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To loop a folder of MP4 videos on YouTube Live, use OBS Studio’s VLC Video source: add your files to its playlist, enable Loop Playlist, connect OBS to a YouTube stream with its server URL and stream key, then preview the feed before going live. VLC must be installed for that OBS source. If you only need to repeat one MP4, OBS’s regular Media Source with Loop enabled is simpler.
What you need before setting up the stream
- OBS Studio, which plays the files and sends the video feed to YouTube.
- VLC installed if you are using OBS’s VLC Video playlist source. Match the architectures: OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- A folder of MP4 files that you have permission to broadcast, and an internet connection with enough sustained upload capacity for your selected stream bitrate.
- A YouTube channel enabled for live streaming. YouTube says first-time live streaming may take up to 24 hours to become available, so enable it ahead of your planned broadcast.
This setup uses your computer as the encoder: OBS plays the local files and pushes the stream to YouTube. The computer and network connection need to remain available while you broadcast.
Set up a playlist that loops in OBS
- Install OBS Studio and VLC. Install VLC before opening the VLC Video source. Make sure the two applications have compatible architectures.
- Choose a scene in OBS. Open an existing scene or create one for the broadcast.
- Add the playlist source. In the scene’s Sources panel, select + and add VLC Video.
- Add the MP4 files. In the source properties, add the files you want to play. Arrange them in the order you want viewers to see them.
- Check playback options. Confirm Loop Playlist is enabled. OBS’s playlist loops by default and shuffle is off by default, but check both settings if the order matters. Leave shuffle off for a predictable sequence.
- Check the scene preview. Resize or position the source if needed so the video fits the canvas. Play the scene and confirm the first clip appears and the audio is audible.
Use Media Source for a single MP4
If there is only one file to repeat, add a Media Source instead of VLC Video. Select the local MP4 in the source properties and enable Loop. OBS lists MP4 as a supported Media Source format; the Loop property makes the file play again when playback finishes.
Create the YouTube Live stream and connect OBS
- Open YouTube Live Control Room. In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live. Create a stream or select one you have already set up.
- Choose visibility and scheduling. Set the stream to Private or Unlisted for a test you do not want to make public. Choose Public for a public broadcast. Scheduling is optional; a scheduled stream can be promoted in advance.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key. Find them in Live Control Room. YouTube describes the key as like your stream’s password and address: keep it private, and reset it in Live Control Room if it is exposed.
- Enter the details in OBS. Open OBS stream settings, select YouTube as the service if available, and enter the server URL and stream key from YouTube. You can also use the custom server option if needed. Do not include the key in a public screenshot, recording, or message.
Choose encoder settings for your video and connection
YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends RTMPS. For RTMP/RTMPS, YouTube lists H.264, H.265, and AV1 video options; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate (CBR); frame rates up to 60 fps; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that must not exceed four seconds. Exact available options depend on the encoder and stream configuration.
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In OBS, select settings that match both your source footage and the upload connection. Use YouTube’s resolution-and-frame-rate bitrate table for the codec you choose rather than treating one bitrate as right for every stream. For reference, YouTube’s H.264 recommendations include 5 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 8 Mbps for 720p at 60 fps. These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular connection can sustain them. Run a speed test and test with representative video motion and audio; leave enough upload headroom for a stable broadcast.
For the most reliable setup, use RTMPS if it is available in your encoder settings, set CBR, and set the keyframe interval to two seconds. Confirm the output resolution and frame rate do not exceed what your source and connection can reliably support.
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Preview, go live, and monitor playback
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the incoming preview in YouTube Live Control Room.
- Check that the picture is correctly framed, the intended playlist is playing, and audio is present at an appropriate level.
- Check YouTube’s stream health before making a scheduled broadcast public. When the preview is right, select Go live in Live Control Room if required for that stream.
- Monitor stream health and audio/video during the broadcast. OBS must keep sending the feed, and the playlist must remain available to the source.
End the broadcast and protect your archive
For a scheduled stream, select End Stream in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. Its guidance does not promise automatic archiving for streams longer than that, so retain the original MP4 files independently if you need a copy of a long-running broadcast.
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Copyright and monetization: a loop is not a policy exception
Only stream videos, music, and other material you own or are authorized to broadcast. A playlist’s ability to repeat files does not establish permission to use them, and a technically successful stream is not proof that the content meets YouTube’s monetization rules.
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YouTube’s monetization policy says its July 15, 2025 update clarified that repetitive or mass-produced material falls under its renamed inauthentic content policy; YouTube says such content was already ineligible under the existing policy. The update did not change the reused-content policy. A loop can therefore run technically while still being ineligible for monetization review. Do not assume a repeating playlist will earn revenue.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from OBS’s source list | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC and match the architecture; OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
| The playlist stops after the final video | Loop Playlist is off. | Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. |
| Files play in an unexpected order | The playlist order or shuffle setting is not what you intended. | Review the playlist order and confirm shuffle is off if sequence matters. |
| One clip does not repeat | The Media Source Loop property is disabled. | Open that source’s properties and enable Loop. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS feed | The stream URL or key may be incorrect, or live streaming may not yet be enabled on the channel. | Compare OBS’s stream settings with Live Control Room, replace a compromised key, and allow up to 24 hours for first-time live streaming to become enabled. |
| Preview is unstable or YouTube reports stream health problems | The upload connection may not sustain the selected bitrate, or encoder settings may not match the platform guidance. | Check the bitrate against YouTube’s table for your codec, resolution, and frame rate; verify CBR and keyframe interval; test the connection and reduce output demands if necessary. |
| The stream appears live but has no usable picture or sound | The source may be misframed, not playing, or missing audio. | Check OBS’s scene preview and audio meters, then verify picture and sound in YouTube’s incoming preview before going live. |
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OBS is a direct, no-hosting-cost way to loop local files, but your computer and connection have to keep running. A cloud service is an alternative if you do not want to leave an encoder computer on at home. For a technically experienced operator, a self-managed VPS with FFmpeg is another route, but it requires server and command-line administration; the right choice depends on your source files, comfort with maintenance, and whether local hardware needs to stay on.
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