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OBS does not document a “select a folder and automatically import every video” workflow. For several clips, add the files you want as items in an OBS VLC Video playlist, turn on Loop Playlist, and leave Shuffle Playlist off to preserve the listed order. For one repeating clip, use Media Source and enable Loop.
What you need before you start
- OBS Studio installed on the computer that will run the broadcast.
- Your video files in a stable local location, in a format supported by OBS Media Source, such as MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, or WebM.
- For a playlist, VLC installed. If OBS is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled and its stream key available in YouTube Studio.
YouTube says first-time live-stream enablement can take up to 24 hours. Plan for that delay if you have not streamed from the channel before. YouTube supports broadcasting with encoder software such as OBS; its help page lists OBS as open-source software at no charge.
Add videos to OBS and make them repeat
For one video: use Media Source
- Open OBS and select the scene where the video should appear.
- In the Sources dock, click + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the source properties, select the video file and enable Loop. The OBS Project’s Media Sources documentation describes this control as specifying whether the file plays again once playback has completed.
- Click OK and check the preview to make sure the video is visible and framed correctly.
For several videos: use VLC Video
- Install VLC before adding the source. Match its 64-bit build to 64-bit OBS.
- In the active OBS scene, click + in the Sources dock and choose VLC Video.
- In the source properties, add each video you want as a playlist item. Review the list to confirm it contains the intended files and order.
- Enable Loop Playlist. The OBS Project defines this as restarting the source when it has run out of media files.
- Leave Shuffle Playlist off if the files should play in the order shown. Turn it on only if you want the order shuffled.
- Click OK and watch the preview long enough to confirm the playlist starts and plays as expected.
OBS’s documented VLC workflow uses playlist items; it does not establish that choosing a folder automatically imports every file, watches that folder for changes, or adds new files later. Add the desired videos to the playlist and verify the resulting list.
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Choose how playback behaves when the source is hidden
VLC Video’s documented default is Stop when not visible, restart when visible. This controls the media source when it is hidden—for example, when you switch scenes. It does not stop the YouTube broadcast itself.
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If the playlist should keep advancing while hidden, select a continuing playback behavior in the VLC Video source properties and test the result by switching scenes. The right setting depends on whether playback should pause, stop, or continue when that source is not visible.
Fit the video and check audio
- Select the video source in the preview. Use OBS’s transform controls to resize or position it. To fit it to the canvas, use Fit to Screen (Ctrl-F on Windows or Cmd-F on macOS).
- Inspect the whole preview for cropped edges, unwanted letterboxing, or other framing issues. OBS also supports resizing by dragging and cropping.
- Watch the Audio Mixer meters while the video plays. If the expected audio signal is missing, review the devices under Settings → Audio.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live and test before going public
- In YouTube Studio, set up a live stream using the encoder route and copy the stream key for the broadcast.
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service, and enter the stream key. Treat the key as private: anyone who gets it may be able to broadcast to your channel.
- Return to the main OBS window. Confirm the correct scene is selected, the video is playing, and the audio meters respond.
- Use Start Recording for a local check or Start Streaming for a short test. Verify video appearance, playlist order, looping, sound, and behavior when changing scenes before relying on the setup for a public broadcast.
- When ready, start the stream and check YouTube’s live control room for the incoming preview and stream status.
A test verifies setup behavior; it does not prove unattended, round-the-clock reliability. Local continuous playback depends on the computer, OBS process, and network connection remaining operational. The reviewed OBS and YouTube guidance does not guarantee uninterrupted operation.
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Troubleshoot common problems
The VLC Video source is missing or will not play
VLC Video requires VLC to be installed. If OBS is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC, then restart OBS and check the source again.
The playlist stops after the last clip
Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. For a single clip in Media Source, enable Loop instead.
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The clips play in an unexpected order
Review the playlist items and their order. Turn off Shuffle Playlist when you want playback to follow the listed order.
Playback restarts or stops after a scene change
Check the VLC Video visibility behavior. Its documented default stops playback while hidden and restarts when visible. Choose the behavior appropriate to your scene workflow and test another scene change.
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The video is cut off or does not fill the preview
Select the source and use Fit to Screen, then inspect the preview. Resize or crop as needed; filling the canvas may change how the original frame is displayed.
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YouTube is not receiving the stream
Confirm that live streaming is enabled for the channel, the stream key in OBS is the current one for the YouTube stream, and OBS is streaming the intended scene. If this is the channel’s first live stream, YouTube says enablement may take up to 24 hours.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If you want prerecorded videos to keep streaming without leaving a computer and OBS running at home, StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not broadcast from a camera.
- Nothing has to stay on at home: the stream runs from the cloud.
- Each slot streams what you upload, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- It attempts automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required, one free day per account.
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Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Looping a file in OBS does not grant permission to broadcast it. Before streaming, confirm you have the rights or licenses needed for every video, soundtrack, and other included material. YouTube’s copyright and monetization decisions are separate from whether OBS can play the files; looping or arranging clips in a playlist does not by itself establish permission or eligibility.
For a local OBS setup, uninterrupted playback also depends on the computer, OBS, and network staying available. If your requirement is prerecorded YouTube playback without operating a local OBS machine, YouTube’s encoder help page lists Gyre as a cloud-based tool for 24/7 streaming of prerecorded videos. That listing alone does not establish service guarantees or commercial terms.
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