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To run a playlist in OBS and change what viewers see, add the playlist as a VLC Video source, then switch between named scenes manually with hotkeys or automate scene changes through OBS WebSocket. These are separate jobs: scene switching changes the picture OBS sends; it does not schedule, restart, or guarantee an uninterrupted YouTube broadcast.
Plan the scenes and playlist
Build scenes around the states viewers should see, not around individual files unless each file needs a different layout. A practical starting set is a main playlist scene, a holding screen, and a break or information scene. OBS scenes can combine video, images, text, captures, and other sources. Give scenes and sources distinct names: OBS documents a shared global namespace for them.
Before configuring automation, decide whether scene changes will be operator-controlled or time/condition-driven. Hotkeys suit an operator at the computer; unattended scheduling needs an external client or integration using OBS WebSocket.
Add a looping playlist in OBS
- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC as specified by the OBS media sources guide.
- Create or select the playlist scene. In the Scenes panel, add a scene for the main playlist and give it a distinct name.
- Add the source. In Sources, click the plus button and choose VLC Video. Add the local media files in the order you want them to play.
- Set playback behavior. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for predictable sequencing. Turn on Loop Playlist to start again after the final item.
- Check visibility behavior. OBS offers options that can stop or restart playback when a source is hidden. Since scene switching may hide the playlist source, choose the behavior deliberately and test it. OBS also notes that media sources can take a short time to appear again when shown.
- Test the sequence. Run through the end of the playlist and switch away from and back to its scene. Confirm the order, loop, audio, and resume/restart behavior match what you want viewers to see.
Use the VLC Video source for a multi-file playlist; it is distinct from OBS’s ordinary Media Source. Keep the files accessible at the paths used by the computer running OBS.
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Switch scenes manually with hotkeys
- In OBS, open Settings > Hotkeys.
- Find the action for each named scene, such as switching to the holding screen or playlist scene, and assign a different key combination to each.
- Apply the changes, then test each shortcut while monitoring the program output. Avoid combinations that conflict with other software or are easy to press accidentally.
Hotkeys switch to a specific scene, but they do not create an unattended timetable. If you need to stage a change before viewers see it, enable Studio Mode: prepare the scene in Preview, then use the configured transition to take it live.
Automate changes with OBS WebSocket
For time-based or condition-driven switching, OBS WebSocket exposes scene and source controls to an external client or custom integration. It has been included in OBS Studio since version 28, according to the OBS Remote Control Guide. The exact setup depends on the client or integration; OBS does not prescribe one universal scheduling macro.
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- Choose a compatible external client or build an integration that can issue the scene changes you need.
- Enable WebSocket access in OBS and configure authentication. Keep the password private; do not expose an unauthenticated control interface to an untrusted network.
- Set up the client’s schedule or conditions and map each action to the intended OBS scene.
- Test every transition, including what happens when a source is hidden, a file ends, or OBS restarts. Verify the live program output rather than relying only on the automation client’s status.
WebSocket is a control interface, not a complete broadcast scheduler or guarantee of recovery. Test the actual integration and its failure handling before relying on it unattended.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the broadcast and obtain its stream URL and stream key.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service, and enter or connect the stream details as prompted by the current OBS interface.
- Start sending from OBS and check the incoming preview and broadcast status in YouTube Live Control Room before leaving the setup unattended.
Keep the stream key private: anyone who obtains it could send a feed to your broadcast. YouTube says first-time live streaming enablement can take up to 24 hours, so enable it and confirm access before the planned launch.
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OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard is a useful first pass because it considers intended use, computer resources, and network conditions. It does not establish that a particular computer or connection will be reliable around the clock. The consulted OBS and YouTube documentation does not give a universal hardware minimum or upload bitrate for every 24/7 scene collection; validate your own scenes, files, encoder, and upload connection under realistic conditions.
Plan for backups, archives, and recovery
Back up both profiles and scenes
OBS Profiles save stream, video, and output settings. Scene Collections save scenes. Back up both so a replacement setup has the configuration and the layouts it needs.
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Do not assume one 24/7 stream becomes one complete archive
YouTube Help states: “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That rule does not establish that a single continuous broadcast longer than 12 hours will have a complete archive. If a complete archive matters, plan shorter broadcast segments and check YouTube’s current behavior.
Treat segmentation tools as third-party dependencies
A community listing for Live Stream Segmenter describes a third-party plugin intended to keep streams under 12 hours using YouTube APIs; the listing showed version 1.1.4, published January 13, 2026. That is the plugin’s stated purpose, not an official YouTube guarantee or independently established reliability. Before depending on it, verify supported OBS versions, required API permissions, maintenance, and how it handles failures.
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Choose the right switching method
| Approach | Best suited to | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Scene hotkeys | An operator present to make direct changes | Native and simple, but does not provide unattended scheduling. |
| OBS WebSocket with an external client | Time- or condition-based changes and remote control | Flexible, but requires client setup, testing, and secure authentication. |
| Third-party segment automation | Managing broadcast segments for archive-related needs | May target segmentation, but adds API, compatibility, maintenance, and support dependencies. |
These approaches solve different problems: hotkeys switch scenes, WebSocket enables external scene/source control, and a segmenter targets broadcast segmentation. None should be treated as a substitute for verifying the YouTube broadcast itself.
Troubleshoot common problems
- The VLC Video source is missing or unavailable: Install VLC and match its bitness to OBS; OBS specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- The playlist plays only one item or stops at the end: Confirm you added the files to the VLC Video source and enabled Loop Playlist. Turn off Shuffle Playlist if a fixed order is required.
- Playback restarts or pauses after a scene change: Check the source’s Visibility Behaviour settings. Test hiding and showing the source, since OBS offers stop/restart behavior and notes there may be a delay when it becomes visible again.
- A hotkey does nothing or changes the wrong scene: Recheck the assignment under Settings > Hotkeys, ensure the intended scene is named unambiguously, and test for shortcut conflicts.
- An automation client cannot control OBS: Confirm WebSocket is enabled, the client’s connection details and authentication match OBS, and the client supports your OBS version. Keep authentication enabled and the password confidential.
- YouTube does not show an incoming feed: Check the selected stream details and key in OBS, confirm that OBS is sending, and inspect the incoming preview and status in Live Control Room. If this is the first time enabling live streaming, allow for YouTube’s stated setup time of up to 24 hours.
- The computer or connection cannot sustain the setup: There is no universal specification established for every scene collection. Use the Auto-Configuration Wizard as a starting point, then test the actual files, scenes, encoder, and connection over a realistic run.
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