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To layer a web graphic over prerecorded footage and send the combined result to YouTube Live, add the footage as an OBS Media Source and the graphic as a Browser Source in the same scene. Put the Browser Source above the Media Source, fit it to your canvas, then test the full scene and audio before starting the stream. This sends a live encoder feed made from prerecorded video; it does not modify a video already uploaded to YouTube.

Choose the right kind of overlay

“Overlay on a pre-recorded YouTube stream” can mean two different things. The workflow below is for playing a local prerecorded video in OBS, compositing a graphic over it, and broadcasting that output as a YouTube live stream. OBS controls the complete program picture and audio mix.

YouTube also has a separate Overlay for breaks feature in Live Control Room. It is intended for a break or switch-away slate during a live broadcast, not a persistent graphic layered over the program. Its setup is covered below.

Build the OBS scene

1. Add the prerecorded video

  1. In OBS, select the scene you intend to stream, or create one in the Scenes panel.
  2. In Sources, select + and add a Media Source. Give it a recognizable name and choose the local video file in its properties.
  3. Decide how playback should behave. The Media Source properties include options to loop the file, restart playback when the source becomes active, and show nothing when playback ends. Select the behavior that suits your program. For a continuous loop, enable looping; if the video should play once, leave looping off and choose the end behavior deliberately. See the OBS Media Sources guide.

2. Add the browser overlay

  1. In the same scene, choose + in Sources and add a Browser Source.
  2. Use the page URL for a hosted overlay, or enable Local file and select a local overlay page. A Browser Source renders that webpage inside the OBS scene.
  3. Set the source’s width and height to the intended stream canvas dimensions. The Browser Source’s default custom CSS makes the page background transparent, removes page margins, and hides scrollbars; the page still needs to draw the overlay elements you want, with transparent areas where the video should remain visible.

OBS documents the Browser Source properties and defaults in its Browser Source guide.

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3. Put the graphic above the video

In the Sources list, drag the Browser Source above the Media Source. OBS renders sources higher in the list over those lower down, so a browser source underneath the video may be hidden by it. Use the preview to position, resize, or crop the browser source. The OBS Sources Guide explains source ordering and transforms.

Check the complete output before streaming

Play the video in OBS and verify the result in the preview, not just the overlay page on its own. Check that the graphic appears in the right place, its timing works against the footage, the video reaches the intended canvas without unwanted cropping, and the audio is present and balanced. If the video should continue after the overlay changes or disappears, confirm that behavior in the scene before going live.

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YouTube recommends testing with representative movement and audio and checking the preview and stream health. See YouTube’s live streaming tips. No particular OBS layout or overlay page is guaranteed to behave identically across systems, so test the actual scene you plan to broadcast.

Connect OBS to YouTube Live

  1. In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the live stream. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup to obtain the stream URL and stream key.
  2. In OBS, open Settings and select Stream. Choose YouTube as the service and enter the stream key, or use the available account-connection workflow. If the setup asks for a server or stream URL, use the one provided for your YouTube stream.
  3. Apply the settings, then start the encoder feed from OBS. Wait for the incoming video to appear in Live Control Room and inspect the preview and stream health.
  4. When ready, use the Live Control Room controls to start the event. When finished, end the event there as well as stopping the OBS feed as appropriate.

YouTube’s current instructions for encoder setup are in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder. Keep the stream key private; anyone with access to it may be able to send a feed to your stream.

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If you mean YouTube’s break overlay

For a break slate during a live broadcast, use YouTube’s Live Control Room feature rather than treating it as a permanent OBS scene graphic:

  1. In Live Control Room, open the break-overlay controls and copy the overlay URL.
  2. Add a Browser Source in OBS using that URL and set its dimensions to match the stream.
  3. Enable Shutdown source when not visible for that Browser Source, as YouTube’s instructions specify for this flow.
  4. Test the break sequence before relying on it. If you choose a slate from one of your videos, that video must have Allow embedding enabled.

The break overlay does not control the audio sources in OBS. If you want slate audio in the broadcast, include it in the encoder’s audio mix. The workflow and conditions are described in YouTube’s break-overlay instructions.

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Troubleshooting

What you see Likely cause What to check
The overlay is missing or behind the footage The Browser Source is below the Media Source in the source order, or the browser page has not loaded. Move the Browser Source above the video and confirm its URL or local file. Check the OBS preview.
The overlay is clipped, too small, or misplaced The Browser Source dimensions or its position and size do not match the canvas and intended layout. Set the source width and height for the intended canvas, then adjust its transform in the preview.
The overlay has an opaque background or scrollbars The page itself may draw a background, or its content exceeds the viewport. Default CSS transparency does not make every page element transparent. Check the overlay page’s own background and layout, and ensure its visual content fits the Browser Source viewport.
The video stops or goes blank at the end The Media Source is not looping, or its end-of-playback behavior is set to show nothing. Review the Media Source loop and end-of-playback properties; test the ending in the scene.
OBS shows the scene but YouTube has no preview The encoder feed may not be connected, or the stream URL/key may be incorrect. Check OBS’s stream settings and connection status, then confirm the incoming preview in Live Control Room.
YouTube preview appears, but the event is not live The encoder feed and the event’s start control are separate parts of the workflow. After checking the preview and stream health, start the event in Live Control Room.
Break slate video works but its audio does not The break overlay does not manage OBS audio sources. Add the slate audio to the encoder mix if it should be heard, and test the break flow.
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Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is to keep prerecorded videos looping on a YouTube channel without leaving OBS or a computer running at home, StreamNeo is the cloud alternative. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud. It plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a camera, and it streams to YouTube.

  • Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs in the cloud.
  • Each slot streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
  • Automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream.
  • The first day is free with no card, once per account.

The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo pricing, or start your free day.

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