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Linux Mint

How to Stream a Prerecorded Video to YouTube Live with OBS on Linux Mint

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To stream a prerecorded video from Linux Mint, add the file to an OBS scene with Media Source, connect OBS to a YouTube Live event using its stream URL and key, then start OBS and check YouTube Studio’s preview before going live. For one video, OBS’s built-in Media Source is enough; turn on Loop if it should repeat. You do not need a separate physical player or dedicated encoder for this workflow.

Before you begin

  • Install OBS Studio from a source appropriate for your Linux Mint version. The OBS Project recommends Flathub for non-Ubuntu distributions. Its Linux installation page, dated August 26, 2021, gives PPA instructions specifically for Ubuntu, so do not assume older Ubuntu commands apply unchanged to your Mint release. OBS notes that builds for other distributions may be community-provided. Check the current OBS download instructions before installing.
  • Make sure your YouTube channel is verified and has had no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. YouTube says first-time live streaming may take up to 24 hours to become available, so enable it well ahead of your planned stream. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
  • Have the video file available locally and know whether it should play once or repeat. For a playlist, install VLC as well as OBS.
  • Use an upload connection that can sustain your chosen stream bitrate. YouTube recommends keeping 20% headroom; test upload performance rather than using download speed as a substitute.

Add the prerecorded video to OBS

  1. Open OBS and create or select a scene in the Scenes panel.
  2. In Sources, choose + > Media Source, give the source a recognizable name, and confirm.
  3. In the Media Source properties, select the local video file. OBS’s documentation says Media Source is available on Linux and lists these supported video types: .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif, and .webm. A listed container alone does not guarantee every file will decode on every Linux installation.
  4. Set the source’s size and position in the OBS canvas. Check that it is visible in the active scene and that it fits the output frame as intended.
  5. Play the source and watch the OBS audio mixer. Confirm the file’s audio registers and is audible; a picture in the canvas does not by itself confirm that audio is reaching the stream.

OBS documents these controls in its Media Sources guide, dated January 11, 2022.

Choose whether to loop or use a playlist

Repeat one video

In the Media Source properties, enable Loop to restart the file after it reaches the end. Leave it disabled for a single pass. Loop is off by default, so check it explicitly if the stream must continue showing the same video.

Play a playlist

For multiple files, use OBS’s VLC Video source and add the playlist items there. VLC must be installed, and OBS’s documentation notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. For one local video, the built-in Media Source is the simpler option.

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Create the YouTube Live event and connect OBS

  1. Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create or select the live event, and review its title, visibility, scheduling, and other event details before sending the feed.
  2. In the event’s encoder setup, copy the YouTube stream URL and stream key.
  3. In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube as the service if offered, then enter the event’s stream key and server details. If OBS asks for a server URL, use the URL supplied for the event. Labels can vary with OBS versions and service configuration.
  4. Treat the stream key like a password. It lets the encoder send a feed that YouTube can accept; do not show it in a recording, screenshot, or public post. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before streaming.

YouTube’s encoder setup help explains the stream URL and key. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted ingestion. HLS is a separate option for supported cases such as HDR or codecs RTMP does not support; it has higher latency and is not a default upgrade for an ordinary SDR prerecorded stream.

Set OBS output for a stable stream

In OBS Settings > Output, configure an encoder profile that YouTube accepts and your connection can maintain. YouTube recommends H.264 video, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. Its settings guidance recommends 2 Mbps video bitrate for 720p at 30 fps. These are YouTube recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular computer or internet connection can sustain that quality.

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Choose a resolution and frame rate appropriate to the source and available upload capacity. YouTube says total streaming bitrate must fit within the available upload bandwidth and recommends leaving 20% headroom. For example, do not set a target bitrate that consumes all of a measured upload connection; reduce the output bitrate or resolution if the connection cannot sustain it. These figures and settings are from YouTube Help pages that do not state a publication year.

Test, start, and monitor the stream

  1. Before the scheduled stream, test with video movement and audio representative of what you intend to broadcast. YouTube recommends this because a static or silent test may not reveal problems that occur with the actual content.
  2. Start streaming in OBS so the encoder feed reaches YouTube. Check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health indicators before using the event’s Go live control.
  3. Confirm that the picture is correct, the audio is present and at a suitable level, and the preview is not reporting connection or health problems. YouTube advises starting the encoder well ahead of a scheduled event and monitoring audio and video quality continuously.
  4. Keep an eye on upload stability during the event. A wired connection can be useful where available, but it is not a YouTube requirement.
  5. When finished, end the event in YouTube Studio and stop the OBS feed. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived.

Fix common problems

What you see What to check
No picture in OBS or YouTube preview Confirm the Media Source points to the intended local file, is visible in the active scene, and uses a documented file type. A listed container does not ensure every codec combination is supported by every Mint installation.
No audio Play the file and check the OBS audio mixer for meter activity. Then verify audio in the YouTube preview or test. Do not infer successful stream audio from the OBS canvas alone.
The video stops at the end Enable Loop in Media Source properties if the video should restart after playback completes.
YouTube preview never appears Check that OBS has the correct event’s stream URL and key, that the encoder is connected, and that upload capacity is sufficient for the configured bitrate. Protect the key and replace it if it was exposed.
The channel cannot go live Check verification and whether the channel has had a live-streaming restriction in the past 90 days. If this is the first activation, allow up to 24 hours for live streaming to become available.

Copyright and YouTube policy checks

Having a local copy of a video does not establish that you have permission to livestream it. Before scheduling the event, check that you own the content or have the rights needed for the video, music, and other material in it. YouTube’s copyright and live-streaming rules can affect whether a stream remains available; review the current YouTube live-streaming guidance and the relevant copyright information for your content. Do not assume that an upload or successful preview is approval to broadcast it.

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Or let it run in the cloud

If the goal is to keep a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos without leaving a Linux Mint computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera or to platforms other than YouTube.

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  • Nothing has to stay on at home: the stream runs in the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not need to remain on.
  • Any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps streams as made, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
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  • The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account).
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