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To loop several videos in OBS, add them to a VLC Video Source and leave Loop Playlist enabled. Then connect OBS to YouTube Live with the stream URL and key, start streaming from OBS, and—if the stream is scheduled—click Go live in YouTube’s Live Control Room once the preview is ready.
What you need before setting up the playlist
- OBS Studio and VLC. OBS’s VLC Video Source requires VLC; match their architectures. OBS specifically requires 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Video or audio files that OBS and VLC can access. Keep them in a stable local folder, and avoid moving or renaming them after adding them to the playlist.
- A YouTube channel enabled for live streaming and a stream created or selected in YouTube Studio.
- A reliable upload connection capable of sustaining the output quality you choose. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health rather than assuming one bitrate suits every connection.
OBS’s built-in Media Source supports common video formats such as MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV. VLC Video Source uses VLC libraries for extended media support. Check the current OBS format and source documentation if a file will not play.
Add and configure a looping playlist in OBS
- Open the scene that will be live. In the Sources dock, click + and choose VLC Video Source. If it is unavailable, install VLC with the same architecture as OBS and restart OBS.
- Add the files. In the source properties, add the media items to the playlist. Arrange them in the order you want if playback should be sequential.
- Set the playback behavior. Confirm Loop Playlist is checked. It is enabled by default in OBS’s documented settings, but verify it. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for listed order; turn it on if you want randomized playback.
- Keep the source visible in the active scene. OBS documents that a VLC Video Source stops when it is not visible and restarts when visible by default. A hidden source may therefore interrupt playback. Review the source’s visibility behavior if your setup needs something different.
- Check the scene output. Confirm the video fits the canvas as intended, the playlist plays, and the audio appears in the OBS mixer.
Looping one file instead
If you only need to repeat one file, use Media Source, select the file, and enable Loop. That source is for an individual file, not a multi-file playlist. Its Restart playback when source becomes active option is on by default. Show nothing when playback ends is also on by default, which matters if looping is disabled. These settings are described in the OBS Media Sources guide.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live to reach the Live Control Room. Create a stream or select the scheduled stream you want to use.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream. YouTube’s instructions are in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream. Choose YouTube if available, or enter the server URL and stream key from YouTube. Keep the key private: YouTube treats it as the credential that lets an encoder send the feed to the correct stream. If you believe it has been exposed, reset it in the Live Control Room and update OBS. See YouTube’s stream-key guidance.
- Click Start Streaming in OBS. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview in YouTube’s Live Control Room, check picture and sound, and then click Go live.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That does not mean a stream should be left unmonitored: the playlist, encoder connection and stream health still need checking during a long broadcast. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
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Choose output settings and test before going public
Pick resolution, frame rate and bitrate based on both your content and the upload capacity available to OBS. YouTube publishes recommended bitrate ranges by codec, resolution and frame rate; consult its current live encoder settings rather than applying one bitrate to every stream.
For H.264, YouTube’s published table gives 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for 1080p at 30 fps, and 6 Mbps minimum and 17 Mbps recommended for 1080p at 60 fps. The page does not state a publication year, and recommendations can change, so check the current table and the row matching your codec and output. These figures are not a guarantee that a connection can sustain the stream.
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- Run a private or unlisted test if appropriate before a public broadcast.
- Use audio and motion similar to the content you plan to stream; a static picture is not a useful test for a video playlist.
- Confirm that playback advances through the playlist and returns to the beginning.
- Listen for audio and watch the OBS mixer meters; check that the source is not muted.
- Check YouTube’s preview and stream-health indicators, and reduce output demands if the connection is unstable.
YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health. Its guidance on recommended settings is at Live encoder settings.
Troubleshoot common playlist and stream problems
| Problem | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source is missing | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; if OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC, then reopen OBS. See the OBS source requirements. |
| Only one file plays repeatedly | The scene uses Media Source, or the VLC playlist contains only one item. | For multiple files, use VLC Video Source and add each item. Media Source’s Loop option repeats one file. |
| Playlist stops when you switch scenes or hide the source | The VLC source’s documented default behavior stops playback while it is not visible. | Keep it visible in the active scene or adjust visibility behavior if the available controls meet your needs. |
| Video plays but there is no audio | The source may be muted or its audio may not be reaching the OBS mixer. | Check the mixer meters and mute state, then confirm audio in YouTube’s preview before going live. |
| YouTube does not receive the stream | The URL or key may be wrong, stale or copied from another stream. | Check the selected stream in Live Control Room, copy its current URL and key, and update OBS. Reset an exposed key before reusing it. |
| Stream health is poor or playback is unstable | The chosen resolution, frame rate and bitrate may exceed reliable upload capacity. | Test a more sustainable combination, use the matching row in YouTube’s encoder settings, and monitor stream health. |
Or let it run in the cloud
OBS keeps the playlist running only while the computer, OBS and internet connection remain available. If you want a YouTube channel to keep looping uploaded videos without leaving a PC on, StreamNeo runs the stream in the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live.
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