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To stream a folder of videos to YouTube Live from Windows, add the videos to OBS’s VLC Video source, set the playlist order and loop behavior, then connect OBS to a YouTube stream using its server URL and stream key. VLC must be installed for the playlist source. For a single video, OBS’s built-in Media Source is simpler.
Before you start: check YouTube access and install the software
Confirm the channel can livestream
YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. Enabling livestreaming for the first time can take up to 24 hours, so do this ahead of your intended broadcast. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
Install OBS and VLC
OBS lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 in its system requirements. Actual encoding performance depends on the PC and the output settings; use OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard as a starting point rather than assuming every computer can handle every resolution and frame rate. The OBS Quick Start Guide covers the wizard and initial setup.
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For a playlist, install VLC as well as OBS. The VLC Video source appears only when VLC is installed, and its architecture must match OBS: 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC. OBS’s Media Sources documentation explains the source requirements.
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Choose how OBS should play the videos
| OBS source | Best for | Playlist behavior | Dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local video at a time | Set looping for that file in its properties | Built into OBS |
| VLC Video | A queue of local videos in a set order | Supports playlist order, shuffle, and looping the playlist | VLC installed with architecture matching OBS |
OBS lists common supported video containers for Media Source, including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. A container extension does not guarantee that every codec inside a file will decode on every Windows installation, so test the actual files you plan to use.
Add and configure the folder’s playlist in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, choose an existing scene or create one for this broadcast. The Sources dock controls which video and audio sources appear in the scene.
- Add the playlist source. In the Sources dock, click +, choose VLC Video, and add the video files you want to play. Treat the playlist as the broadcast queue; verify the file order rather than assuming that selecting a folder automatically creates the intended sequence.
- Set playback order. Turn Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. Turn it on only if you want the files played in a different order.
- Choose whether playback repeats. Enable Loop Playlist to restart from the beginning after the last item, or leave it off if the stream should stop playing after the queue ends.
- Check visibility behavior. Inspect the source’s Visibility Behaviour. If it is configured to stop when hidden, hiding the source can interrupt playback rather than letting it continue in the background. OBS documents these playlist controls in its Media Sources guide.
- Fit the video to the scene. Make the playlist source visible, then size and position it on the OBS canvas. Check the preview for cropping, letterboxing, or unwanted empty space.
If you only need one video, click + in Sources and select Media Source, choose the local file, and configure its loop and visibility options in the source properties.
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Check audio and output before going live
Play a representative file and watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters. Confirm the video source is visible, the expected audio is present, and levels are not unexpectedly silent or clipping. OBS recommends checking audio and testing output settings before an event in its Quick Start Guide.
Use OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard to get a starting configuration, then test with your real files and connection. YouTube’s encoder guidance covers supported output settings and stream health, but there is no single bitrate that is right for every upload connection and target resolution. Choose settings appropriate to your available upload capacity and check the health information in YouTube Studio. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
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Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create an encoder stream or select the scheduled stream you intend to use. YouTube’s current workflow is described in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- Copy the ingest details. Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream.
- Enter them in OBS. Open OBS’s streaming settings, select the YouTube service when available, and enter the URL and key in the corresponding fields. YouTube recommends RTMPS when the encoder supports it because it encrypts the connection to YouTube’s ingest service; see YouTube’s live streaming tips and encoder settings.
- Protect the stream key. It is a credential that lets an encoder send video to your channel. Do not share it publicly. If it is exposed, reset it through YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. See Manage live stream settings.
- Start the OBS stream and check YouTube’s preview. For a scheduled broadcast, sending video from OBS and making the event available to viewers are separate actions. Wait for the incoming preview in Live Control Room, check stream health, and click Go live when you are ready. Follow the controls shown for the selected stream, since YouTube’s interface can change.
Choose the stream’s privacy setting deliberately in YouTube Studio: public, unlisted, or private. If you are testing, use an appropriate non-public setting when available and verify the selected setting before sharing the link.
Test the complete playback path and end the stream cleanly
- Confirm the first video is the one you expect and that the playlist follows the intended order.
- Check whether the playlist should repeat and verify its loop behavior before relying on it for a long broadcast.
- Listen for audio in both OBS and YouTube’s preview; a working video picture does not prove the audio is reaching viewers.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and test with representative motion and audio before making the event public. OBS also advises testing before a first real stream.
- When the event is finished, end it in the Live Control Room as applicable, then stop streaming in OBS. YouTube says encoder streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; see YouTube’s encoder stream instructions.
Common problems and fixes
VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu
Install VLC and check that its 32-bit or 64-bit architecture matches OBS. Restart OBS after installing VLC if the source still does not appear.
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A video will not appear or decode
Test the specific file on the same PC, rather than relying only on its filename extension. Try a known-good file in a common container such as MP4, and confirm that the codec inside the original file can be decoded by your Windows setup.
The playlist stops or does not repeat
Check Loop Playlist and confirm that shuffle is set as intended. Also inspect Visibility Behaviour: a source set to stop when hidden will not keep playing as a background source when hidden.
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YouTube shows no incoming signal
Verify that OBS has the correct stream URL and stream key for the selected YouTube stream. Check Live Control Room for the incoming preview. If the key may have been exposed, reset it before reconnecting.
The channel cannot start a livestream
Check channel verification and whether a live-streaming restriction applies. If this is the channel’s first livestream activation, allow up to 24 hours for it to become available.
The stream is unstable or the quality is poor
Run OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard, check your upload capacity, and inspect YouTube’s stream health. Adjust the output to fit the connection and chosen resolution; do not assume that a bitrate suitable for one connection will work on another.
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Stream material you own or have permission to use, including both video and music. YouTube’s setup guidance warns creators to avoid content that violates its rules, but platform setup guidance cannot determine whether a particular file is legally cleared for your use. Review the copyright safety checklist before broadcasting content whose rights are uncertain.
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