Troubleshooting: Stream not “Distributing”

Written By Joan

Last updated 17 days ago

If you click Start and the stream doesn’t switch to Distributing, use this quick checklist.

1) Check the input stream URL (HLS .m3u8)

The issue could come from the input.

  • Make sure the Input stream URL is correct (copy/paste it again).

  • The .m3u8 must be live and reachable from the internet.

  • Some HLS URLs expire or require tokens/headers. If your link changes often, generate a fresh one.

Fast test: create a new stream using Castlify’s demo HLS.
If the demo works, your original HLS URL is the problem.

2) Check that a destination is attached to the stream

On the Streams page, look at the Destinations column for that stream:

  • If you don’t see any destination listed, click + Destination and add one.

  • Start with one destination first (simpler to debug).

3) RTMP destination checklist (URL + Stream Key)

If your destination is RTMP:

  • Re-copy the RTMP Server URL and Stream Key from the platform.

  • Some platforms require you to create/schedule a live event first before they accept RTMP ingest.

  • If the platform provides RTMPS (rtmps://), use it exactly as given.

Tip: if you have both, YouTube is usually the fastest “known-good” destination to validate your setup.

4) SRT destination checklist (host/port/StreamID)

If your destination is SRT:

  • Confirm host and port are correct.

  • If required by the receiver, add the correct StreamID and passphrase.

  • Make sure the destination expects the same mode (caller/listener) as your setup.

5) Try the simplest working setup

To isolate the issue:

  1. Use one stream + one destination

  2. Use a known-good input (demo HLS if possible)

  3. Start the stream and confirm it goes Distributing

  4. Then switch back to your real HLS input and test again

What to send to support (if you still need help)

Copy these details:

  • Stream name (from Stream title)

  • Input stream URL (or tell us if it’s tokenized/expiring)

  • Destination type (RTMP or SRT) and platform (YouTube/Twitch/etc.)

  • Any error/status message shown in the UI

Next step

Once it’s distributing, you can add more destinations directly from the Streams page using + Destination.