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To loop a folder of MP4s on YouTube Live, add the files to a VLC Video source playlist in OBS, enable Loop Playlist, and stream the OBS scene to YouTube using an encoder stream key. The source requires VLC installed on the computer, with the VLC and OBS architectures matching. Test the playlist and stream before relying on it for a continuous broadcast.
Before you start
- An OBS installation and the MP4 files you want to play.
- VLC installed in the same architecture as OBS. For 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC; otherwise the VLC Video source may not appear.
- A verified YouTube channel with live streaming enabled and no live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days. YouTube says first-time enablement can take up to 24 hours, so check eligibility before your planned start.
- A stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for your chosen stream settings. The computer running OBS must remain on and connected while it streams.
You do not need to buy a new computer just to try this. The official material does not establish minimum PC specifications for this particular continuous playlist workload, so test your existing machine with your actual videos, resolution, frame rate, and network.
Make an MP4 playlist in OBS
- Install VLC, then open OBS. Make sure VLC matches OBS architecture; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. If the VLC Video source is missing, check this first.
- Select or create the scene you intend to send to YouTube Live.
- Add the playlist source. In the scene’s Sources panel, select +, choose VLC Video, and create or select the source.
- Add the MP4 files. In the source properties, add each video file as a playlist item. The playlist is the set of files that OBS will play; it is not a folder-loop control in YouTube’s viewer.
- Set playback order. Turn on Loop Playlist so OBS repeats the playlist when it reaches the end. Leave Shuffle Playlist off if you want the files to play in their listed order; shuffle changes playback to a randomized order.
- Check the scene and audio. Confirm the source is visible in the OBS preview and that the audio is routed as intended. If other scene sources cover the video, adjust their visibility or placement.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and create or select an encoder stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream.
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service, and enter the stream URL and key as required by the configuration. The key acts like a password for the encoder feed: do not share it publicly. If you believe it has been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- Apply the settings, then return to the scene preview. Start the stream from OBS only when you are ready to send the encoder feed to YouTube.
YouTube describes an encoder as the software or hardware that converts video into a digital format for streaming. OBS sends the composed scene—not merely an MP4 file—to YouTube as that encoder stream.
Choose settings and test the full loop
Pick an output resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate that your computer and internet connection can sustain. YouTube recommends RTMPS and publishes bitrate ranges by resolution, frame rate, and codec; consult its current guidance rather than applying one bitrate to every setup. For context, YouTube’s current H.264 guidance lists 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended for 1080p at 30 fps; its AV1/H.265 guidance lists 4 Mbps minimum and 10 Mbps recommended for the same resolution and frame rate. These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular network or computer will perform reliably.
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- Start with a brief local or unlisted test rather than immediately scheduling a long public broadcast.
- Watch the entire transition from the final playlist item back to the first. The OBS documentation describes playlist looping, but does not guarantee a gap-free transition for every combination of files.
- Check the Live Control Room preview for picture and sound before making the broadcast public.
- Monitor stream health and upload stability during the test. Leave upload bandwidth headroom instead of using all available capacity for the stream.
- If recording locally as a backup, confirm the recording is being created and growing as expected.
- Run the test at the resolution, frame rate, and duration you intend to use. A short test may not reveal problems that emerge during a longer session.
Keep the playlist running: local OBS or cloud
With OBS, you can control the full scene, including overlays and other production sources. The trade-off is that the computer and its network connection must stay available for the entire stream. If you need a 24/7 prerecorded-video stream without leaving a local machine running, YouTube’s encoder guide lists Gyre as a cloud-based tool; verify its current capabilities and terms independently. For an OBS-based playlist, StreamNeo is another option: it keeps uploaded videos live on YouTube from the cloud, at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and the first day is free.
Or let it run in the cloud
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the videos from the cloud, so no computer or home internet connection has to stay on.
Every slot includes one always-on YouTube stream, 10 GB of storage per slot pooled across active slots, playlists and 24/7 looping, and automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. Your uploads stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, without re-encoding or quality tiers. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. After that, monthly billing is $9.99 per month; other terms include a day, a week, 6 months, or a year, and you can cancel any time. UPI and cards are available in India; card checkout is available worldwide. Five or more slots: contact support. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
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Common problems and fixes
- VLC Video is not in the Sources menu: install VLC, then restart OBS. Confirm the VLC architecture matches OBS (64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC).
- The playlist stops at the last file: reopen the VLC Video source properties and confirm Loop Playlist is enabled.
- Files play in a different order each time: turn off Shuffle Playlist to use the order shown in the playlist.
- YouTube shows no incoming feed: check that OBS has the correct stream URL and key for the selected Live Control Room stream, and that the encoder stream is started in OBS.
- Picture or sound is missing in preview: check source visibility and scene layering in OBS, then verify audio routing and levels before going public.
- The stream is unstable or drops frames: check YouTube’s stream-health indicators, test the actual upload connection, leave more bandwidth headroom, and lower bitrate or output settings if the connection cannot sustain them.
- The playlist transition has a gap: test the specific files and transition locally. The documented loop option repeats the playlist, but does not promise a seamless transition for every file combination.
- The stream key may have been exposed: reset it in YouTube Studio and replace the saved key in OBS. Treat it as a credential, not as a public URL.
Copyright and YouTube Live considerations
Looping a file does not grant permission to stream its contents. Use videos and audio you own or are authorized to broadcast, and check the applicable rights before launching a long-running stream. YouTube’s live-stream eligibility rules also apply: verify the channel in advance and ensure it has no live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days. The viewer’s Loop control only repeats playback for an individual viewer; it does not create a live broadcast. OBS creates the encoder feed that YouTube receives.
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