The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If one video file stops at the end, select its Media Source in OBS, open Properties, and enable Loop. For a playlist, use a VLC Video Source and enable Loop Playlist. First confirm that the source loops in OBS; if it does but the YouTube broadcast does not, check the Live Control Room preview and stream health to identify a transmission problem.
1. Identify the source and use its matching loop setting
OBS has separate source types and loop controls for a single file and a playlist. Check the source type before changing settings.
| What you are playing | OBS source | Loop control | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| One local audio or video file | Media Source | Loop | Choose the intended local file in the source properties. |
| A playlist of media files | VLC Video Source | Loop Playlist | VLC must be installed. With 64-bit OBS, OBS specifies 64-bit VLC. |
Loop a single file
- In OBS, select the scene that contains the video.
- In the Sources list, select the relevant Media Source. If you are unsure which one it is, open its properties and confirm the file path.
- Open Properties.
- Confirm that the selected file is the one you intend to play, then turn on Loop.
- Apply the change and watch the source in the OBS preview through the end of the file. OBS documents Loop as off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after playback completes.
Loop a playlist
- Make sure the source is a VLC Video Source, not a Media Source. VLC Video Source supports playlists and uses VLC libraries.
- Open the source’s Properties and check that the intended media files are in the playlist.
- Turn on Loop Playlist and test playback through the end of the playlist in OBS. OBS documents this option as on by default, so verify its actual state rather than assuming it is enabled.
If VLC Video Source is unavailable, install VLC. For 64-bit OBS, install the 64-bit version of VLC.
2. Distinguish looping from restarting when a source becomes active
Loop repeats a file after it reaches the end. Restart playback when source becomes active starts playback again when the source becomes active and visible in the current scene. The latter does not replace Loop: a source can need both settings, depending on whether you want it to repeat continuously and restart when shown.
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- If the file plays once but does not begin again at its end, check Loop.
- If it should start from the beginning when you switch to a scene or make the source visible, check Restart playback when source becomes active.
- Show nothing when playback ends controls whether the source hides after playback ends; it is not the loop control.
- Close file when inactive unloads the file while its source is hidden. When shown again, it may take a short time to reload.
3. Rule out a hidden or covered source
A video can be playing but absent from the program output because it is hidden or covered. In the active scene, check the source’s eye/visibility state and its position in the Sources list. OBS displays sources above other sources in front of them, so a source listed above the video can cover it.
- Confirm the source is in the scene currently being sent to the stream.
- Make the source visible and check that it is not covered by another source in the scene.
- If the source appears in the preview but not in the broadcast, compare the OBS program output with the YouTube preview before changing playback settings.
4. Test the file in OBS before troubleshooting YouTube
Watch the source locally in OBS, including the point where playback should repeat. Confirm that its path points to the intended file and that the file itself plays. If the source is black, silent, or fails before it can stream, begin with the local source and file rather than YouTube’s loop or encoder settings. OBS’s documented first-line guidance does not establish a universal codec fix for every file-specific failure.
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OBS notes that complex scenes, expensive filters, high-resolution media, and limited system resources can affect performance. If the source stutters or the preview struggles, simplify the scene and reduce resolution or frame rate if needed. OBS recommends using Media Source or VLC Source for media files.
5. If OBS is correct, check the YouTube broadcast separately
Open YouTube Live Control Room and compare its preview with the OBS output. YouTube advises previewing before starting and monitoring audio and video quality during an event; Live Control Room also reports stream health and related status or error information.
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- Check whether the issue is in OBS output. If the video or audio is already wrong in OBS, return to the scene, source, file, or encoder output. Changing a YouTube setting will not repair a source that fails locally.
- Check Live Control Room preview and stream health. If OBS looks and sounds right but YouTube does not, use YouTube’s stream-health messages to investigate the outgoing stream and connection.
- Investigate encoder output when it looks wrong. YouTube’s encoder troubleshooting sequence directs attention to encoder output, source quality, encoder errors, CPU load, and the local archive. If multiple viewers on different connections report the same problem, YouTube says there may be an encoder issue.
- Investigate outbound connectivity if encoder output appears healthy. If the encoder output looks right but the live result is problematic, check the connection sending the stream to YouTube.
Do not start by changing bitrate or other encoder settings when the file already fails in OBS. YouTube’s encoder settings can depend on resolution and frame rate; test before going live and consult YouTube’s current guidance for the settings that match your stream.
6. Common symptoms and fixes
| Symptom | First check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A single video stops after one play | Media Source properties | Enable Loop, then test through the end in OBS. |
| A playlist stops after its last item | Source type and playlist properties | Use VLC Video Source and check Loop Playlist; confirm VLC is installed. |
| The source does not start over after being hidden and shown | Activation behavior | Check Restart playback when source becomes active. This controls activation, not end-of-file looping. |
| The source is playing but not visible | Active scene, eye icon, and source order | Make the source visible in the active scene and move it above sources that cover it. |
| The source is black or silent in OBS | File path and local playback | Confirm the path and that the file plays. Treat this first as a local source or file issue, not a YouTube loop problem. |
| OBS looks right but YouTube does not | Live Control Room preview and stream health | Check encoder output and errors; if encoder output looks healthy, investigate outbound connectivity. |
| Playback or the scene stutters | Scene complexity and system resources | Simplify scenes or filters and, if needed, reduce resolution or frame rate. |
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