Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

To loop a church sermon video from Google Drive in OBS, make the video available on your computer, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, then send OBS to a YouTube stream created in YouTube Studio. For several clips in sequence, use OBS’s VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist.

1. Make the Google Drive video available to OBS

OBS’s Media Source plays a video file available to the computer; it does not fetch a Drive video directly from a shared web link. The dependable, simple approach is to prepare local access before the service and check that the file plays in OBS.

Choose streaming, mirroring, or a download

Drive option What it means for the stream Trade-off
Stream files with Drive for desktop Files appear through a virtual drive. You can save a file for offline use, but Drive for desktop must be running, and online-only files need an internet connection. Uses less local storage, but playback can depend on connectivity and the running Drive app.
Mirror My Drive My Drive files are kept on the computer and available offline. Uses local disk space. Google says video-editing applications run faster with mirrored files.
Download a permitted file A local copy can be selected directly in OBS. Uses local disk space; the owner may disable downloads for viewers or commenters.

Google’s current guidance says Shared Drives can only be streamed, not mirrored. If you use Drive’s streaming mode, mark the sermon available offline or download it where permitted, then confirm it opens before going live. This is practical preparation, not a guarantee against every playback or computer problem. See Google’s Drive for desktop streaming and mirroring guidance and its download instructions.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

If you cannot download a file, check with its owner about access. Google also notes that downloads can be temporarily restricted when a file receives many views or downloads in a short time.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (STGX2000400)
  • Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
  • Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
  • To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
  • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
  • The available storage capacity may vary.

2. Add one sermon video and turn on looping

  1. Open OBS Studio and select the scene that will feed the YouTube stream.
  2. In the Sources box, select +, then choose Media Source.
  3. Create a source or select an existing one. In its properties, browse to the sermon video file.
  4. Enable Loop, then confirm the source properties.
  5. Preview the scene. Check that the video is visible and its audio reaches the intended output.

OBS documents Media Source’s Loop option as repeating the file after playback completes. Its listed built-in video formats include MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM; a listed format does not guarantee every codec or file will play on every computer. The official OBS Media Sources guide is dated January 11, 2022.

3. Loop several sermon clips in sequence

  1. Install VLC if it is not already installed. OBS requires VLC for the VLC Video source to appear.
  2. In the scene’s Sources box, select +, then choose VLC Video.
  3. Add the video files in the intended playback order.
  4. Leave shuffle off if the clips must play in that order, and enable Loop Playlist in the source properties.
  5. Preview the playlist and verify both the clip sequence and the transition from the last clip back to the first.

If OBS is 64-bit, VLC must also be 64-bit. Although OBS’s documented VLC Video table lists Loop Playlist as on by default, check the setting rather than relying on its default.

Rank #2
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
  • Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
  • Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
  • To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
  • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
  • The available storage capacity may vary.

4. Check playback and audio before the service

  • Play the file or playlist in OBS and confirm the picture fits the scene.
  • Listen to the audio, including a point near the end and the loop boundary. Check that the sound is neither missing nor unintentionally doubled with another audio source.
  • For a playlist, verify the order and that looping returns to the first clip.
  • Keep a local or offline-ready copy available where possible, rather than relying on an online-only Drive file during a live service.

Google says Drive video playback is limited to 1920 × 1080, and notes that internet speed and quality can affect playback. That is a limit for playback in Google Drive, not a stated maximum for OBS or YouTube livestream output. Google’s supported Drive video formats include WebM (VP8/Vorbis), MPEG4/3GPP/MOV (H.264/MPEG4 with AAC), AVI (MJPEG/PCM), MPEGPS, WMV, FLV, MTS, and OGG; it cautions that compatibility varies by device. See Google’s Drive video playback guidance.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

5. Connect OBS to YouTube Live

  1. In YouTube Studio, create or schedule a livestream in Live Control Room using YouTube’s encoder workflow.
  2. Copy the stream’s server URL and stream key from YouTube and enter them in OBS’s stream settings. Treat the key like a password: do not publish or share it.
  3. Start streaming from OBS and check the encoder preview in Live Control Room.
  4. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview and then select Go live in Live Control Room when ready.

Labels and eligibility can vary with the channel and YouTube Studio interface. Follow the current prompts in Live Control Room; YouTube’s encoder livestream instructions describe this workflow.

Rank #3
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black
  • Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
  • Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
  • To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
  • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
  • The available storage capacity may vary.

6. Troubleshoot common problems

Symptom Likely cause What to check
The video does not appear in OBS. The source points to the wrong file, the file is online-only, or the format or codec is not playable on the computer. Confirm the file path and that it opens locally. If it is streamed from Drive, check internet access and that Drive for desktop is running; try a permitted local download.
The video plays once and stops. Loop is not enabled on the Media Source. Open the source properties and turn on Loop.
A playlist ends instead of repeating. Loop Playlist is off, or the wrong source type is being used. Check Loop Playlist in VLC Video properties. Confirm VLC is installed and matches OBS’s architecture.
A Drive file cannot be downloaded. The owner may have disabled downloading, or Google may have temporarily restricted downloads after unusually high activity. Ask the owner to allow access or provide a permitted local copy; retry later if the restriction is temporary.
YouTube does not show a preview or the stream does not start. The encoder connection details may be wrong, OBS may not be streaming, or the scheduled YouTube stream may still need an action in Live Control Room. Check the server URL and stream key against the intended stream, confirm OBS is sending, and follow YouTube’s preview and Go live prompts.

7. Check rights and YouTube suitability

Before broadcasting or repeating a sermon recording, confirm the church has permission for every element in it—including music, song performances, photographs, and other third-party material. Permission to store or share a video in Drive does not by itself establish livestreaming rights. YouTube’s handling of copyrighted material and channel eligibility is separate from the OBS playback setup; check the applicable terms and notices in YouTube Studio for the account before scheduling a public stream.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Or let it run in the cloud

If the goal is to keep an uploaded sermon video playing on a YouTube channel without leaving a computer running at church or home, StreamNeo runs the loop in the cloud. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add the YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed, and streams to YouTube only.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (STGX2000400)
Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (STGX2000400)
This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable; The available storage capacity may vary.
$129.99
Bestseller No. 2
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable; The available storage capacity may vary.
$229.99
Bestseller No. 3
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black
This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable; The available storage capacity may vary.
$119.80
Bestseller No. 4
Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0, 1-Year Rescue
Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0, 1-Year Rescue
This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable; The available storage capacity may vary.
$208.99
Best Value
Sale
UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD-USB 3.0
  • [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
  • 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
  • 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
  • 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
  • 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Rank #4
Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0, 1-Year Rescue
  • Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
  • Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
  • To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
  • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
  • The available storage capacity may vary.
  • Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream runs from the cloud.
  • One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
  • Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
  • The first day is free with no card (one free day per account).

Monthly: $9.99 per month.

Start your free StreamNeo day.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.