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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To loop local video files in a YouTube livestream, use OBS Studio’s VLC Video Source: add the files in the order you want, enable Loop Playlist, and send the OBS stream to YouTube with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. This repeats your playlist, but it does not guarantee that one broadcast can stay live indefinitely or recover automatically from a failure.
What you need before setting up the playlist
- An OBS Studio installation and VLC installed on the same computer. OBS says VLC must be installed for the VLC Video Source to appear; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- A YouTube channel enabled for livestreaming. YouTube says first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours.
- The video files you have the right to stream, stored where the computer running OBS can access them.
- A stable power and internet connection for the computer. The playlist loop itself does not provide power, network redundancy, or restart automation.
OBS’s VLC Video Source is the documented option here for playing and looping multiple local files. YouTube supports encoder software and hardware generally, but that does not establish that a particular hardware encoder can play a local playlist unattended.
Set up the YouTube stream
- Enable live streaming if needed. Follow YouTube’s account setup flow and allow up to 24 hours for first-time activation, as YouTube notes. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
- Open Live Control Room in YouTube Studio. Create or open the stream, then copy the server URL and stream key shown there.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it as a credential: anyone with access to it may be able to send a feed to your stream. Do not publish it or include it in screenshots.
Build and loop the playlist in OBS
- In OBS, add a source using Sources > + > VLC Video Source. If VLC Video Source is missing, install VLC with the same architecture as OBS—64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS—and reopen OBS. OBS documents the source and playlist controls in its Media Sources guide.
- In the source properties, add the local media files to the playlist in the order you want them to play. Check that each file path points to a file the OBS computer can access.
- Enable Loop Playlist so playback returns to the start after the final file. Enable shuffle only if you want the playback order randomized.
- Check the OBS preview before going live. Confirm the video is visible and that the source is playing the expected file; verify your scene layout does not crop or obscure the content.
OBS’s media-source documentation covers playlist playback and looping, but the reviewed documentation does not specify a universal best resolution, bitrate, or keyframe interval for every source file and connection. Use YouTube’s current encoder guidance for the selected stream format and test the actual output before relying on a long session.
Connect OBS and start the broadcast
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube as the service if available, then enter the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. If your OBS workflow asks for a server and key separately, use the values YouTube displays for that stream.
- Apply the settings, then select Start Streaming in OBS.
- Return to YouTube Live Control Room and wait for the stream preview. For a scheduled stream, YouTube’s documented flow is to click Go live once the preview is ready.
- Watch the live preview and the OBS output long enough to confirm the playlist advances and loops as intended. Starting OBS sends the feed; it does not by itself establish that the scheduled YouTube broadcast has been manually taken live.
YouTube distinguishes a broadcast from the underlying stream resource in its API documentation; that model is useful context for scheduled and repeated broadcasts, but it is not a separate playlist-file workflow. See YouTube Live Streaming API: broadcasts and streams.
#1 Best Overall
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What “continuously” means—and what it does not
Looping in OBS means the VLC source repeats its list while OBS is running and feeding YouTube. It is not evidence that YouTube will keep a single broadcast live without a time limit. YouTube Help says, “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That describes archiving for streams under 12 hours; it is not a promise that a longer stream remains live indefinitely or that a playlist prevents interruption.
For extended operation, someone still needs to monitor the computer, OBS, network, and YouTube Live Control Room. The reviewed documentation does not establish a guaranteed continuous operating period, automatic recovery for OBS or computer failures, or redundant power and internet arrangements.
Rank #2
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Do you need HLS settings?
No—not for the OBS VLC playlist method described above. HLS is a separate YouTube ingestion method, not a setting required just to loop local files in OBS. If you deliberately configure HLS ingestion, YouTube specifies TS segments of 1–4 seconds, HTTPS POST/PUT requests, no byte ranges, and a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments. YouTube also says HLS has higher latency than RTMP. Consult YouTube’s HLS setup requirements for that separate workflow.
Copyright and channel considerations
Use only video and audio you are authorized to livestream. A file playing successfully in OBS does not establish that you have permission to rebroadcast it, and looping a playlist does not change the rights attached to its contents. Check the relevant licenses and YouTube’s current policies before scheduling a recurring stream.
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Rank #3
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Troubleshooting the playlist stream
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video Source is missing in OBS | VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC, then reopen OBS. |
| A playlist item will not play | The file path is unavailable or the file cannot be read by the installed media components. | Confirm the file still exists at the listed path, add it again if necessary, and preview it in OBS before streaming. |
| The playlist stops after the last file | Loop Playlist is not enabled. | Open the VLC Video Source properties and enable the loop control. |
| YouTube does not show a preview | The stream has not reached YouTube, or the server URL or key is incorrect. | Check OBS’s stream settings against the values in the correct YouTube Studio stream and confirm OBS is streaming. |
| The scheduled stream is not live to viewers | The scheduled broadcast may still be awaiting the manual live action. | Wait for the preview in YouTube Live Control Room, then click Go live when it is ready. |
| The stream ends or drops during a long run | A computer, power, network, encoder, or platform interruption may have stopped the feed. | Check OBS and YouTube Live Control Room, restore the feed as needed, and do not treat playlist looping as an automatic recovery mechanism. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
Best Value
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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Rank #4
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