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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from a Windows mini PC, use OBS Studio: add the video as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to your YouTube stream key, and keep Windows awake for the broadcast. Test the preview and upload stability before you go live. For a playlist of multiple files, use OBS’s VLC Video source instead.
Check that your YouTube channel can go live
Your channel must be verified and must not have live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. If you have never streamed before, enable live streaming ahead of time: first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
Set up the looping video in OBS
- Open OBS Studio and create or select a scene. A scene holds the video source that OBS will send to YouTube.
- Add the file: in the Sources panel, select + > Media Source, name it, and choose your local video file. OBS Media Source supports formats including MP4, TS, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Enable looping: open the Media Source properties and check Loop. Confirm the video appears in the OBS preview, plays through, and starts again at the end.
- Check the sound: watch the OBS audio mixer while the video plays. Confirm the expected audio source is active and that levels are not muted or clipping.
Looping a playlist instead of one file
For multiple videos, add a VLC Video source and configure its playlist and Loop Playlist option. VLC must be installed. If you are running 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC so the architectures match. OBS documents the source and its requirements in its Media Sources guide.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live. Use the Stream tab to create a stream or choose an existing one. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance describes this workflow.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key from Live Control Room. Treat the key like a password: do not publish or share it. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Choose YouTube if it is available, then connect the account or enter the server/stream URL and key as requested. Save the settings.
- Click Start Streaming in OBS. Wait for the incoming stream preview in YouTube Live Control Room, check the video and audio, then select Go live in YouTube.
Starting the encoder in OBS sends the feed; the Live Control Room preview lets you check it before making the event live to viewers. YouTube’s live-streaming help covers the stream setup and control-room workflow.
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Choose OBS output settings the mini PC can sustain
There is no universal CPU, RAM, or GPU minimum established for every Windows mini PC and stream. Choose a modest resolution and frame rate appropriate to your content and machine, then test a sustained session. OBS notes that 60 fps can require considerably more system resources than 30 fps; its streaming guide recommends testing your setup in advance.
In OBS, use Settings > Output to review the encoder and bitrate, and Settings > Video to set output resolution and frame rate. Match the stream settings to what the mini PC can maintain without dropped frames or unstable encoding. A higher resolution or frame rate is not automatically better if the machine cannot sustain it.
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Make sure your available upload speed can support the stream’s total bitrate. YouTube recommends leaving about 20% bandwidth headroom; that is guidance, not a guarantee, and shared network use can reduce the capacity available to your broadcast. A weak or interrupted connection can disrupt the stream. Check YouTube’s live encoder settings and network recommendations.
Keep Windows awake and test the full path
Prevent sleep during the broadcast
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. Set the sleep timeout so the mini PC will not sleep during the planned stream. You can set the display timeout separately; turning off the screen does not need to mean putting the computer to sleep. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 power and sleep settings guidance.
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Run a representative test
- Play the same video and audio content you plan to broadcast, and confirm the loop restarts properly.
- Start OBS streaming and inspect the YouTube preview before selecting Go live.
- Check that the video and audio are present and that the stream health indicator does not show a connection or encoding problem.
- Test for long enough to expose sustained-load issues; a quick preview alone does not prove the mini PC and network will remain stable for an extended session.
- Monitor audio and video quality during the broadcast. YouTube recommends previewing and monitoring your live stream; see its streaming tips.
End the stream and understand the archive limit
When finished, end the event in YouTube Live Control Room and stop streaming in OBS. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. The cited YouTube guidance does not establish the same archive outcome for streams longer than 12 hours, so do not rely on a complete VOD archive for a longer loop. Check YouTube’s live-stream setup guidance for its archive note.
Troubleshooting a YouTube Live loop
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The video stops at the end | The Media Source loop option is off, or the source is not configured as a looping playlist. | Open the source properties and enable Loop. For multiple files, use VLC Video and enable Loop Playlist. |
| The VLC source is missing or unavailable | VLC may not be installed, or its architecture may not match OBS. | Install VLC; if OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC. |
| YouTube does not show an incoming preview | The encoder may not be sending, or the stream URL/key may be incorrect. | Confirm OBS is streaming, recheck the URL and key in YouTube Studio and OBS, and keep the key private. Reset it if it was exposed. |
| The broadcast drops or shows poor stream health | Upload capacity may be insufficient or shared, or the connection may be unstable. | Check available upload bandwidth against the total stream bitrate, leave YouTube’s recommended headroom, and test the network during representative use. |
| The stream stops when unattended | Windows may have entered sleep. | Review the Windows 11 sleep timeout at Settings > System > Power & battery > Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts. |
| Encoding or frames become unstable | The chosen output may exceed what the mini PC can sustain over time. | Test under sustained load and reduce resolution or frame rate if needed. OBS cautions that 60 fps is more demanding than 30 fps. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want the mini PC or home connection to stay on, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos as a looping YouTube stream from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It does not stream from a camera.
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- RELIABLE INTEL PROCESSING POWER – Equipped with an Intel Core i5 9th Gen Hexa-Core processor (i5-9500), this system offers smooth performance for everyday multitasking, web browsing, and business productivity.
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- Your computer does not have to stay on at home.
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