For an ordered playlist of multiple local videos in OBS, use the VLC Video source: keep Loop Playlist on and Shuffle Playlist off. For one video that should repeat, use Media Source and enable its Loop property. These settings repeat media playback; they do not guarantee a 24/7 YouTube broadcast or an archive of the entire stream.
Choose the source that matches your playlist
| What you want to play | OBS source to start with | Setting to check |
|---|---|---|
| One local video file, repeated | Media Source | Turn on Loop. |
| Several local files, in a repeating fixed order | VLC Video | Turn on Loop Playlist and leave Shuffle Playlist off. |
OBS documents Media Source as a single-file source with a loop control. VLC Video supports a playlist and is the more direct fit for rotating several files. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default, but verify both in your installed version.
Set up a repeating playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC before opening OBS. VLC Video appears only when VLC is installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. OBS lists both source types for Windows, macOS, and Linux; VLC Video has the additional VLC requirement.
- Open the scene that should show the playlist. OBS sources belong to scenes. In the Sources dock, add a VLC Video source; the exact menu wording can vary by OBS version.
- Add the video files to the source’s playlist. Arrange them in the order you want them to play. The source is intended for a playlist, rather than separate copies of Media Source for each item.
- Set the repeat behavior. In the VLC Video source properties, check Loop Playlist and clear Shuffle Playlist. That produces a repeating, ordered rotation. Confirm the settings rather than relying on defaults.
- Check visibility behavior. OBS documents a Visibility Behaviour control for VLC Video. The documented default is to stop playback when hidden and restart when visible; other behavior may be available. This concerns whether the source is visible or active in its OBS scene, not whether the OBS application window is on screen, and it does not itself start or stop the YouTube broadcast.
- Confirm the source is visible in the scene. The eye icon in the Sources dock shows or hides a source. Source list order controls which source is layered above another, so check that another visible source is not covering the video.
- Check playback in OBS before going live. Observe the transition from the end of the playlist back to its start and make sure the expected audio and picture are present. OBS’s documented controls describe settings; they are not a guarantee of uninterrupted playback or particular scene transitions.
Network caching
VLC Video also exposes Network caching (ms). OBS documentation lists 400 ms as the default. That is a documented default, not a universal reliability recommendation; do not treat it as a guarantee that local playback or a network source will remain uninterrupted.
Use Media Source for one repeating file
- Add a Media Source to the scene from the Sources dock.
- Select the local file and enable Loop in the source properties so it plays again after reaching the end.
- Check the scene to ensure the source is visible and not covered by another source.
OBS documents support for local video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, as well as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV audio. If your file does not load or its audio is missing, confirm the file path and format first.
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Connect OBS to a YouTube live stream
- Create or schedule the live stream in YouTube. Use YouTube’s encoder workflow and copy the stream URL and stream key provided for that broadcast.
- Enter the stream URL and key in OBS’s streaming settings. Treat the stream key as a credential: do not publish it or include it in a screenshot. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube before using it again.
- Check the outgoing picture and sound in OBS before starting the broadcast. YouTube advises that total streaming bitrate should not exceed available upload bandwidth and recommends leaving headroom. Monitor stream audio and video quality; bandwidth guidance does not promise uptime.
- Start streaming from OBS and confirm the broadcast is live in YouTube. Keep an eye on both the OBS output and YouTube’s stream status.
What a 24/7 loop does—and does not—guarantee
A looping playlist keeps the media source cycling while OBS is running and the source is playing. It does not guarantee that OBS, the computer, the internet connection, or YouTube will stay connected continuously.
YouTube archive and DVR limits
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. YouTube also warns that DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable on streams longer than 12 hours, so viewers should not expect to rewind the full duration of a 24/7 broadcast. Keep a separate local recording or other archive if you need a dependable copy, and monitor the live stream.
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Copyright and reused material
Only stream videos and audio you have the rights or permission to use. A playlist loop does not change the rights status of its contents. YouTube may apply its platform rules to material in a live stream, and a continuous broadcast is not a substitute for checking copyright and monetization requirements for your channel and content.
Troubleshoot common playlist problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from the source list | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC, then reopen OBS and check the Sources dock. |
| The playlist plays once and stops | Loop Playlist is off. | Open VLC Video properties and turn on Loop Playlist. |
| Items play in a different order each time | Shuffle Playlist is enabled. | Clear Shuffle Playlist and confirm the playlist order. |
| Playback stops when changing scenes or hiding the source | Visibility Behaviour may stop playback when the source is hidden. | Check that control and choose the behavior appropriate to your scene. Hiding a source is not the same as closing the OBS window. |
| The video is playing but cannot be seen | The source may be hidden or covered by a higher source. | Use the eye icon to show it and check its position in the Sources list. |
| The YouTube broadcast disconnects or quality degrades | The loop setting does not control the internet connection or broadcast continuity. | Check OBS and YouTube stream status, monitor audio/video quality, and ensure total streaming bitrate is within available upload bandwidth with headroom. |
| A long broadcast is missing from the archive, or viewers cannot rewind far back | YouTube’s archive and DVR capabilities have limitations on streams longer than 12 hours. | Keep a separate local recording or archive and do not rely on DVR for the entire continuous broadcast. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to loop uploaded recordings without leaving a computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It does not stream from a camera.
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