To loop one pre-recorded video in OBS, add it as a Media Source and enable Loop. For a sequence of videos, use a VLC Video source, add the clips to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. These settings control local playback; they do not set YouTube’s stream quality or synchronize playback with the moment a scheduled stream becomes public.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Repeat setting | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video file, repeated | Media Source | Loop | No VLC installation required |
| A sequence of video files | VLC Video | Loop Playlist | VLC installed; match its architecture to OBS. OBS specifically notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
OBS Media Source supports common video formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, FLV, TS, and WebM. Choose VLC Video when you need playlist playback; for one looping file, Media Source is the simpler setup.
Loop one video with Media Source
- In OBS, create or select the scene that should show the video.
- In the Sources panel, click + and choose Media Source.
- Give the source a name if prompted, then select the local video file.
- Turn on Loop. OBS describes this option as specifying whether the file plays again once playback has completed.
- Set the other playback options according to how you want the source to behave:
- Restart playback when source becomes active restarts the file when the source is in the current scene and visible. It is separate from Loop.
- Show nothing when playback ends hides the source after the file completes. For continuous looping, this is generally not the intended behavior; it matters if looping is off or playback otherwise ends.
- Preview the scene and confirm the file reaches its end and starts again.
Loop a playlist of videos
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. Use the version matching OBS’s architecture; OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In the scene, click + in Sources and add VLC Video.
- Add the video files to the source’s playlist in the order you want them to play.
- Enable Loop Playlist and check playback in the OBS preview.
Playlist playback is the relevant option when you need several clips to run in sequence. Media Source’s Loop setting repeats its selected file; it is not a playlist control.
Start the YouTube broadcast without losing the opening
OBS controls local source playback, while YouTube’s stream settings control how the encoder feed is accepted and presented. Starting a looping source before viewers can see the broadcast can mean the file has already played for a while when the stream becomes public. The official OBS and YouTube documentation does not promise precise synchronization between a local file’s playback and a scheduled stream’s public-live transition.
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- Create a holding or slate scene in OBS, such as a simple title card.
- Start streaming to YouTube while the holding scene is active.
- Confirm the feed is live in YouTube’s stream controls.
- Switch OBS to the scene containing the looping video. The video starts or continues according to its source settings, not according to a YouTube public-live timer.
YouTube’s stream settings also include latency, DVR, and encoder auto-start/auto-stop controls. Those settings do not change the Media Source Loop checkbox. Treat the stream key as a credential: it tells the encoder where to send the feed and lets YouTube accept it, so keep it private.
Set OBS output for YouTube’s ingest guidance
The file’s playback loop and the outgoing encoder are separate. For RTMP-based streaming, YouTube recommends RTMPS and lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, and CBR bitrate encoding. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Its bitrate guidance depends on codec, resolution, and frame rate.
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The following H.264 figures are from YouTube’s undated encoder help page, checked October 3, 2026. They are platform ingest guidance, not guaranteed OBS presets:
| Output | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps, H.264 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps, H.264 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps, H.264 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
Choose a resolution and frame rate your upload connection and computer can sustain. YouTube recommends testing with representative audio and motion, choosing a reliable quality for available upload capacity, and monitoring stream health while live. OBS cautions that meeting its system requirements does not guarantee streaming performance: the encoder, output resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity all matter.
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Run a representative test
- Use the video, audio, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity you intend to use for the actual stream.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and watch for dropped frames or other warnings.
- If performance is unreliable, reduce the output demands or revisit the encoder settings and upload capacity before committing to a long stream.
OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard considers hardware resources and network conditions. The OBS Quick Start Guide also advises a short test before the real stream. Since your operating system, hardware, video codec, and upload bandwidth determine what is practical, there is no single encoder choice that is reliable for every computer.
Troubleshoot common looping and stream problems
- The file plays once and stops: Check that Loop is enabled on the Media Source. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist on the VLC Video source.
- The video starts from the beginning every time you switch scenes: Check Restart playback when source becomes active. That option restarts playback when the source becomes visible; it is not the repeat setting.
- The source disappears at the end: Check Show nothing when playback ends. With looping disabled, that option hides the source when the file completes.
- VLC Video is unavailable or does not play the playlist: Confirm VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS. OBS specifically calls for 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
- The video appears to start too early for viewers: Keep a holding scene active until YouTube confirms the feed is live, then switch to the media scene. OBS source playback is not synchronized to YouTube’s public-live transition.
- YouTube reports poor stream health or the output drops frames: Test the same content and settings, monitor stream health, and use an output quality your network and encoder can maintain. System requirements alone do not guarantee performance.
- YouTube does not accept the encoder feed: Verify the stream key and encoder settings in YouTube’s stream controls. Keep the key private; YouTube uses it to route and accept the feed.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Having permission to play a file in OBS does not by itself establish that you can broadcast it on YouTube. Before streaming, confirm you have the necessary rights for the video, music, and other included material, and review YouTube’s current live-stream requirements and applicable copyright rules. A loop setting only repeats playback; it does not grant rights or determine whether content qualifies for monetization.
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