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For several prerecorded videos, use OBS Studio’s VLC Video source, add the files in the order you want, and enable Loop Playlist. Turn on Shuffle Playlist only if you want the order randomized. For a single video, use an OBS Media Source and enable Loop. OBS handles playback; YouTube Studio handles the live broadcast.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Several local video files in a fixed rotation | VLC Video | Enable Loop Playlist |
| Several local video files in a randomized rotation | VLC Video | Enable Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist |
| One local video file repeatedly | Media Source | Enable Loop |
OBS documents playlist and loop controls in its Media Sources guide. A Media Source’s Loop option repeats one file; it does not replace VLC Video’s multi-file playlist.
Set up a rotating playlist in OBS
1. Install VLC with the matching architecture
The VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed. Match its architecture to OBS: if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. If VLC Video is missing or does not load, verify this dependency first.
2. Add the VLC Video source
- Open OBS and select the scene that will carry the broadcast.
- In the Sources box, select + and choose VLC Video Source.
- Name the source, then open its properties.
- Add the local video files to the playlist in the order you want them to play. Check the listed order before saving.
- Enable Loop Playlist so OBS starts again at the beginning after the last item finishes.
- Optionally enable Shuffle Playlist if the sequence should be randomized rather than follow the listed order.
3. Decide what happens when the source is hidden
The VLC Video source has a visibility behavior setting that controls whether playback continues, pauses, or stops while the source is not visible. Choose the behavior that matches your scene switching: if the playlist must keep advancing when another scene is shown, select the continue behavior. If playback should wait until the source is visible again, choose a pause or stop behavior as appropriate.
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4. Check the scene before going live
Preview the scene in OBS and confirm that the video is visible and the intended files play. If you use other scenes, test switching away and back so you know how the selected visibility behavior affects playback. Then connect OBS to the YouTube broadcast and check the incoming stream before starting it.
Loop one video instead
If your rotation contains only one file, add an OBS Media Source to the scene, select the video, and enable Loop in its properties. That repeats the file when it reaches the end. For a sequence of multiple files, use VLC Video instead.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open the live setup for the broadcast and obtain or select its stream key and settings.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service, and connect using the stream key or account connection available in your setup.
- Start streaming from OBS. In YouTube Studio, check that the incoming feed appears and looks and sounds as intended, then start the live broadcast there if the setup requires it.
Keep the two jobs distinct: OBS plays and rotates the local media; YouTube Studio receives the encoder feed and controls the broadcast. YouTube’s Live Streaming API overview and broadcast lifecycle guide describe managing broadcasts and streams, including scheduling, linking resources, and changing broadcast states. Creating, updating, or deleting resources requires user authorization. The API documentation does not describe controlling local OBS playback or rotating files inside OBS.
Protect the stream from copyright interruptions
YouTube says, “All live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content, including copyrighted content in the form of another live broadcast.” If YouTube identifies third-party content, it may replace the stream with a placeholder and warn you to stop using the content; if it remains, the live stream may be temporarily interrupted or terminated. Before broadcasting, confirm that you have the rights needed for every video and audio track. For licensed third-party material, YouTube advises asking the rights owner to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist. See YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
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Keep the playlist running without an always-on computer
OBS is the do-it-yourself option when you want local control over a playlist and can keep the computer running. For a cloud alternative, StreamNeo keeps a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the videos from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. Each slot supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
Start by uploading your video or playlist, adding your YouTube stream key, and going live. Try StreamNeo free for your first day.
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Troubleshoot common problems
VLC Video does not appear or the playlist will not load
Confirm VLC is installed and matches OBS’s architecture. In particular, 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Reopen the source properties after correcting the installation.
The playlist stops at the last file
Check that Loop Playlist is enabled on the VLC Video source. For a single file in Media Source, enable that source’s Loop option instead.
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The playlist starts over or pauses after switching scenes
Review the VLC Video source’s visibility behavior. The selected setting may pause or stop playback when the source is hidden; choose continue if playback needs to advance off-screen.
YouTube interrupts or terminates the broadcast
Check for third-party video or audio that may have triggered YouTube’s live scanning. Stop using material you are not authorized to broadcast. If you hold a license, ask the rights owner about adding your channel to its Content ID allowlist.
Do not confuse an OBS playlist with HLS transport playlists
In this workflow, “playlist” means the list of local video files in OBS’s VLC Video source. YouTube’s documentation on delivering live content via HLS concerns transport playlists used to deliver a live feed; it is a separate concept, not a method for rotating local files in OBS.
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