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For several prerecorded files, add OBS Studio’s VLC Video source, load the files in the order you want, and enable Loop Playlist. Turn on Shuffle Playlist only if you want playback order randomized. For a single file, use an OBS Media Source and enable Loop. OBS handles media rotation; YouTube Studio connects and starts the live broadcast.
Choose the OBS source that matches your playlist
| What you want to play | OBS source | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Several local video files | VLC Video | Enable Loop Playlist; optionally enable Shuffle Playlist. |
| One video file repeated | Media Source | Enable Loop. |
OBS documents these controls in its Media Sources guide. A single Media Source repeats one file; it does not replace VLC Video’s multi-file playlist.
Set up a rotating playlist in OBS
- Install VLC. The VLC Video source requires VLC installed on the computer. Match its architecture to OBS: if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- Add the source. In your OBS scene, use the Sources panel’s add control and choose VLC Video. Give the source a recognizable name.
- Load the files. Add the local video files to the source’s playlist in the order you want them to play. Check that the intended files appear in the list.
- Choose playback behavior. Enable Loop Playlist to restart from the beginning after the final item. Enable Shuffle Playlist if you want randomized order instead of a fixed rotation.
- Check visibility behavior. Configure what happens when the source is not visible: OBS provides behavior choices that determine whether playback continues, pauses, or stops. Choose the one that fits your scene transitions; if the source must keep playing while hidden, select the continue behavior.
- Preview the scene. Confirm the video is visible and playing, and verify that the source is not hidden or obscured by another scene layer.
For one repeating file instead, add a Media Source to the scene, select the file, and enable Loop. Use VLC Video when rotation across multiple files is required.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio and enter the live setup for the channel.
- Use the stream settings to obtain or select the stream key, then enter that key in OBS’s stream configuration. Treat the key as a credential: do not publish it or include it in screenshots.
- Start streaming from OBS and check YouTube Studio’s incoming-stream preview and status before starting the broadcast.
- When the preview is correct, start the live broadcast in YouTube Studio. Confirm the broadcast is live and that the playlist is advancing as expected.
OBS playlist playback and YouTube broadcast control are separate jobs. The YouTube Live Streaming API overview describes creating and managing broadcasts and streams, linking them, and scheduling and transitioning broadcast states. Inserting, updating, or deleting resources requires user authorization. The API is not documented as a way to control local OBS media playback or rotate files inside an OBS playlist. See also Google’s Life of a Broadcast.
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Check rights before you go live
YouTube says, “All live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content, including copyrighted content in the form of another live broadcast.” If YouTube identifies third-party content, it may replace the stream with a placeholder and warn you to stop streaming that content; if it remains, the stream may be temporarily interrupted or terminated.
Confirm you have the necessary rights for every video and audio track in the rotation. If you are licensed to use third-party material, YouTube advises asking the rights owner to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist. Permission alone does not guarantee uninterrupted playback if the channel has not been allowlisted. Read YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams.
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Keep the two meanings of “playlist” separate
Here, a playlist means a list of local video files that OBS plays in sequence. YouTube’s HLS delivery documentation uses “playlist” for a transport playlist involved in delivering live content; that is a different technical concept, not a way to configure a rotation of files in OBS. See Delivering Live YouTube Content via HLS.
Troubleshoot playback and broadcast issues
- VLC Video is missing from the source menu: Install VLC and check that its architecture matches OBS. In particular, 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Only one file plays: Check that you added a VLC Video source and loaded multiple files into its playlist. Media Source with Loop is for repeating one file.
- The list stops at the last file: Enable Loop Playlist. This is separate from the single-file Loop setting.
- The list plays in an unexpected order: Check whether Shuffle Playlist is enabled. Turn it off for the intended fixed order.
- Playback stops when you change scenes: Review the VLC Video source’s visibility behavior. Set it to continue if playback should carry on while the source is hidden.
- OBS is streaming but YouTube does not show the expected video: Check the selected OBS scene, source visibility and layer order, then inspect the incoming preview and stream status in YouTube Studio.
- The stream is interrupted after copyrighted material appears: Stop or replace the flagged material and resolve the rights issue. If you have a license, ask the rights owner about Content ID allowlisting.
Or let it run in the cloud
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