To loop one pre-recorded video in OBS, add it to a Media Source and turn on Loop. To repeat a playlist, use a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. Connect OBS to a YouTube broadcast with its server URL and stream key, then keep the computer, OBS, and internet connection running for as long as you want to broadcast.
Before you start
- OBS Studio installed on a computer that can stay on and connected to the internet. A local broadcast stops sending if the computer, OBS, or connection stops working.
- Your video files saved locally. OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. For a playlist, install VLC; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- A YouTube channel eligible to livestream. YouTube says a channel must be verified and must not have had live-stream restrictions in the past 90 days. First-time live-stream enablement can take up to 24 hours.
- Permission to stream every piece of content. A loop does not change YouTube’s copyright or Community Guidelines requirements.
Menu labels may vary slightly between OBS and YouTube interface versions, but the workflow is the same: prepare the source, connect the encoder, and confirm the broadcast in Live Control Room.
Loop one video in OBS
- Open OBS and select the scene that you want to send to YouTube.
- In Sources, select + → Media Source. Name the source if prompted and select OK.
- In the source properties, select Browse and choose the video file.
- Check Loop. OBS lists this option as off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after it finishes.
- Decide whether to enable Restart playback when source becomes active. This restarts playback when the source becomes visible in the current scene, which can be useful when switching scenes.
- Check the preview for picture and sound. Confirm that this is the scene OBS will send to YouTube.
The Show nothing when playback ends option controls what happens when playback ends. With Loop enabled, the file should restart rather than stay at an end frame.
Loop a playlist of videos
- Install VLC, ensuring its architecture matches OBS (for example, 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS).
- In OBS, select + in Sources → VLC Video, then choose OK.
- Use the source properties to add the files to the playlist in the order you want. Remove or reorder items there if needed.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled to repeat the list. OBS documents it as on by default. Enable Shuffle Playlist only if you want randomized playback; it is off by default.
- Preview the files and check audio levels and transitions. Playback and transitions can vary with the files and machine, so confirm the actual playlist before going live.
Connect OBS to YouTube and start the broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go live. In Live Control Room, create a broadcast or choose a scheduled one.
- Copy the YouTube server URL and stream key into OBS’s streaming settings. The key connects the encoder feed to the broadcast; treat it like a password and do not publish it.
- Start streaming in OBS. In Live Control Room, wait for the encoder preview and check the stream health. For a scheduled stream, YouTube may require a separate Go live action after the preview appears.
- Check that the intended scene, video, and audio are present in the YouTube preview before relying on the stream.
Choose settings that your connection can sustain
There is no single bitrate or resolution that suits every connection. Choose output settings appropriate for your available upload bandwidth, and test with video movement and audio similar to what you plan to stream. YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health and messages; a setting that works for a static image may fail with more demanding footage.
#1 Best Overall
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Watch the Live Control Room while broadcasting, especially after a change to the OBS output settings or network. If YouTube reports a health problem, reduce the output demand or address the connection issue, then test again. Do not assume that a high bitrate or resolution is better if the upload connection cannot sustain it.
Keep the stream running around the clock
With OBS on your own computer
OBS loops the source, but it does not keep the broadcast alive if the computer sleeps, OBS closes, power fails, or the internet connection drops. Set the computer not to sleep during the broadcast, keep OBS open, and monitor the stream and connection. A dedicated computer can serve this purpose, but the reviewed documentation does not establish a particular hardware specification as sufficient.
Rank #2
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With cloud playout
A cloud playout service can run prepared videos from its servers while your own computer is off. Service descriptions are vendor claims, not independent reliability tests, and no provider can be assumed to guarantee zero interruptions. Compare playlist controls, recovery and monitoring, storage limits, destinations, and total cost before choosing one.
StreamNeo: a cloud alternative for YouTube
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for looping uploaded videos or playlists: upload your recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Your computer can be off while the cloud keeps playing; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. Every slot supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, and StreamNeo team support. There are no quality tiers. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. UPI and cards are available in India; card checkout is available worldwide. Five or more slots can be discussed with support.
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Copyright, YouTube rules, and long-stream archives
Use content you have the right to stream
YouTube scans live streams for matches to third-party content, including other live broadcasts. If it detects a match, YouTube may replace the stream with a placeholder and warn you to stop streaming the material; if it continues, the broadcast may be temporarily interrupted or terminated. If you have a license for third-party material, YouTube says to ask the rights holder to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist. A license alone may not prevent an interruption when the channel has not been allowlisted.
Live content must also follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Pre-recorded format does not make content automatically acceptable or monetizable.
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Best Value
- 【1080P HD High Quality】Capture resolution up to 1080p for video source and it is ideal for all HDMI devices such as PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, DVDs, DSLR, Camera, Security Camera and set top box. Note: Video input supports 4K30/60Hz and 1080p120/144Hz. Does not support 4K120Hz/144Hz. Output supports up to 2K30Hz.
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- 【HDMI LOOP-OUT】Based on the high-speed USB 3.0 technology, it can capture one single channel HD HDMI video signal. There is no delay when you are playing game live.
- 【Support Mic-in for Commentary】Rybozen capture card has microphone input and you can use it to add external commentary when playing a game. Please note: it only accepts 3.5mm TRS standard microphone headset.
Do not rely on a 24/7 broadcast as your video archive
YouTube’s encoder guide says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. It does not make that assurance for streams lasting 12 hours or longer. If you need a replay, plan a separate recording or archive workflow and consult YouTube’s current guidance rather than assuming a continuous broadcast will be saved as one video.
Monetization is conditional
Eligible channels may earn from ads, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and channel memberships on live streams, but ad slots are not guaranteed to serve an ad. YouTube reported that creators using automatic live mid-roll ads had over 20% average uplift in instream ad revenue per hour compared with channels that did not turn them on. That was a platform-reported aggregate comparison across 207 countries in January 2024, not a forecast or guarantee for an individual channel or 24/7 stream.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot common problems
- The video stops at the end. For a single file, open Media Source properties and enable Loop. For multiple files, check that the source is VLC Video and Loop Playlist is enabled.
- The VLC Video source is missing or does not play. Install VLC and confirm its architecture matches OBS, such as 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- The source is absent from the YouTube preview. Confirm the correct scene is selected in OBS, the source is visible, and OBS is streaming to the server URL and stream key for the intended broadcast.
- YouTube does not receive the encoder feed. Check that the server URL and stream key were copied correctly and that the key belongs to the chosen broadcast. Keep the key private; replace it in OBS if it has been exposed.
- The stream health is poor or the feed disconnects. Check upload stability and use output settings the connection can sustain. Test with representative audio and motion, and watch Live Control Room messages. A local setup depends on the computer and connection remaining operational.
- The scheduled event has a preview but is not live to viewers. Check Live Control Room for the additional Go live action after the encoder preview appears.
- The live stream is interrupted for a copyright match. Stop the matched material. For licensed content, contact the rights holder about adding the channel to the Content ID allowlist; permission without allowlisting may not prevent interruption.
- The stream does not appear to have an archive. Do not expect YouTube’s automatic archive assurance for broadcasts lasting 12 hours or more. Arrange a separate recording if a replay is important.
Useful planning tools
- Upload-time calculator — estimate how long your files may take to upload.
- Cloud vs PC cost calculator — compare ongoing cloud and local-computer costs.
- Copyright safety checklist — review rights considerations before streaming.
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.
