To rotate content every six hours in OBS, create a separate scene for each content block and use Advanced Scene Switcher to trigger scene changes on a timer. OBS’s VLC Video source can loop a playlist, but its Loop Playlist setting only restarts the list when it reaches the end; it does not create a six-hour schedule. You do not need to end and restart the YouTube broadcast just to change scenes.
Choose what “rotate” means for your stream
There are two different ways to use playlists in OBS. Pick the one that matches what you want viewers to see:
| Workflow | What triggers it | Best for | Setup focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop one VLC playlist | The playlist reaches its end | Repeating the same sequence of files | Enable Loop Playlist; decide whether to shuffle. |
| Switch between playlist scenes | A timer or macro changes the active scene | Showing a different content block every six hours | Set up and test the timer, scenes, source visibility, and transitions. |
If the files should simply replay in order, use the first workflow. If the content should change on a six-hour clock—even when a playlist has not finished—use separate scenes and automation.
Set up a playlist in OBS
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Install VLC media player. OBS’s Media Sources documentation says VLC must be installed for the VLC Video source to be available. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
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In OBS, select the scene where the playlist should appear. In the Sources panel, click + and add VLC Video.
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Open the source’s properties and add the local media files to its playlist. Arrange them in the desired playback order. Leave shuffle off for sequential playback.
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Enable Loop Playlist if the list should start again after its final file. OBS defines this setting as specifying whether the source should restart when it has run out of media files; it is an end-of-list behavior, not a timer.
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Set the source’s Visibility Behaviour to match how it should act while its scene is hidden. OBS documents options that determine whether playback continues, pauses, or stops when the source is not visible. Choose deliberately: that behavior affects where playback is when the scene becomes active again.
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Rotate between content blocks every six hours
For a scheduled change, create one scene per block and automate scene selection separately from playlist looping. Advanced Scene Switcher supports macro-based scene automation, but the exact controls and setup can vary by OBS and plugin version. Its macro documentation and media-condition documentation describe automation workflows; they do not establish one universal six-hour recipe for every version.
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Create a scene for each content block, such as Block A and Block B. Add the appropriate VLC Video playlist source to each scene.
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Configure each playlist’s order, shuffle, loop, and hidden-source visibility behavior. Decide whether a hidden playlist should continue playing, pause, or stop, because that determines what viewers will see when you switch to its scene.
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In Advanced Scene Switcher, create a macro or timed scene-switching rule that changes to the intended scene at the six-hour interval. Use the plugin’s controls for the version you have installed; do not assume labels, timers, or behavior are identical across versions.
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Set the destination scene and transition behavior for each change. If you intend to alternate blocks, make sure each scheduled change selects the next scene rather than repeatedly selecting the same one.
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Run a short test before relying on the automation live. Confirm the timer fires, the intended scene becomes active, files play in the intended order, audio is audible, and the scene transition behaves as expected.
Changing scenes is distinct from stopping and starting a YouTube broadcast. OBS scene automation can change what OBS sends while the broadcast is running, but the exact behavior of your sources and transitions must be verified in your setup.
Test before using the schedule live
OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends running a test for a few minutes before streaming or recording. For this setup, include a complete check of the content change—not just a successful connection to YouTube.
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Check that each playlist contains the intended files and that playback order is correct.
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Verify each source’s visibility behavior by switching away from its scene and back.
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Confirm the six-hour automation rule selects the intended scene and that the transition is acceptable.
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Listen for audio after the change and confirm that the active scene is sending the expected content.
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Check the YouTube broadcast remains in the state you expect during scene changes; do not assume a test of one OBS setup guarantees identical behavior elsewhere.
Troubleshooting
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VLC Video is missing from the source list: Install VLC. If OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC as specified in OBS’s media source documentation.
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The playlist repeats only after the last file: That is what Loop Playlist does. It is not a six-hour timer. Use a timed scene change for clock-based rotation.
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A scene changes but its playlist is at an unexpected point: Review the source’s Visibility Behaviour. A hidden source may continue, pause, or stop depending on the selected option.
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The scheduled change does not happen as expected: Check the macro’s trigger, target scene, and timer settings in the installed Advanced Scene Switcher version. The plugin’s documented automation patterns do not guarantee identical controls across versions.
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Audio or transitions fail during a change: Reproduce the scene switch in a test and inspect the source and transition behavior before relying on it in a live broadcast.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos looping on a YouTube channel without leaving a computer running at home, StreamNeo is an alternative to the OBS setup. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops it from the cloud. Nothing has to stay on at home. It streams your uploaded files as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for uploaded videos on YouTube, not camera streaming. See StreamNeo or review the copyright safety checklist before using content you do not own or have permission to stream.
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