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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11You can loop a pre-recorded video in OBS and send it to YouTube Live using NVIDIA NVENC: add a Media Source and enable Loop, choose an available NVENC encoder, then connect OBS to a YouTube Live Control Room event. Use YouTube’s codec- and resolution-specific settings, test the full setup, and monitor it while it runs. This is a do-it-yourself setup—not a guarantee of uninterrupted uptime: your computer and network must stay operational.
1. Check that OBS can use NVENC
NVENC is NVIDIA’s hardware encoder, but it is available only when the computer, graphics driver, operating system, and installed OBS version support it. OBS documents NVENC support on Windows and Linux; its 2022 compatibility guide lists GeForce 750 Ti and 900-series or newer hardware. That compatibility listing does not guarantee that every encoder or codec is available on every system.
- Install or update the NVIDIA graphics driver and open OBS.
- Go to Settings > Output. If Output Mode is set to Simple, change it to Advanced so the streaming encoder options are visible.
- Under the streaming output settings, inspect the Encoder menu. Select an NVIDIA NVENC option that is actually offered by your installation. If none appears, check GPU and driver support rather than assuming a setting is available.
OBS cautions that earlier-generation hardware encoders may provide lower image quality at the same bitrate. If the available NVENC option cannot meet your target, lower the resolution or frame rate, or use another supported encoder.
2. Add and loop the pre-recorded video
One video file
- In the scene you will use, select Sources > + > Media Source.
- Name the source, choose the local video file, and enable Loop. The Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM.
- Confirm the video plays in the OBS preview. Check that the file’s audio is present if it is meant to be part of the broadcast.
Several files in a playlist
- Select Sources > + > VLC Video and add the media items you want in the playlist.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled if you want OBS to repeat the playlist. OBS documents this option as on by default.
- Install VLC if OBS does not provide the VLC Video source. A 64-bit OBS installation requires 64-bit VLC.
A loop repeats playback inside OBS; it does not itself reconnect a dropped YouTube broadcast. Check that each file plays and transitions as expected before going live.
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3. Match OBS output to YouTube
Use YouTube’s current encoder guidance for the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube lists H.264, HEVC/H.265, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, recommends RTMPS, and advises constant bitrate (CBR), progressive scan, two B-frames, and a keyframe frequency of two seconds—not exceeding four seconds. The GPU and OBS build determine which NVENC codec choices are available.
Choose codec and bitrate together
These are YouTube’s recommended bitrate examples, not guaranteed minimums for a particular internet connection:
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| Output | AV1 or H.265 recommended bitrate | H.264 recommended bitrate |
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| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
For other resolutions and frame rates, consult YouTube’s full encoder table rather than extrapolating from these examples. Pick a target that the source video, GPU, and upload connection can sustain. YouTube recommends testing upload speed and testing at the quality you expect to stream; leave capacity for normal network variation and other devices using the connection.
Set the stream encoder
- In OBS, open Settings > Output and select the available NVENC encoder and a codec supported by YouTube for the chosen ingestion protocol.
- Set rate control to CBR. Enter the bitrate recommended by YouTube for the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate.
- Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds; do not exceed four seconds.
- Use progressive output and two B-frames. For SDR video, YouTube recommends Rec. 709. For audio, it supports AAC or MP3 and recommends stereo at 128 Kbps.
- Set OBS video resolution and frame rate to match the intended stream and the relevant YouTube bitrate row. Use YouTube’s full guidance for the target format.
Do not copy recording settings into streaming without checking their purpose. OBS’s advanced recording guide, published November 30, 2023, gives a recording baseline that includes Constant QP 16–23, keyframe interval 2, preset P5, High Quality tuning, two-pass quarter-resolution multipass, High profile, look-ahead off, adaptive quantization on, and two B-frames. Constant QP is not YouTube’s recommended CBR streaming setup. OBS’s advanced NVENC options page is specific to OBS 31.0 and was published August 21, 2024; options such as Ultra High Quality tuning, B-frame reference, and split encode depend on OBS version, codec, and GPU. Use advanced options only when your installed version and hardware support them.
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4. Connect OBS to a YouTube Live event
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select the live event.
- Copy the event’s stream URL and stream key into the matching server and stream-key fields in OBS. YouTube’s stream settings and encoder setup provide the connection details.
- Treat the stream key like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to send video to the event. Do not publish it or show it in a screen recording.
- Start the OBS output and inspect the incoming preview in YouTube’s Live Control Room. Confirm the picture moves, the intended audio is audible, and YouTube reports a healthy incoming stream before starting the event for viewers.
5. Test and monitor a long-running broadcast
YouTube recommends testing before a live stream, using audio and motion representative of the real broadcast, and checking stream health and messages. Do a full test with the same scene, media, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate you intend to use. During operation, keep an eye on OBS and YouTube’s health indicators and check that audio and video remain correct.
- For a broadcast where an interruption matters, prepare and test backup-encoder failover. Do not assume that a looped file alone provides failover.
- If you are recording a local archive as a backup, confirm the recording file is growing and check its integrity afterward.
- Keep in mind that this arrangement depends on the local computer, OBS, and internet connection remaining available. The cited OBS and YouTube guidance does not guarantee uninterrupted operation indefinitely.
Plan separately for YouTube’s replay archive
YouTube says live streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Its stated automatic-archive guidance does not establish that a longer nonstop broadcast will produce one complete replay. If the broadcast is expected to exceed 12 hours and you need an archive, plan shorter event segments and separately verify the resulting recordings.
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Choose latency and DVR settings for the audience
YouTube’s stream settings include latency and DVR controls. Lower latency can increase playback buffering; YouTube says lower latency is less important when viewers do not need interaction. DVR lets viewers pause, rewind, and resume. Choose the settings for how viewers will use the stream rather than assuming the lowest latency is always best.
6. Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No NVENC option in OBS | The GPU, driver, operating system, or OBS installation does not expose a supported encoder. | Check the GPU and driver, update the driver, and confirm the encoder list under Settings > Output. Use another available encoder or compatible hardware if NVENC remains unavailable. |
| Media does not play or repeat | The file selection or Media Source loop setting is wrong, or a playlist dependency is missing. | Reopen the Media Source properties and verify the selected file and Loop. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist, install VLC, and match VLC’s architecture to OBS. |
| YouTube does not receive the broadcast | The event, stream URL, stream key, or selected protocol may not match. | Recheck the event in Live Control Room and copy its current URL and key into OBS. Keep the key private. |
| Stream health reports problems | The chosen bitrate may exceed available upload capacity, or the encoder settings may not match YouTube’s recommendations. | Run an upload-speed test, test at the intended stream quality, verify CBR and a two-second keyframe interval, and select the bitrate for the exact codec and output format. Reduce resolution, frame rate, or bitrate if needed. |
| Picture works but audio is missing or wrong | The source may not contain the expected audio, or OBS audio output may not match the intended stream. | Test the media’s audio in OBS preview and verify the YouTube incoming preview before starting the event. |
| A long stream lacks a complete replay | YouTube’s automatic archive statement covers streams under 12 hours, not arbitrary longer broadcasts. | Plan shorter events and verify the archive for each segment; keep a tested local recording if you need an independent copy. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want a computer and home connection to stay on, StreamNeo runs a pre-recorded YouTube stream from the cloud. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera.
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