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To loop one video in OBS, add it as a Media Source, select the file, and enable Loop in the source properties. Keep the source visible in the scene you stream. OBS will replay the file whenever it finishes; the setting is off by default. [OBS Project]

Set up a single video to loop in OBS

  1. Open the scene you plan to broadcast, or create one in the Scenes panel.
  2. In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source. Name the source, then select OK.
  3. In the Media Source properties, select Browse beside the local file field and choose your video. OBS documents Media Source support for MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM files. [OBS Project]
  4. Turn on Loop, then select OK. This repeats the file when playback reaches its end.
  5. Confirm the source is visible in the scene: its eye icon should be on, and the video should appear in the OBS preview. Start playback or seek near the end to confirm it returns to the beginning.

Loop and Restart playback when source becomes active are separate controls. Loop repeats the file after it ends. Restart playback when source becomes active starts it over when the source is in the current scene and visible; it does not make the video repeat by itself. [OBS Project]

Connect OBS to YouTube Live

  1. In YouTube Live Control Room, create a stream or select an existing one.
  2. Copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube into OBS’s streaming settings. The key authorizes an encoder to send video to your channel, so keep it private like a password. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS.
  3. Start streaming from OBS and check the incoming video and audio in the Live Control Room preview. Go live only after the preview and stream health are satisfactory. [YouTube: Set up your encoder for live streaming]

Choose stream settings YouTube can handle

For RTMP or RTMPS, YouTube’s current encoder guidance supports H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, constant bitrate (CBR), and up to 60 fps. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds. It recommends RTMPS, the secure extension of RTMP. [YouTube: Encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions]

Setting Guidance How to apply it
Video codec and rate control H.264, H.265, or AV1; CBR Choose a codec and CBR in OBS’s output settings that your system and stream destination support.
1080p at 30 fps, H.264 YouTube recommends 10 Mbps Use this as a starting target, then test stream health and confirm the connection can sustain it.
1080p at 60 fps, H.264 YouTube recommends 12 Mbps Use this as a starting target, then test stream health and confirm the connection can sustain it.
Keyframe interval Recommended: 2 seconds; maximum: 4 seconds Set the encoder’s keyframe interval to two seconds where the setting is available.
Audio AAC or MP3; 44.1 kHz stereo; 128 Kbps stereo Set OBS audio output to a supported format and these recommended stereo settings.

The listed H.264 bitrates are YouTube recommendations for the specified resolution and frame rate, not a promise that every upload connection can sustain them. YouTube advises testing and monitoring stream health. Allow at least 20% headroom above the combined outgoing bitrate; for example, a 10 Mbps video stream plus 128 Kbps audio needs more than 10 Mbps of available upload capacity, with additional room for network variation. [Encoder settings] [YouTube: Live streaming tips]

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Plan for archives and DVR limits

A 24/7 broadcast does not necessarily become a complete YouTube replay. YouTube says streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all; streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived. If you need a dependable recording, make and verify a local archive rather than relying on the platform archive. [YouTube: Archive live streams]

Live DVR rewind may also be limited or unavailable on very long streams, including streams over 12 hours. Do not promise viewers they can rewind through the full broadcast. [YouTube: Use DVR controls on live streams]

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Monitor the stream while it runs

  • Test a representative section before committing to a long broadcast, including video movement and audio.
  • Watch the Live Control Room preview and stream health messages after OBS connects; a successful OBS connection alone does not confirm a healthy YouTube stream.
  • Check that your upload connection has the recommended 20% headroom above the combined stream bitrate.
  • If retaining a local recording, confirm the recording is intact and its file size is increasing while it runs.

YouTube recommends testing the encoder setup and monitoring stream health; its streaming tips also advise checking upload capacity. [Encoder settings] [Live streaming tips]

Troubleshoot common looping and streaming problems

The video plays once and stops

Open the Media Source properties and turn on Loop. Restart playback when source becomes active is not a substitute. Also check that the source is visible in the scene. [OBS Project]

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The source is missing from the preview

Check that the eye icon beside the source is enabled and that you are looking at the scene containing it. If the source was hidden and shown again, restart-on-activation affects whether playback starts over; it does not affect whether Loop is enabled.

YouTube does not receive the OBS feed

Confirm that OBS has the correct stream URL and current stream key from YouTube Live Control Room. Treat the key as a password and replace it if it has been exposed. Check the Live Control Room preview and stream health for connection errors. [YouTube: Set up your encoder]

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The broadcast is choppy or OBS reports encoding overload

Reduce output resolution or frame rate, and simplify resource-heavy scenes. Then retest and check YouTube’s stream health. OBS recommends these measures when output is choppy or encoding overload occurs. [OBS: Encoding performance troubleshooting]

The stream disconnects or quality fluctuates

Check the actual outgoing bitrate against available upload capacity, leaving the recommended 20% headroom above the combined bitrate. Test the connection and monitor YouTube’s stream health rather than raising bitrate beyond what the connection can sustain. [YouTube: Live streaming tips]

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Use VLC Video for a playlist, not just one file

For a single local video, Media Source is the direct OBS option. OBS’s VLC Video source can handle a playlist and has a Loop Playlist setting, but it requires VLC to be installed. Match VLC’s architecture to OBS: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. [OBS Project]

Or let it run in the cloud

With OBS, the video loops on the computer running the encoder, so that setup depends on the computer and its internet connection staying available. StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The cloud continues looping the upload without a computer or home connection left on. [StreamNeo]

  • One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality, up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encoding or quality tiers.
  • Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
  • The first day is free, with no card required; one free day per account.
  • Plans can be billed by day, week, month, six months, or year and can be cancelled any time. UPI and cards are available in India; card checkout is available worldwide.

Every slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, looping and playlists, automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and support from the StreamNeo team. The product is the same on every plan; only the billing length changes. Five or more slots: contact support.

Daily $0.99 per day · Weekly $2.99 per week · Monthly $9.99 per month · 6 months $49.99 for 6 months · Yearly $89.99 a year

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Start your free StreamNeo day.

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