyright mute, a phone or Facebook and Instagram Live, the backup recording, what to tell viewers and what to do after
- A Who to call box and a viewer message to write once, before Sunday
- Sources from YouTube Help, OBS, Resi and CCLI beside the steps they back
- Variants for a solo volunteer, a Catholic Mass and several campuses
Enter your email and confirm a code to download. We email you a copy the first time each day.
What the checklist covers
First, find whose fault it is
- Ask a viewer on a phone on mobile data what they see: one viewer with a problem is likely their own connection; many viewers on different connections point to your encoder (YouTube Help; see Sources).
- Look at the platform's own health display before you touch anything: YouTube shows errors beside the Health Indicator in the Live Control Room, and Meta publishes a status page.
Then fix the most likely cause
- No audio or no picture: check the source meters, then the cable, then the encoder (YouTube Help, OBS).
- Dropped frames: lower the bitrate, use a wired connection and keep a backup network such as a mobile hotspot (OBS, Resi).
- A copyright mute or takedown: stop the source and keep your license details to hand (YouTube Help, CCLI). Information, not legal advice.
Keep the recording and tell people
- Record on your own computer or camera while you stream, so an outage still leaves a recording (OBS).
- Tell viewers what is happening and write the wording before Sunday (Resi).
- After the service, check the recording plays and post it.
Frequently asked questions
Do step 1, then go to the step that matches what you see. First decide whether the fault is yours or the platform's: ask a viewer on a phone on mobile data what they see, and look at the platform's own health display. Then fix audio and video, restarts, dropped frames or a copyright mute, keep the local recording running, tell viewers what is happening and post the recording afterwards.
YouTube Help says that one viewer reporting an error likely has a problem with that viewer's computer or internet connection, while many viewers on different internet connections reporting an error may mean an issue with your live stream encoder. It also says to check the look and sound of your stream directly in the encoder. In the Live Control Room, errors appear beside the Health Indicator, and red errors are critical.
OBS describes dropped frames as a connection to the remote server that is not stable, or a bitrate your connection cannot keep up with. Its suggestions include a bitrate of about 75% of your total upload speed as a starting point and restarting the modem and router. Resi advises a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, a backup network such as a mobile hotspot, and fewer other uses of the network during the stream.
YouTube Help says a placeholder image may replace your live stream when third-party content is identified, and that it can be interrupted or terminated if the content remains. CCLI says the algorithms on social platforms can mute or delete a video, may issue a notice even when you have the appropriate permissions, and that you can send your license documentation to dispute a notice received by mistake. This is information, not legal advice.
Yes. OBS can record at the same time as streaming. OBS recommends the MKV format in case of unforeseen issues, because a recording that stops without a graceful stoppage does not lose the whole file, and it can convert the recording to MP4 afterwards with File, Remux Recordings. If the stream fails, the local recording is the service.
Say that something is wrong, that the service is continuing, and when they can watch the recording. Resi advises communicating with viewers during downtimes through social media or email. Write the wording before Sunday and name the person who posts it, so the operator can keep working on the fix.
The steps are the same. For a Mass, ask your pastor what to say, and note that the USCCB's televising guidelines say elements of the liturgy should not be omitted, so our advice is to post the whole recording rather than a cut. For several campuses, name a stream lead for each campus and post the message on the campus that was affected.
Yes. Enter your email, confirm the code we send and the PDF downloads. It is also emailed to you. Marketing email is sent only if you tick the separate box.
No. The card is for your team and your own streaming setup. Church Media Kit helps afterwards: Sermon Clips takes an MP4 or MOV upload of the recording and makes vertical, captioned clips, a transcript, a summary, small group questions, social posts and a recap email for your team to review.